Korean Dictionary
How to say "Skinship" in Korean
“Skinship” in Korean is 스킨십 (pronounced "Seukinship").
스킨십
Seukinship
Usage & Context
Physical affection and closeness between people, including both romantic couples and close same-gender friends. In Korea, it's common for close male friends to walk arm-in-arm and female friends to hold hands, reflecting closeness rather than romantic interest. Public displays of affection (PDA) between couples have become more accepted.
Example Sentence
한국에서는 친한 친구들끼리 스킨십이 자연스러워요.
In Korea, physical closeness between close friends is natural.
How to use 스킨십 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Skinship” is 스킨십, romanized as Seukinship.
Usage tip
Learn this word together with a complete Korean sentence. Meaning often depends on particles, politeness level, and word order.
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 스킨십.
Pronunciation Guide
'스킨십' (Seukinship) is pronounced 'seu-kin-ship'. 'Seu' sounds like 'sir' without the 'r' sound. 'Kin' rhymes with 'kin' in English. 'Ship' rhymes with 'ship'.
More Example Sentences
Explaining the cultural norm of physical affection between friends.
한국에서는 친한 친구들끼리 스킨십이 자연스러워요.
In Korea, physical closeness among close friends is natural.
Reacting to a romantic scene in a K-drama.
드라마에서 주인공들의 스킨십이 많아서 설렜어요.
I felt excited because there was a lot of skinship between the main characters in the drama.
Discussing the importance of physical touch for infants.
아기들은 엄마와의 스킨십을 통해 안정감을 느껴요.
Babies feel a sense of security through skinship with their mothers.
Cultural Context
'스킨십' (skinship) is a Konglish term referring to physical affection and closeness. It's not limited to romantic relationships; it's very common among close same-gender friends in Korea. For example, it's normal to see female friends holding hands or male friends walking arm-in-arm, which signifies strong platonic bonds rather than romantic interest. While public displays of affection (PDA) between couples were traditionally more reserved, they have become more accepted, especially among younger generations, influenced by K-dramas and K-pop.
Editorial note
We review entries like 스킨십 for pronunciation, example sentence fit, and learner mistakes so the page answers more than a direct dictionary lookup.
Reviewed by Min-jung Park, Korean Language Teacher. Updated May 31, 2026. See our editorial standards.
Common Phrases
스킨십이 많다
To have a lot of skinship (be physically affectionate)
스킨십을 좋아하다
To like skinship
자연스러운 스킨십
Natural skinship
Related Expressions
애정 표현
aejeong pyohyeon
expression of affection
신체 접촉
sinche jeopchok
physical contact
포옹
poong
hug
손잡다
sonjapda
to hold hands
More Culture Words
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