남자친구가 있어요?
namjachin'gu-ga isseoyo?
The English phrase "do you have a boyfriend" is translated into Korean as 남자친구가 있어요? (namjachin'gu-ga isseoyo?) If unsure, use 남자친구가 있어요? Wiktionary also lists 애인이 있습니까? (aein-i itseumnikka?).
Meaning: do you have a boyfriend? (phrase)
Ways to say it
| Korean | Romanization (Wiktionary) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 남자친구가 있어요? | namjachin'gu-ga isseoyo? | |
| 애인이 있습니까? | aein-i itseumnikka? | North Korea |
In Korean culture, asking this question directly can be seen as a very forward way to show romantic interest or to gauge someone's relationship status.
What does it mean word for word?
The word for boyfriend, 남자친구, is composed of 남자, which means man or boyfriend and 친구, which means friend.
Which one should you use?
While 남자친구 specifically means boyfriend, the term 애인 is a more gender-neutral term for a lover or significant other.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The default form 남자친구가 있어요? uses the polite -yo ending, making it appropriate for speaking to acquaintances or people you are not close with. For a formal way to ask, you can use 남자 친구 있으세요? or for an informal way, use 남자 친구 있어?
Is it said differently in some regions?
The form 애인이 있습니까? is used in North Korea.
How do you pronounce it?
namjachin'gu-ga isseoyo?
Did you know?
- In Korea, couples often celebrate their '100th day' anniversary, making the question about a boyfriend a gateway to discussing these specific numerical milestones.
- While 남자친구 means 'boyfriend', the word 친구 alone means 'friend'. In traditional Korean usage, calling someone a 친구 strictly implied they were the same age as you.
- In some social settings, instead of asking about a 'boyfriend', people might ask about your 솔로 (solo) status to see if you are single.
Examples in context
- 혹시 남자친구가 있어요?Hoksi namjachinguga isseoyo?By any chance, do you have a boyfriend?
- 지금 남자친구가 있어요?Jigeum namjachinguga isseoyo?Do you have a boyfriend right now?
Example conversation
Hyunwoo is talking to Seoyeon at a cafe.
- 현우 Hyeon-woo서연 씨, 남자친구가 있어요?Seoyeon ssi, namjachinguga isseoyo?Seoyeon, do you have a boyfriend?
- 서연 Seo-yeon아니요, 없어요. 왜요?aniyo, eopseoyo. waeyo?No, I don't. Why?
- 현우 Hyeon-woo그냥 궁금해서 물어봤어요.geunyang gunggeumhaeseo mureobwasseoyo.I just asked because I was curious.
- 서연 Seo-yeon아, 그렇구나.a, geureokuna.Oh, I see.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “do you have a boyfriend” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
