What Does 치맥 (Chimaek) Mean in Korean?
10-Second Answer
치맥 (chimaek) is a blend of 치킨 (chikin, "chicken") and 맥주 (maekju, "beer") — Korean fried chicken paired with beer, one of the most beloved food-and-drink combos in the country. It's less a menu item and more a whole social ritual: watching sports, catching up with friends, or unwinding after work, always with chicken and beer together.
Quick Examples
오늘 치맥 콜?
oneul chimaek kol?
Chimaek tonight? You in?
콜 (kol, from English 'call') = 'deal/I'm in' — casual agreement slang.
축구 보면서 치맥 하자.
chukgu bomyeonseo chimaek haja.
Let's watch soccer and do chimaek.
Why Fried Chicken Specifically?
Korean fried chicken developed its own distinct identity — often double-fried for extra crispiness, and frequently coated in sauces like 양념 (yangnyeom, sweet-spicy) alongside the plain 후라이드 (huraideu, "fried") version. Delivery culture (see 빨리빨리) made chicken-and-beer nights at home an everyday option, not just a restaurant outing.
치맥 as a Cultural Export
치맥 gained international visibility partly through K-dramas — a famous scene in the drama My Love from the Star sparked a real spike in Korean fried chicken's popularity in China and beyond. Daegu even hosts an annual Chimaek Festival celebrating the combo specifically.
Common Mistakes
Mistake #1 — Assuming 치맥 is just any chicken and any beer
It specifically evokes the shared social RITUAL — ordering together, splitting a whole fried chicken, drinking beer alongside it — not simply eating chicken near a beer.
Mistake #2 — Confusing it with 소맥
치맥 = chicken + beer. 소맥 = soju + beer (see the soju page). Similar-sounding, completely different pairing.
Mini Quiz
1. What two words combine to form 치맥?
2. What's the difference between 치맥 and 소맥?
3. What helped make 치맥 internationally famous?
Related Knowledge
Learn Next
Chicken and beer are often the star of another Korean institution — the company dinner.
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Start today's study →Last updated: 2026-08-10 · Written and reviewed by a native Korean speaker.