남사친

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."