반 친구
ban chin'gu
The English word "classmate" is translated into Korean as 반 친구 (ban chin'gu). Wiktionary also lists 동급생 (donggeupsaeng) and 급우 (geubu).
Meaning: student who is in the same class at school (noun)
Ways to say it
| Korean | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 반 친구 | ban chin'gu | |
| 동급생 | donggeupsaeng | [to̞ŋɡɯps͈ɛŋ] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) [to̞ŋɡɯps͈e̞ŋ] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) |
| 급우 | geubu | [kɯbu] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) |
| 클래스메이트 | keullaeseumeiteu | [kxɯɭɭɛsʰɯme̞itʰɯ] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) [kxɯɭɭe̞sʰɯme̞itʰɯ] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) |
The term refers to a student who is in the same class at school.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase 반 친구 is composed of 반 (class/group) and 친구 (friend).
Which one should you use?
반 친구 is the most common and natural way to refer to a classmate in everyday conversation. 동급생 is a more formal or academic term used to describe students of the same grade or level, while 급우 is a highly formal, somewhat archaic term often found in written texts or official school contexts. Additionally, 클래스메이트 is a transliteration of the English word 'classmate' used occasionally in modern, casual and trendy or Westernized settings.
How do you pronounce it?
ban chin'gu
Did you know?
- Because of the strict age hierarchy, a student who is one year older than their classmate may be addressed as an 'older brother' or 'older sister' rather than as a 친구.
- Students rarely call a classmate 반 친구 to their face. Instead, they use the person's name followed by a suffix or simply the name if they are close friends.
- Korean has several different Chinese characters for 반 that sound identical. The one used for 'class' refers to a division or a group, while others can mean 'half' or 'opposite'.
Examples in context
- 저의 동급생이에요.He/She is my classmate.
- 지금 같은 반 학생들끼리 모여서 과제를 해요.Now, the classmates are gathering to do the assignment together.
- 저는 동급생들과 친해지고 싶어요.I want to become friends with my classmates.
- 이 학교에서는 반 친구들끼리 자주 모여서 놀아요.In this school, classmates often gather and have fun together.
- 우리 같은 반 학생들이 서로 도와줄 수 있을 거예요.Students in our class can help each other.
- 그는 제 반 친구예요.geuneun je ban chin-gu-ye-yo.He is my classmate.
- 반 친구들과 같이 공부해요.ban chin-gu-deul-gwa gat-i gong-bu-hae-yo.I study with my classmates.
- 새로운 반 친구를 만났어요.sae-ro-un ban chin-gu-reul man-nat-eo-yo.I met a new classmate.
Example conversation
Minjun and Subin are talking about their school day.
- 민준 Min-jun수빈 씨, 반 친구들이 많아요?subin ssi, ban chingudeuri manayo?Subin, do you have many classmates?
- 수빈 Su-bin네, 반 친구가 아주 많아요.ne, ban chinguga aju manayo.Yes, I have a lot of classmates.
- 민준 Min-jun다들 착한 사람들이에요?dadeul chakan saramdeureyeyo?Are they all nice people?
- 수빈 Su-bin네, 모두 좋은 반 친구들이에요.ne, modu joeun ban chingudeureyeyo.Yes, they are all good classmates.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “classmate” translations and entries 동급생, 급우, 클래스메이트, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 급우, 동급생, 반, 친구, 클래스메이트, CC BY-SA 4.0.
