최애
choeae[ˈt͡ɕʰwe̞(ː)ɛ]
The English phrase "kpop bias" is translated into Korean as 최애 (choeae).
In K-pop fandom culture, 최애 is used to identify the specific member of a group that a fan supports most heavily.
Which one should you use?
While 최애 refers to your absolute favorite member, the term 차애 is used to refer to your second favorite member.
How do you pronounce it?
choeae
Did you know?
- Fans often use the verb 갈아타다, meaning 'to transfer' like switching buses or trains, when they change their 최애 to a different member.
- While 최애 is now common in K-pop, it was originally used in historical contexts to describe the person a monarch loved most.
- The term 최애 is so common that it has migrated into everyday Korean to describe a favorite item, such as a 'bias food' or a 'bias color'.
Examples in context
- 저의 최애 가수는 블랙핑크예요!My ultimate bias artist is Blackpink!
- 그룹 내 마이너는 트와이스의 지효야!My minor bias in the group is Ji-hyo from Twice!
- 제 최애는 정국이에요.je choe-ae-neun jeong-guk-i-e-yo.My bias is Jungkook.
- 그 그룹에서 최애가 누구예요?geu geu-rup-e-seo choe-ae-ga nu-gu-ye-yo?Who is your bias in that group?
- 이번 신곡에서 제 최애가 제일 멋져요.i-beon sin-gok-e-seo je choe-ae-ga je-il meot-jyeo-yo.My bias looks the coolest in this new song.
Example conversation
Minjun and Minji are talking about a K-pop group.
- 민준 Min-jun민지 씨는 이 그룹에서 누가 제일 좋아요?minji ssineun i geurup-eseo nu-ga jeil jo-ayo?Minji, who do you like best in this group?
- 민지 Min-ji제 최애는 지민이에요.je choeae-neun jimineyo.My bias is Jimin.
- 민준 Min-jun정말요? 저도 지민이가 최애예요!jeongmalyo? jeodo jimini-ga choeaeyeyo!Really? Jimin is my bias too!
- 민지 Min-ji와, 우리 통했네요!wa, uri tong-haenneyo!Wow, we are on the same page!
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry 최애, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
