사랑해
saranghae[sʰa̠ɾa̠ŋɦɛ]
The English phrase "I love you" is expressed in Korean using 사랑해 (saranghae). Wiktionary also lists 좋아해요 (joahaeyo) and 사랑해요 (saranghaeyo).
Meaning: affirmation of romantic feeling (phrase)
Ways to say it
| Korean | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 사랑해 | saranghae | [sʰa̠ɾa̠ŋɦɛ] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) [sʰa̠ɾa̠ŋɦe̞] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) |
| 좋아해요 | joahaeyo | |
| 사랑해요 | saranghaeyo | |
| 사랑합니다 | saranghamnida |
These phrases are used to affirm romantic feelings. While 사랑해 is the most common casual way to say it, other forms exist to adjust the intensity and level of respect.
Which one should you use?
The form 좋아해요 expresses liking or affection and is often used as a softer or less intense way to express romantic interest compared to the directness of 사랑해요. While 사랑해, 사랑해요 and 사랑합니다 all translate to "I love you," they differ in their level of politeness and social setting.
How do you pronounce it?
saranghae
Did you know?
- While 사랑해 is the direct translation, many Korean couples use the phrase 보고 싶어, which literally means 'I want to see you', to express 'I love you' and 'I miss you' simultaneously.
- While English uses 'love' for both people and objects, using 사랑해 for non-human things like 'I love pizza' sounds highly unnatural and overly dramatic in Korean.
- In South Korea, couples often celebrate their 100th day of dating with a special event, as the phrase 사랑해 is frequently exchanged during these milestones rather than just on anniversaries.
Examples in context
- 사랑해, 듣고 있어? 사랑한다고!I love you, do you hear me? I love you!This sentence shows how to use 사랑해 in an emphatic way.Tatoeba #8462526 by Eunhee, translation #3390938 by Hybrid
- "사랑해"를 프랑스어로 어떻게 말해?How do you say "I love you" in French?This sentence is useful for asking how to translate 사랑해 into another language.Tatoeba #8399411 by Eunhee, translation #2417967 by CK
- "에르나, 사랑해!" "너 취했잖아!""Erna, I love you!" "You're drunk!"This sentence shows a casual interaction using 사랑해.Tatoeba #8556178 by Eunhee, translation #13117325 by moodz
- 할머니, 사랑합니다Grandmother, I love you
- 친구야, 사랑해Friend, I love you
- 8 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
A couple is saying goodbye before going home.
- 민지 Min-ji오늘 정말 즐거웠어. 사랑해.oneul jeongmal jeulgeowosseo. saranghae.I had a great time today. I love you.
- 도현 Do-hyeon나도 정말 즐거웠어. 나도 사랑해.nado jeongmal jeulgeowosseo. nado saranghae.I had a great time too. I love you too.
- 민지 Min-ji조심히 들어가고 내일 연락해.josimhi deureogago naeil yeonrakhae.Get home safely and contact me tomorrow.
- 도현 Do-hyeon응, 알았어. 민지야, 사랑해!eung, arasseo. Minji-ya, saranghae!Yeah, I will. Minji, I love you!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “I love you” translations and entries 사랑해, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
