What does it mean word for word?
The phrase breaks down into 라면 (ramen), 을 (object marker), 정말 (really/truly) and 좋아해요 (like).
Which one should you use?
Other forms exist depending on the level of formality and the specific intensity of the emotion. For instance, 나는 라면을 좋아해 is a simple informal way to say "I like ramen," whereas 라면을 너무 좋아해! is an informal way to emphasize the feeling, meaning "I really love ramen!"
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The default 라면을 정말 좋아해요 is polite/standard. You can use the highly formal 라면을 정말 좋아합니다 or 저는 라면을 사랑합니다 for presentations or when speaking to superiors. The phrase 라면을 너무 좋아해! is also an informal way to express intense liking.
How does it change in a sentence?
In the phrase 라면을 정말 좋아해요, the particle 을 (eul) is an object marker attached to 라면 (ramyeon) to indicate that the ramen is the thing being liked. The verb 좋아해요 is the polite/standard form of "to like", ending in the -yo suffix.
How do you pronounce it?
ramyeoneul jeongmal joahaeyo
What mistakes should you avoid?
Be careful not to confuse 좋아해요 (to like something) with 좋아요 (to be good or to be liked). Use 좋아해요 when you want to say "I like [object]."
Did you know?
- When expressing a love for ramen, Koreans often pair it with the phrase 라면 먹고 갈래?, which literally asks 'Do you want to eat ramen before you go?' In modern slang, this is often a flirtatious invitation to stay over.
- The spelling of 'ramen' in Korean is 라면 (ramyeon), which is a phonetic adaptation. Interestingly, in Korea, 'ramyeon' almost exclusively refers to instant dried noodles rather than the fresh noodle varieties found in traditional Japanese ramen shops.
- The word 정말 in your phrase literally translates to 'correct word'. It is composed of the Hanja 정 meaning 'correct' and 말 meaning 'speech' or 'words'.
Examples in context
- 라면이 매울수록 좋아해.The spicier the ramen, the more I like it.
- 나는 신라면을 사랑해.I love Shin Ramyun.
- 라면 진짜 사랑해!I really, really love ramen!
- 저는 라면을 정말 좋아해요.jeoneun rameneul jeongmal joahaeyo.I love ramen.
- 배고플 때 라면을 정말 좋아해요.baegopeul ttae rameneul jeongmal joahaeyo.I really love ramen when I am hungry.
- 매운 라면을 정말 좋아해요.maeun rameneul jeongmal joahaeyo.I really love spicy ramen.
Example conversation
Subin and Jihun are deciding what to eat for lunch.
- 수빈 Su-bin지훈 씨, 점심으로 뭐 먹을까요?Jihun ssi, jeomsimeuro mwo meogeulkkayo?Jihun, what should we eat for lunch?
- 지훈 Ji-hun라면 어때요?Ramyeon eottaeyo?How about ramen?
- 수빈 Su-bin좋아요! 저는 라면을 정말 좋아해요.Joayo! Jeoneun rameneul jeongmal joahaeyo.Good! I love ramen.
- 지훈 Ji-hun저도 라면을 정말 좋아해요.Jeodo rameneul jeongmal joahaeyo.I love ramen too.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 정말, CC BY-SA 4.0.
