내 베프
nae bepeu
In Korean, "my bestie" is expressed as 내 베프 (nae bepeu).
내 베프 is a slang term used to refer to a person's closest friend. It is used primarily by younger generations in casual settings.
Which one should you use?
While 내 베프 is a slang abbreviation of the English phrase "best friend", you can also use 절친 in informal contexts to emphasize a particularly deep bond with a best friend.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
내 베프 is a slang term intended for casual, informal settings. The term 베프 itself is an informal abbreviation of the English words "best friend" used by Korean youngsters.
How does it change in a sentence?
The word 내 (nae) is the informal way to say "my". If you are speaking to someone older or in a formal setting, you would use 제 (je) instead, although the slang nature of the term itself is inherently informal.
How do you pronounce it?
nae bepeu
Did you know?
- The sound 내 used in 내 베프 was once the general word for 'smoke' before it was replaced by the Sino-Korean word 연기 to avoid confusion with too many other homophones.
- Korean youth often use 베프 in digital messaging with intentional misspellings or stylized versions to sound cuter, a practice known as 'aegyo' in text.
- Korean social hierarchy is so strict that using 내 베프 toward a teacher or boss would be considered a significant social error, regardless of how close the friendship is.
Examples in context
- 가장 친한 친구와 함께 여행하고 싶어요.I want to travel with my closest friend.
- 오늘 베프랑 영화를 볼 거야.Today, I'm going to watch a movie with my bestie.
- 얘는 내 베프야.yae-neun nae be-peu-ya.This is my bestie.
- 내 베프랑 같이 놀았어.nae be-peu-rang gat-i nol-at-eo.I hung out with my bestie.
- 내 베프는 정말 착해.nae be-peu-neun jeong-mal chak-hae.My bestie is really kind.
Example conversation
Subin and Dohyeon are talking about their friends at a cafe.
- 수빈 Su-bin도현아, 내 베프가 보고 싶어.do-hyeon-ah, nae be-peu-ga bo-go sip-eo.Dohyeon, I miss my bestie.
- 도현 Do-hyeon그 친구는 어디에 있어?geu chin-gu-neun eo-di-e it-eo?Where is that friend?
- 수빈 Su-bin지금 집에 있어.ji-geum jib-e it-eo.She is at home right now.
- 도현 Do-hyeon나중에 같이 만나자.na-jung-e gat-i man-na-ja.Let's meet up together later.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 내, CC BY-SA 4.0.
