What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of 친하게, meaning "closely" or "intimately" and 지내자, meaning "let's spend time" or "let's live".
Which one should you use?
While 친하게 지내자 translates to "let's get along closely", you might also encounter 우리 친해지자, which is a more direct and casual way to suggest becoming friends among peers or younger people.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The level of politeness changes based on the ending and the specific expression used. For a polite version, you can use 친하게 지내요 or 친하게 지내고 싶어요, which expresses a desire to become close in a more indirect way. If you want to be very formal, you can use 친구가 되고 싶습니다. In informal settings with friends or peers, you can use 친구가 되고 싶어 or the extremely informal 친구하자.
How does it change in a sentence?
To make the suggestion polite and suitable for someone you are not yet close with or who is slightly older, you can add the suffix '-요' to the end, resulting in 친하게 지내요.
How do you pronounce it?
chinhage jineja
Did you know?
- In Korea, the word for 'friend', 친구, is often reserved for people of the exact same age. If you are even one year older or younger, you might technically be 'senior' or 'junior' rather than true 'friends'.
- The root word 친 (chin) in 친하게 is the same character used in words for 'family' or 'relative', implying that a close friend is someone who feels like kin.
- The word 우리 'we/our' is often added to phrases like 우리 친해지자 to emphasize a shared bond, reflecting a culture that prioritizes collective identity over individualism.
Examples in context
- 안녕하세요, 사라 씨! 저도 친구가 되고 싶어요Hello, Sarah! I also want to be friends.
- 친구할까?Wanna be friends?
- 그래! 친구하자Sure! Let's be friends.
- 저희 학교에서 좋은 친구가 되고 싶어요I want to become good friends at our school.
- 우리 앞으로 친하게 지내자.uri ap-euro chin-hage jinae-ja.Let's be close from now on.
- 우리 이제 친하게 지내자!uri i-je chin-hage jinae-ja!Let's be friends now!
- 너랑 친하게 지내자.neo-rang chin-hage jinae-ja.I want to be friends with you.
Example conversation
Two classmates are talking after school.
- 지은 Ji-eun지훈아, 우리 친하게 지내자.Ji-hun-a, uri chin-hage jinae-ja.Ji-hun, let's be friends.
- 지훈 Ji-hun그래, 지은아. 좋아!Geu-rae, Ji-eun-a. jo-a!Sure, Ji-eun. Sounds good!
- 지은 Ji-eun연락처 알려줄 수 있어?yeon-rak-cheol al-lyeo-jul su is-seo?Can you give me your contact info?
- 지훈 Ji-hun응, 당연하지.Eung, dang-yeon-ha-ji.Yeah, of course.
