What it means
남사친 = 남자 사람 친구 (a male person who is a friend) — specifically used to clarify that a male friend is NOT a boyfriend. The female equivalent is 여사친 (여자 사람 친구).
Nuance & when to use
남사친 vs 남자친구: 남자친구 = boyfriend. 남사친 = male friend (explicitly not romantic). The distinction is important in Korean social contexts — having male friends as a girl can raise eyebrows, so 남사친 is the clarifying term. Very common in K-drama plotlines when a new love interest is introduced as "just a 남사친."
⚠ Common mistake
남사친 is informal/slang. In formal contexts just say 남자 친구 (with a space) for male friend vs 남자친구 (no space) for boyfriend.
Example sentences
See also
FAQ
When is this used?
남사친 vs 남자친구: 남자친구 = boyfriend. 남사친 = male friend (explicitly not romantic). The distinction is important in Korean social contexts — having male friends as a girl can raise eyebrows, so 남사친 is the clarifying term. Very common in K-drama plotlines when a new love interest is introduced as "just a 남사친."
What's a common mistake?
남사친 is informal/slang. In formal contexts just say 남자 친구 (with a space) for male friend vs 남자친구 (no space) for boyfriend.
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