나 좋아해?
na joahae?
The English phrase "do you like me?" is translated into Korean as 나 좋아해? (na joahae?)
This phrase is used to ask if someone has romantic feelings for you. You can use the verb phrase 마음에 들다 (to like) or the verb 좋아하다 (to like).
Which one should you use?
나 좋아해? and 넌 나 좋아해? are casual ways to ask the question. 내가 맘에 들어? uses the expression 맘에 들다 (to like) and is also used among friends or peers. For more polite or professional settings, you can use 저를 좋아하시나요? or the very formal 제가 마음에 드시나요?
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
To be more polite or when speaking to someone you are not close with, you should use 저 좋아해요? In professional or very formal situations, 저를 좋아하시나요? or 제가 마음에 드시나요? are more appropriate.
How does it change in a sentence?
For example, instead of saying 나를 좋아해?, speakers commonly say 나 좋아해?
How do you pronounce it?
na joahae?
Did you know?
- Some linguists believe the pronouns 나 (I), 너 (you) and 누구 (who) were all created from a single root word through a process called ablaut.
- Because Korean is a pro-drop language, the phrase 좋아해? (like?) can mean 'do you like me?' if the context is clear, without mentioning 'I' or 'you' at all.
- If you are speaking to someone older or in a higher social position, using the casual 나 좋아해? could be seen as a major social error rather than a romantic gesture.
Examples in context
- 나 좋아해?na joahae?Do you like me?
- 정말로 나 좋아해?jeongmallo na joahae?Do you really like me?
Example conversation
Subin and Dohyun are walking home together.
- 수빈 Su-bin도현, 나 좋아해?do-hyeon, na jo-a-hae?Dohyun, do you like me?
- 도현 Do-hyeon응, 아주 많이 좋아해.eung, a-ju ma-ni jo-a-hae.Yes, I like you very much.
- 수빈 Su-bin정말? 언제부터 그랬어?jeong-mal? eon-je-bu-teo geu-raet-eo?Really? Since when?
- 도현 Do-hyeon처음 만났을 때부터 그랬어.cheo-eum man-nat-eul ttae-bu-teo geu-raet-eo.I've felt this way since the first time we met.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 나, CC BY-SA 4.0.
