그녀를 사랑해요
The English phrase "I love her" is translated into Korean as 그녀를 사랑해요.
While 그녀 literally means "she", in natural Korean conversation, this pronoun is often omitted if the subject is already understood from context.
What does it mean word for word?
The form 그녀를 사랑해요 is composed of 그녀 (she), 를 (object marker), 사랑 (love) and 해요 (do/polite verb ending).
How does it change in a sentence?
The informal version of the phrase is 그녀를 사랑해, used with close friends or people younger than you.
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often over-rely on the word 그녀. In natural Korean, it is more common to use the person's name or title instead of a pronoun.
Did you know?
- While 사랑해 is the standard word for 'I love you', Koreans often use 좋아해, meaning 'I like you', to confess romantic feelings for the first time.
- In Korean, using the word 그녀 (she) can actually make you sound like a character in a translated Western novel rather than a real person speaking.
- In traditional Korean culture, expressing love through words was considered embarrassing, so parents often showed love through actions or by scolding their children.
Examples in context
- 김씨를 사랑합니다I love Miss Kim.
- 그녀를 사랑해I love her.
- 사랑해, 그녀가 내 전부야I love her, she's my everything.
Example conversation
Jihoon talks about his feelings to Seoyeon.
- 지훈 Ji-hun지훈 씨는 어떻게 생각해요?Jihoon ssineun eotteoke saenggakhaeyo?What do you think, Jihoon?
- 서연 Seo-yeon저는 그녀를 사랑해요.jeoneun geunyeoreul saranghaeyo.I love her.
- 지훈 Ji-hun정말 뜻밖의 이야기네요!jeongmal tteutbakkeui iyagineyo!That is really unexpected!
- 서연 Seo-yeon네, 정말 많이 좋아해요.ne, jeongmal mani joahaeyo.Yes, I like her very much.
