Romantic & Cute Korean Nicknames For Boyfriend

Korean couples trade pet words about as fast as they trade couple rings. I have hand-picked these Korean nicknames for a boyfriend.

List Of Korean Nicknames For Boyfriend And Their Meanings:

Ttangkong (땅콩)

Ttangkong means peanut as well as a slang for a short guy.

Babo (바보)

‘Fool.’ You can say it with a grin after he forgets his umbrella. It is meaning closer to silly.

Yeonin (연인)

It comes from hanja 戀人, love and person: a lover.

Kkul (꿀)

Honey.

Namchin (남친)

Short for namja chingu, ‘boyfriend’.

Ondal (온달)

Ondal (“the fool who married up”) was a Goguryeo General who married Princess Pyeonggang in a Goguryeo legend.

Gwiyomi (귀요미)

“Cutie”

Bandalgom (반달곰)

‘Half-moon bear’. Asian black bear is also known as bandalgaseumgom in Korean and has a distinctive white “V” marking on its chest.

Sarangkkun (사랑꾼)

A person full of love.

Yeobo (여보)

Darling, between husband and wife.

Boseok (보석)

jewel/gem.

Chimaek (치맥)

It combines chikin and maekju, beer. The Oxford English Dictionary added it with twenty-five other Korean words.

Taeyang (태양)

Sun, from hanja 太陽. Taeyang made his debut as a member of the boy band BigBang. Two years later he released his solo EP Hot.

Momjjang (몸짱)

From mom, body, and jjang, the best. I recommend Momjjang for a guy with gym-made shoulders.

Gamja (감자)

Potato. “Gamja hwajil” is slang for a blurry photo.

For Younger Boyfriend

Name	Meaning	Pronunciation
Yeonhanam (연하남)	younger man	yuhn-HAH-nahm
Daengdaengi (댕댕이)	doggo	DAENG-daeng-ee
Haksaeng (학생)	student in hanja	hahk-SAENG
Kkoma sillang (꼬마신랑)	”little groom”	kkoh-mah SHEEL-lahng
Aesongi (애송이)	he’s still green	ae-SOHNG-ee
Gwiyeomdungi (귀염둥이)	cutie or pet	gwee-yuhm-DOONG-ee
Maknae (막내)	youngest of siblings	MAHK-nae or MAHNG-nae
Nuna killer (누나킬러)	”noona charmer.”	NOO-nah KEEL-luh
Sonyeon (소년)	boy or lad	soh-NYUHN
Ttonggangaji (똥강아지)	”poop puppy”	ttong-GAHNG-ah-jee
Dongsaeng (동생)	kid brother	dong-SAENG
Ppiyagi (삐약이)	he goes cheep	ppee-YAH-gee
Chonggak (총각)	bachelor	chohng-GAHK
Sinip (신입)	”fresh recruit”	shee-NEEP
Makdungi (막둥이)	lastborn	mahk-DOONG-ee
Aegiya (애기야)	hey baby	AE-gee-yah

Even more below.

Kkonminam (꽃미남)

From kkot, flower, and minam, handsome man.

Jindotgae (진돗개)

A dog from Jindo island that has a reputation for being loyal. It is recognized by the United Kennel Club and Fédération Cynologique Internationale.

Simkung (심쿵)

It is made of sim, heart, and kung means thud.

Cheonsaengyeonbun (천생연분)

天生緣分: a match heaven arranged at birth. Save

Kidari (키다리)

“Tall person.” Daddy-Long-Legs (a family of araneomorph spiders) is Kidari Ajeossi in Korean bookshops.

Ilpyeondansim (일편단심)

一片丹心, “one piece of red heart.” It is also the idea of Jeong Mong-ju’s poem Dansimga.

Danggeun (당근)

Danggeun is symbolizing carrot and is a texting slang for “obviously”.

Gumiho (구미호)

Nine-tailed fox. Lee Dong-wook played one in Tale of the Nine Tailed.

Neukdae (늑대)

Wolf. Song Joong-ki was a feral wolf boy in A Werewolf Boy.

Uju (우주)

Universe/space

Pet Names For Boyfriend

Name	Meaning	Pronunciation
Jagiya (자기야)	honey or self	JAH-gee-yah or jah-GEE-yah
Bomul (보물)	treasure	boh-MOOL
Nae pyeon (내 편)	”my side”	nae PYUHN
Gomdori (곰돌이)	teddy bear	gohm-DOH-ree
Seobangnim (서방님)	husband, Joseon style	suh-BAHNG-neem
Ppoppo (뽀뽀)	smooch	PPOH-ppoh
Haebaragi (해바라기)	he only sees you	hae-BAH-rah-gee
Aein (애인)	”love person.”	AE-een
Jjakkkung (짝꿍)	desk buddy	JJAHK-kkoong
Heoni (허니)	honey in Konglish	HUH-nee
Sarangdungi (사랑둥이)	bundle of love	sah-rahng-DOONG-ee
Nae namja (내 남자)	”my man”	nae NAHM-jah
Cheonsa (천사)	angel	chuhn-SAH
Banjjok (반쪽)	other half	bahn-JJOHK
Naekkeo (내꺼)	he’s all mine	nae-KKUH
Seuwiti (스위티)	sweetie	SUH-wee-tee
Cheotsarang (첫사랑)	”first love”	chuht-SAH-rahng
Nae sarang (내 사랑)	my love or darling	nae SAH-rahng

The list continues.

