여자친구 있어요?
yeojachingu isseoyo?
The English phrase "do you have a girlfriend?" is translated into Korean as 여자친구 있어요? (yeojachingu isseoyo?)
This phrase is used to ask if a person is currently in a romantic relationship with a woman. The core component 여자친구 means "girlfriend".
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is built around the word 여자친구, which means "girlfriend", combined with the verb 있다.
Which one should you use?
While English uses the verb "to have", the Korean phrase literally translates to "Is there a girlfriend?" using the verb 있다.
How does it change in a sentence?
In the polite default form 여자친구 있어요?, the ending -어요 is used. In casual speech with close friends or younger people, the -요 is dropped to form the informal 여자친구 있어?
How do you pronounce it?
yeojachingu isseoyo?
Did you know?
- Although it sounds like a native term, 여자친구 is actually a modern linguistic mimicry of the English 'girlfriend'.
- In Korean, the word 친구 usually refers to someone of the exact same age. If someone is older or younger, Koreans often use different terms to describe the relationship rather than just 'friend'.
- In some social contexts, asking 여자친구 있어요? can be perceived as a direct way of flirting or showing romantic interest rather than just curiosity.
Examples in context
- 혹시 여자친구 있어요?Hoksi yeojachingu isseoyo?By any chance, do you have a girlfriend?
- 진짜 여자친구 있어요?Jinjja yeojachingu isseoyo?Do you really have a girlfriend?
Example conversation
Minji is teasing Minjun about his dating life at a cafe.
- 민지 Min-ji민준 씨, 여자친구 있어요?Minjun-ssi, yeojachingu isseoyo?Minjun, do you have a girlfriend?
- 민준 Min-jun아니요, 없어요.Aniyo, eopseoyo.No, I don't.
- 민지 Min-ji정말요? 의외네요.Jeongmallyo? Uioeneyo.Really? That's surprising.
- 민준 Min-jun그냥 혼자가 편해요.Geunyang honjaga pyeonhaeyo.I'm just comfortable being alone.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 여자친구, CC BY-SA 4.0.
