Korean Dictionary
How to say "Close friend" in Korean
“Close friend” in Korean is 친한 친구 (pronounced "Chinhan chingu").
친한 친구
Chinhan chingu
Usage & Context
A very close, intimate friend. 친하다 means to be close or intimate with someone. In Korean, friendship bonds are deep — once considered a close friend, Koreans are often very loyal and generous. 절친 (jeolchin) is a popular abbreviation for 절친한 친구 (most intimate friend), similar to 'BFF'.
Example Sentence
저 친구는 10년 넘게 알고 지낸 제일 친한 친구예요.
That friend is my closest friend who I've known for over 10 years.
How to use 친한 친구 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Close friend” is 친한 친구, romanized as Chinhan chingu.
Usage tip
Relationship words can sound too direct if the social context is wrong. Check the age, closeness, and formality before using it.
Common mistake
Do not rely only on the English meaning. Read the Korean example sentence and notice the particles, word order, and politeness level around 친한 친구.
Pronunciation Guide
Pronounced 'chin-hahn ching-goo.' The first 'chin' rhymes with 'pin,' and the 'han' is short like the first syllable of 'honey.' 'Chingu' ends with a soft 'goo,' not a hard 'goo' like 'goose.'
Formal & Casual Forms
Formal (존댓말)
친한 친구입니다
chinhan chinguimnida
Full formal sentence form, used when introducing a close friend in professional or respectful settings
Casual (반말)
절친
jeolchin
Slangy abbreviation for 'best friend / BFF,' used heavily among students and in texts
More Example Sentences
introducing a lifelong friend to someone new
우리 절친이야, 초등학교 때부터 알고 지냈어.
We're best friends — we've known each other since elementary school.
reflecting on the value of friendship
친한 친구한테는 무슨 얘기든 다 할 수 있어요.
You can tell a close friend absolutely anything.
explaining why you're flying home for the weekend
제일 친한 친구 결혼식이라 꼭 가야 해요.
It's my closest friend's wedding, so I have to go.
Cultural Context
Korean friendship is often tied to 정 (jeong) — a slowly built, sticky kind of loyalty that Koreans consider deeper than 'liking' someone. Close friends usually share the same school year (동갑) and drop honorifics with each other, which is itself a marker of closeness. You'll hear 절친 constantly in K-dramas and variety shows, while the even more intense 찐친 (jjin-chin, 'real friend') has become trendy on social media for calling out friends who've been with you through everything.
Editorial note
We check relationship words like 친한 친구 against age, closeness, and politeness rules, because a literal English match often misses the social meaning.
Reviewed by Min-jung Park, Korean Language Teacher. Updated May 31, 2026. See our editorial standards.
Common Phrases
우린 절친이야.
We're best friends.
제일 친한 친구예요.
This is my closest friend.
우린 찐친이지.
We're the real kind of friends.
Related Expressions
절친
jeolchin
best friend / BFF
찐친
jjinchin
ride-or-die real friend (slang)
베프
bepeu
best friend (from English 'best friend')
단짝
danjjak
inseparable buddy / bestie
More Relationships Words
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