TOPIK 5The official curriculum files 끼리 in its word list, as a level 5 suffix.
끼리 (kkiri) means "among, just us".
Indicates 'among ourselves/themselves' or 'between (a group)'.
Checked against the official learner dictionary from the National Institute of Korean Language
- Same form after a consonant or a vowel.
- Goes on a group, like 우리 uri, 친구들 chingudeul or 가족 gajok.
Build it
When to use it
Just this group
Nobody else is included.
Like with like
Things of the same kind together.
Between members
Inside the group, with each other.
Watch out
끼리 kkiri needs a group of two or more.
It attaches to the word, so no space.
In context
8 examples- 1
친구끼리 싸우지 마.
Chingukkiri ssauji ma.
Don't fight among friends.
- 2
여자끼리 여행 갔어요.
Yeojakkiri yeohaeng gasseoyo.
We went on a trip with just girls.
- 3
오늘은 가족끼리 조용히 저녁 먹었어요.
Oneureun gajokkkiri joyonghi jeonyeok meogeosseoyo.
We had a quiet dinner tonight, just the family.
- 4
남자들끼리 축구하러 갔어.
Namjadeulkkiri chukguhareo gasseo.
The guys went to play soccer.
- 5
학생들끼리 문제를 해결했어요.
Haksaengdeulkkiri munjereul haegyeolhaesseoyo.
The students sorted out the problem among themselves.
- 6
우리끼리 얘기인데, 그 사람 좀 이상해.
Urikkiri yaegiinde, geu saram jom isanghae.
Just between us, he's a bit weird.
- 7
같은 반 친구들끼리 단톡방을 만들었어요.
Gateun ban chingudeulkkiri dantokbangeul mandeureosseoyo.
My classmates made a group chat just for us.
- 8
아이들끼리만 놀게 해도 돼요?
Aideulkkiriman nolge haedo dwaeyo?
Is it OK to let the kids play on their own?
Practice
8 questions나끼리 갔어.
Nakkiri gasseo.
I went by myself.
끼리 vs 같이
같이 gachi means "together", and it doesn't shut anyone out. 끼리 means "only us", and it does:
- 친구들하고 같이 갔어요. chingudeulhago gachi gasseoyo "I went with my friends."
- 친구들끼리 갔어요. chingudeulkkiri gasseoyo "We went, just us friends." No parents, no one else.
So 끼리 is the word you want for a trip without the family, a secret between friends, or a party that's only for one team.
끼리끼리
Doubled, 끼리끼리 kkirikkiri means "like with like", the same idea as "birds of a feather":
- 끼리끼리 논다. kkirikkiri nonda "Birds of a feather flock together."
People often say it with a little edge, to suggest that a group of friends is all the same kind of trouble.
Hanja in this lesson
Words from the examples that are written with Chinese characters. Tap a character to see its page.
Look it up in the dictionary
The entry for 끼리 in two trusted Korean dictionaries.