Hwarang (화랑)

花郞 is meaning flower youth. These were elite young men of Silla, trained in arms and music.

Oppa (오빠)

Elder brother, said by a girl. PSY’s Gangnam Style was the first YouTube video to pass one billion views.

Mugunghwa (무궁화)

Hibiscus syriacus, national flower of South Korea. Its hanja 無窮花 is symbolizing a bloom that never ends.

Panda (판다)

Panda. Fu Bao is the first panda born in South Korea and resides at the Shenshuping base in China. Save

Horangi (호랑이)

Tiger and is a diminutive for boys in Korean. Hodori and Gomdoori were official mascots of the Asian Games,

Eomchina (엄친아)

Short for eomma chingu adeul, mom’s friend’s son.

Danjjak (단짝)

An inseparable buddy.

Haessal (햇살)

sunshine/sunbeam

Bae (배)

‘Korean pear.’ It is spelled exactly like English slang bae, so this one works in two languages.

Dolgorae (돌고래)

Dolgorae is symbolizing dolphin.

Wangjanim (왕자님)

Prince, with -nim for respect.

Eunhasu (은하수)

Eunhasu means silver river water and is also a term for term for Milky Way, a barred spiral galaxy with a D25 isophotal diameter.

Ramyeon (라면)

Instant noodles. In the film One Fine Spring Day, Lee Young-ae asked “Ramyeon meokgo gallae?”. This became one of the most famous flirty invitations in Korea.

Mallangi (말랑이)

Squishy one, like a stress toy.

Bokdeongi (복덩이)

Someone who brings good fortune to his family.

Yong (용)

Dragon, and a proverb says a dragon rises from a small stream. I believe it is for a self-made man from a poor village.

Ulbo (울보)

Crybaby, a boyfriend who cries at sad movies.

Deungdae (등대)

Lighthouse. Palmido is the first modern lighthouse in Korea off the coast of Incheon.

Gongnyong (공룡)

Dinosaur. Its hanja 恐龍 is meaning “fear dragon.”

Gisanim (기사님)

Knight, from 騎士. Different hanja is meaning drivers, so Koreans also say gisanim to a taxi driver. Save

Nim (님)

Beloved. Han Yong-un (1879-1944) was a monk known for his poetry book Nim-ui Chimmuk, The Silence of Love. Han’s poetry can be read on the surface as romantic.

Tokki (토끼)

Rabbit. During the harvest full moon, the Ok-tokki pounds rice cakes.

Kokkiri (코끼리)

Kokkiri means elephant. Korea’s first elephant was actually a gift from a Japanese shogun to King Taejong. It died of natural causes or starvation, lack of food or affection.

Dalgona (달고나)

Melted sugar and baking soda, a honeycomb candy. Squid Game players had to make a shape out of dalgona with a needle.

Imgeumnim (임금님)

King, said with respect.

Dubu (두부)

“Tofu.”

Pengwin (펭귄)

Penguin. Pengsoo is a giant penguin on EBS and a celebrity in South Korea. Pengsoo’s YouTube channel has over 2 million subscribers.

Saebyeok (새벽)

Dawn, hour of late-night texts.

Haengun (행운)

From hanja 幸運, good fortune/luck.

Dajeongnam (다정남)

An affectionate man.

Kimchi (김치)

Kimchi. Koreans say it for photos the way Westerners say cheese.

Sagwa (사과)

A apple, and the same word means “apology.”

Sapsalgae (삽살개)

Sapsalgae is symbolizing to drive out an evil spirit.

Byeongari (병아리)

It means chick, and a slang for a total beginner.

Choding (초딩)

”Grade-schooler.” Yo ucan use choding for a boyfriend with a childish streak.

Dongbanja (동반자)

Companion, 同伴者.

Makgeolli (막걸리)

Milky rice wine. On rainy days Koreans used it next to a plate of pajeon.

Girin (기린)

GIrin means giraffe.

Baram (바람)

Wind. Baram pida, to blow wind, also means to cheat, so I’d skip this one.

Gukbap (국밥)

Rice in hot soup and internet slang for a reliable pick.

Beibi (베이비)

‘Baby’, from English.

