Ways to say it
| Korean | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| 전 당신을 좋아합니다 | jeon dangsin-eul joahamnida |
| 나 너 좋아해 | na neo joahae |
| 난 네가 좋아 | nan ne-ga joa |
Which one should you use?
While 나 너 좋아해 uses a transitive structure (I like you), 난 네가 좋아 uses an intransitive structure (You are liked by me/I find you likable), which is a very common and natural way to express affection in Korean.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
좋아합니다 is a formal way to say "I like you". Similarly, 매우 좋아합니다 is a formal way to say "I really like you" and 관심이 있습니다 is a formal way to say "I am interested in you". For informal situations, 좋아해 is an informal way to say "I like you", 진짜 좋아해 is an informal way to say "I really like you" and 마음에 들어 is an informal way to say "I have feelings for you". The form 나 너 좋아해 is the casual, informal version used between close friends or people of the same age/lower status.
How do you pronounce it?
jeon dangsin-eul joahamnida
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers should be careful using 당신 (dangsin) to mean "you" in daily conversation, as it can sound confrontational or overly dramatic/poetic depending on the context. In many social situations, it is better to use the person's name or title.
Did you know?
- The informal expression 마음에 들어 (ma-eum-e deureo) to express liking someone literally means 'it enters my heart'.
- Some linguists believe the pronouns for 'I' 나, 'you' 너, and 'who' 누구 all evolved from a single ancient root word through a process of vowel changes called ablaut.
- In K-dramas, you will often hear the formal 좋아합니다 used during a confession to show respect and sincerity, even if the couple is close in age.
Examples in context
- 여보, 나는 당신을 매우 좋아합니다.Honey, I really like you.
- 친구야, 널 좋아해.My friend, I like you.
Example conversation
Seoyeon confesses her feelings to Hyunwoo.
- 서연 Seo-yeon현우 씨, 전 당신을 좋아합니다.Hyeon-u ssi, jeon dangsin-eul joahapnida.Hyunwoo, I like you.
- 현우 Hyeon-woo정말요? 저도 서연 씨가 좋아요.jeongmal-yo? jeodo Seoyeon ssi-ga joayo.Really? I like you too, Seoyeon.
- 서연 Seo-yeon제 마음을 알아주셔서 감사해요.je maeum-eul ara-jusyeoseo gamsahaeyo.Thank you for understanding my feelings.
- 현우 Hyeon-woo우리 이제 같이 시간을 보내요.uri ije gachi sigan-eul bonaeyo.Let's spend time together now.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “I like you” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 나, 전, CC BY-SA 4.0.
