짝사랑
jjaksarang
The English phrase 'crush' can be translated into Korean as 짝사랑 (jjaksarang).
짝사랑 refers to the state of unrequited or one-sided love. While the English word 'crush' can describe both the feeling of infatuation and the person being crushed on, 짝사랑 specifically focuses on the one-sided nature of the affection.
Meaning: love or infatuation or its object (often short-lived or unrequited) (noun)
How does it change in a sentence?
To express the idea of being in a one-sided love, you often use the object marker to say 짝사랑을 하다, which literally translates to 'to do/perform a one-sided love'.
How do you pronounce it?
jjaksarang
Did you know?
- If a crush is particularly intense or overwhelming, Koreans might use the term 앓이 (al-i), which is actually a word for suffering from an illness or a physical ache.
- In Korean culture, 짝사랑 is often romanticized in literature as a 'pure' form of love because it is selfless and requires no reciprocation.
- The word 짝 (jjak) in 짝사랑 means 'pair' or 'partner', which creates a poetic irony because a 'one-sided love' is a 'partner-less love'.
Examples in context
- 그 사람은 정말로 마음에 듭니다.I truly have a crush on that person.
- 그 사람 때문에 항상 두근두근해요.I always get excited because of that person.
- 그 사람을 만나면 내 마음이 강하게 뛰어요.When I meet that person, my heart beats strongly.
- 그건 그냥 짧은 짝사랑이었어요.geugeon geunyang jjalbeun jjaksarang-ieosseoyo.It was just a short crush.
- 제 짝사랑은 이루어지지 않았어요.je jjaksarang-eun irueojiji anasseoyo.My crush did not come true.
- 너의 짝사랑을 응원할게.neoui jjaksarang-eul eungwonhalge.I will root for your crush.
Example conversation
Two friends are talking about their romantic feelings.
- 지은 Ji-eun도현 씨, 혹시 짝사랑하는 사람 있어요?dohyeon ssi, hoksi jjaksaranghaneun saram isseoyo?Dohyun, do you happen to have a crush on someone?
- 도현 Do-hyeon네, 사실 오래된 짝사랑이 있어요.ne, sasil oraedoen jjaksarang-i isseoyo.Yes, actually I have a long-time crush.
- 지은 Ji-eun정말요? 누구인지 궁금해요.jeongmalyo? nugu-inji gunggeumhaeyo.Really? I'm curious who it is.
- 도현 Do-hyeon비밀이에요. 말할 수 없어요.bimil-ieyo. malhal su eopseoyo.It's a secret. I can't tell you.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 짝사랑, CC BY-SA 4.0.
