그 사람을 좋아해요
geu sarameul joahaeyo
The English phrase "I like him" is expressed in Korean as 그 사람을 좋아해요 (geu sarameul joahaeyo).
This phrase is used to express a positive feeling or romantic attraction toward a male person. While 좋아해요 can mean 'to like' in a platonic sense, in a romantic context, it is the standard way to confess romantic interest.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase literally translates to "that person (object) like". The part 그 사람을 means "that person (object)", where the particle 을 is attached to 사람 to indicate that the person is the object of the liking.
How does it change in a sentence?
In the phrase 그 사람을 좋아해요, the subject "I" is omitted because it is implied by context.
How do you pronounce it?
geu sarameul joahaeyo
Did you know?
- While 그 means 'that', the specific female pronoun 그녀 was actually a modern invention by the writer Kim Dong-in in the early 20th century. It was created to mirror Western-style gendered pronouns and the Japanese word 'kare'.
- The phrase is often used in the 'some' stage, a Korean slang term for the ambiguous period of mutual flirting before two people officially start dating.
- In Korean culture, the phrase 좋아해요 is the central theme of 'confession culture', where one person formally declares their feelings to transition a relationship from friends to partners.
Examples in context
- 선생님, 그를 좋아합니다.Teacher, I like him.
- 친구들아, 나 그를 좋아해.Hey friends, I like him.
- 그 사람, 난 진짜 그를 좋아해.I really like him.
- 나는 그를 짝사랑하고 있어.I have a crush on him.
- 그를 좋아하는 것을 너에게 얘기하고 싶어.I want to share with you that I like him.
- 그 사람을 좋아해요.geu saram-eul joahae-yo.I like him.
- 사실은 그 사람을 좋아해요.sasireun geu saram-eul joahae-yo.Actually, I like him.
- 저도 그 사람을 좋아해요.jeodo geu saram-eul joahae-yo.I like him too.
Example conversation
Two friends are talking about a coworker.
- 지훈 Ji-hun그 사람 정말 멋있지 않아요?geu saram jeongmal meoshit-ji anayo?Isn't he really cool?
- 서연 Seo-yeon맞아요. 저 그 사람을 좋아해요.majayo. jeo geu sarameul joahae-yo.Right. I like him.
- 지훈 Ji-hun정말요? 언제부터요?jeongmallyo? eonjebuteoyo?Really? Since when?
- 서연 Seo-yeon처음 봤을 때부터요.cheoeum bwasseul ttaebuteoyo.Since the first time I saw him.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 그, CC BY-SA 4.0.