Injeolmi (인절미)

Rice cake rolled in roasted soybean powder. King Injo ate one from a man named Im.

Dalling (달링)

It means darling.

Hak (학)

Crane, a bird of long life.

Yang (양)

Sheep, 羊.

Nabi (나비)

Koreans also call stray cats nabi. It means butterfly.

Bonghwang (봉황)

Phoenix. Two of them face each other on South Korea’s presidential seal.

Bueongi (부엉이)

Owl, good for a night person.

Koalla (코알라)

Koala.

Chamsae (참새)

Sparrow. A sparrow never flies past a rice mill, a proverb says.

Dwaeji (돼지)

Pig. Dreaming of one means money is coming. Koreans buy lottery tickets after a dwaeji kkum.

Goyangi (고양이)

‘Cat’

Makarong (마카롱)

Macaron. Korean bakeries sell overstuffed ttungkarong with filling which is actually thicker than the shells.

Chijeu (치즈)

Chijey is meaning cheese.

Jelli (젤리)

Jelly candy.

Banana uyu (바나나우유)

Banana milk. Binggrae has sold it in a squat jar-shaped bottle.

Yakgwa (약과)

“Medicine confection,” a honey cookie.

Soju (소주)

It has roots in 燒酒, burnt liquor, green-bottle drink.

Daechu (대추)

Jujube. At pyebaek, parents toss jujubes and chestnuts. At the same event the bride catches daechu to count future kids.

Japchae (잡채)

“Mixed vegetables.” Yi Chung (1568-1619) cooked the first version for King Gwanghaegun.

Hodugwaja (호두과자)

Walnut cake. Jo Gwi-geum and Sim Bok-sun baked first ones.

Tteokguk (떡국)

Rice cake soup. Eating a bowl on New Year’s Day is considered to add a year to your age.

Samgyeopsal (삼겹살)

“Three-layer flesh,” pork belly. March third is Samgyeopsal Day.

Cheotnun (첫눈)

First snow. In K-dramas, couples promise to meet on that day.

Insam (인삼)

Ginseng. Its hanja 人蔘 is symbolizing a root shaped like a person.

Gaeul (가을)

Gaeul means “autumn.”

Jindallae (진달래)

Azalea. Kim Sowol (1902-1934) wrote a poem where a girl scatters azaleas as her lover separates from her.

Jigu (지구)

Earth/globe

Kkot (꽃)

Flower.

Bukgeukseong (북극성)

North Star, 北極星.

Mabeopsa (마법사)

Wizard

Seonsaengnim (선생님)

Teacher. Use it for a boyfriend who explains each step. Twice!

Bulkkot (불꽃)

Sparks or fireworks. Seoul’s festival features a montage of main fireworks display which brilliantly illuminates the autumn.

Baksanim (박사님)

Doctor, as in PhD.

Jangnankkureogi (장난꾸러기)

Prankster..

Eoljjang (얼짱)

Eoljjang has origins in eolgul, face, and jjang means best.

Ttungttungi (뚱뚱이)

‘Chubby.’ Fine for a guy who laughs at it.

Kyuti (큐티)

Cutie, in Konglish.

Yebi sillang (예비신랑)

Groom-to-be.

Yeonggam (영감)

Once a title for high officials, now is a wife’s teasing formula for her aging husband.

Hwangje (황제)

Emperor.

Nanggun (낭군)

Husband or beloved, 郎君, a word from classical novels.

Deokhu (덕후)

Geek, from Japanese otaku.

Doryeonnim (도련님)

Young master. In Chunhyangjeon Yi Mong-ryong is a doryeong who falls in love for a gisaeng’s daughter.

Sajangnim (사장님)

Company boss, said with a bow.

Syupeomaen (슈퍼맨)

Superman, in Hangul letters.

Hateu (하트)

Heart, as an emoji, from finger hearts at concerts.

Yeongung (영웅)

Hero.

Gwichaniseuteu (귀차니스트)

Lazybones, from gwichanta, to be bothered, and English -ist.

Helchang (헬창)

Gym rat in slang.

in Hangul

King Sejong published Hangul as Hunminjeongeum.

• Sudajaengi (수다쟁이) – One who never stops talking
• Seonbae (선배) – means 先輩 in hanja: upperclassman at school
• Iseul (이슬) – dew on grass
• Byeol (별) – Star in Korean
• Haengbok (행복) – 幸福, happiness
• Sseomnam (썸남) – A guy in sseom stage, past friend zone
• Bori (보리) – Barley for boricha
• Sundungi (순둥이) – Easygoing sweetheart
• Yoriwang (요리왕) – cooking king
• Bi (비) – Rain
• Daramjwi (다람쥐) – chipmunk, cheeks stuffed full
• Bandibul (반딧불) – Firefly glow