Dictionary — Entry No. 0055
남자친구
namjachingu · noun
남자친구
namjachingu
[nam-ja-CHIN-gu]
Noun
Beginner
Meaning
남자친구 means boyfriend in Korean. It is made up of three parts: 남자 (namja, meaning “man” or “male”), and 친구 (chingu, meaning “friend”) — so literally, a “male friend” in the romantic sense. It is the standard, everyday term used when referring to one’s romantic male partner.
K-Pop & K-Drama Context
In K-Dramas, the moment a female lead finally calls someone her 남자친구 is often a major milestone — fans call this the “girlfriend/boyfriend confirmation” scene and it almost always goes viral. The word also appears constantly in K-Pop lyrics about love and longing, and the boy group BOYFRIEND (보이프렌드) took their name directly from this concept. You’ll also hear fans jokingly call their favorite idol their “상상 속 남자친구” (imaginary boyfriend).
Example Sentences
그는 제 남자친구예요.
Geuneun je namjachingu-yeyo.
He is my boyfriend.
남자친구 있어요?
Namjachingu isseoyo?
Do you have a boyfriend?
저는 남자친구랑 그 드라마를 같이 봤어요.
Jeoneun namjachingu-rang geu deurama-reul gachi bwasseoyo.
I watched that drama together with my boyfriend.
ℹ️ Editorial Note: The cultural context and example usage are for educational reference only. Artist names, song titles, and drama references are used descriptively to illustrate vocabulary in context. This content is AI-assisted and reviewed for accuracy. For official information, please refer to the respective artists’ or studios’ official channels.