남자친구를 사귀고 싶어요
namjachingu-reul sagwigo sipeoyo
The English phrase "I want a boyfriend" is expressed in Korean as 남자친구를 사귀고 싶어요 (namjachingu-reul sagwigo sipeoyo).
This phrase is used to express the desire to start a romantic relationship with a man. The term for boyfriend, 남자친구, is the standard term and is often shortened to 남친 in casual conversation or texting.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase 남자친구를 사귀고 싶어요 breaks down into 남자친구 (boyfriend), 를 (object marker), 사귀다 (to date or make a relationship) and 고 싶어요 (want to).
How does it change in a sentence?
To use this phrase in an informal or casual way, you can drop the polite ending 요 to say 남자친구를 사귀고 싶어. Additionally, a more natural way to express the wish of having a boyfriend appear in your life is to use the form 남자친구가 생겼으면 좋겠어요, which means "I wish I had a boyfriend".
How do you pronounce it?
namjachingu-reul sagwigo sipeoyo
Did you know?
- In Korea, the phrase 남친 (boyfriend) is part of a wider trend of 'two-letter abbreviations' used in texting, such as 여친 for 'girlfriend' and 남사친 for a 'male friend who is just a friend'.
- The phrase 남자친구가 생겼으면 좋겠어요 is often more common in daily life because it uses the verb 생기다, which means 'to be created' or 'to arise' as if the boyfriend were a new phenomenon appearing in your life.
- The verb 사귀다 used in this phrase literally translates to 'to make acquaintances' or 'to associate with', making the concept of 'dating' sound more like building a social circle.
Examples in context
- 남자친구를 사귀고 싶어요.namjachingureul sagwigo sipeoyo.I want to have a boyfriend.
- 빨리 남자친구를 사귀고 싶어요.ppalli namjachingureul sagwigo sipeoyo.I want to get a boyfriend soon.
Example conversation
Two friends are talking about their love lives over coffee.
- 도현 Do-hyeon서연 씨는 요즘 어때요?Seoyeon ssi-neun yojeum eottaeyo?How are you doing lately, Seoyeon?
- 서연 Seo-yeon저는 남자친구를 사귀고 싶어요.jeoneun namjachingureul sagwigo sipeoyo.I want to have a boyfriend.
- 도현 Do-hyeon좋은 사람을 찾아볼까요?joeun saram-eul chajabolkayo?Shall we look for someone good?
- 서연 Seo-yeon네, 부탁해요!ne, butakaeyo!Yes, please!
