좋아하는 사람이 있어요
joahaneun sarami isseoyo
In Korean, the phrase "I like someone" is expressed as 좋아하는 사람이 있어요 (joahaneun sarami isseoyo).
This phrase is used to express that you have romantic feelings for someone. While in English one might say "I like a person," in Korean it is more natural to use a structure that translates to "There is a person whom I like."
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase literally translates to "There is a person (that I) like". It is built from the verb 좋아하다, which means "to like".
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
For a highly formal setting, such as professional environments or public speaking, you can use 좋아하는 사람이 있습니다. If you are speaking with friends or someone younger than you, you can use the informal version 좋아하는 사람이 있어.
How do you pronounce it?
joahaneun sarami isseoyo
Did you know?
- In modern Korean dating culture, telling someone 좋아하는 사람이 있어요 is often used as a polite, indirect way to reject a romantic advance from another person.
- In Korea, the act of confessing these feelings is called a 고백 ('gobaek'), which is treated as a formal transition from 'some' (the flirting stage) to an official relationship.
- If you want to say you have a 'crush' or a 'one-sided love', Koreans use the term 짝사랑 (jjaksarang). It combines the characters for 'one-sided' and 'love' to describe that specific, unrequited feeling.
Examples in context
- 저 좋아하는 사람이 있어요.jeo joahaneun sarami isseoyo.I have someone I like.
Example conversation
Minjun and Minji are chatting about their love lives.
- 민준 Min-jun민지 씨, 좋아하는 사람이 있어요?Minji ssi, joahaneun sarami isseoyo?Minji, is there someone you like?
- 민지 Min-ji네, 사실 좋아하는 사람이 있어요.ne, sasir joahaneun sarami isseoyo.Yes, actually there is someone I like.
- 민준 Min-jun정말요? 누구인지 말해 주세요.jeongmallyo? nugu-inji malhae juseyo.Really? Please tell me who it is.
- 민지 Min-ji그건 비밀이에요.geugeon bimirieyo.That is a secret.
