친구 vs 절친
Korean word comparison
Listen to 친구
Listen to 절친
| 친구 | 절친 |
|---|---|
CHIN-goo noun | jeol-chin noun |
| friend; a person with whom one has a close, personal relationship | an extremely close friend or 'bestie'; short for '절친한 친구' |
How they differ
절친 specifically denotes a very close, intimate friendship (closer than 친구) and is modern slangy usage; 친구 is neutral and does not imply that high degree of closeness.
When to use each
When to use 친구: Use 친구 when you want a neutral term or in formal situations where slang would be inappropriate.
When to use 절친: Use 절친 when emphasizing a very close friendship in casual conversation or on social media.
Side-by-side examples
- 그녀는 내 친구야.
(She is my friend.) - 그녀는 내 절친이야.
(She is my best friend / my close bestie.)
Register & nuance: Informal and modern; common among younger speakers and in casual or online contexts.