여자 사람 친구

The term '여자 사람 친구' (yeoja saram chingu) is known to have originated from episode 45 of the Naver webtoon 'Wara! Convenience Store.' As this webtoon was serialized from July 2, 2008, to May 21, 2014, the episode is presumed to have been released in late 2008 or early 2009. Subsequently, the term began to be widely used from the mid-2010s, and by 2017, it had become popular enough that DIA's 3rd mini-album included a song titled '여.사.친 (우리사이)' (Yeo.Sa.Chin (Our Relationship)).

'여자 사람 친구' literally means "female person friend" and refers to a friend who is female. It is more commonly used in its abbreviated form, '여사친' (yeosachin). This expression is used to clearly distinguish a platonic, opposite-sex friendship from '여자친구' (yeojachingu), which refers to a romantic partner or girlfriend. The etymology of this term is believed to be a direct translation of the Japanese phrase '女の人 (onna no hito).' It originated from male otaku who had limited opportunities to meet women, using it self-deprecatingly, or from non-otaku mocking them by referring to actual women as '여자 사람' (female person). It is primarily used to describe the subtle relationship between friends and lovers.

The full term '여자 사람 친구' is pronounced roughly as 'Yuh-jah Sah-rahm Chin-goo.' The more commonly used abbreviation '여사친' is pronounced 'Yuh-sah-chin.'

It is widely used by the younger generation, primarily from late teens to their 30s, as well as by all age groups interested in dating and human relationships. In particular, it is frequently used by those who have platonic friendships with the opposite sex or those who are concerned about opposite-sex friends within a romantic relationship.

• "My boyfriend has too many 'yeosachin,' which sometimes makes me anxious."
• "She's just a 'yeosachin' to me; there are no romantic feelings whatsoever."
• "In dramas, there are often stories where the 'yeosachin' ends up with the main character."
• "I have a 'yeosachin' I've been close with since childhood, and we even give each other dating advice."

This term highlights the evolving nature of gender relations and friendships in modern Korean society, particularly the nuanced space between platonic and romantic relationships. Its widespread adoption reflects a societal need to categorize and understand these complex dynamics, often leading to discussions about boundaries in friendships and romantic partnerships.