사랑해
saranghae[sʰa̠ɾa̠ŋɦɛ]
In Korean, "I love you" is expressed through several forms, with 사랑해 (saranghae) being the default form. 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. In Korean, the subject "I" and the object "you" are almost always omitted in the phrase 사랑해 because they are implied by context.
Which one should you use?
While 좋아해요 means "I like you," it is often used in the early stages of dating to express affection before moving to the stronger 사랑해요 (I love you).
How does it change in a sentence?
사랑해요 is the standard polite version used to show respect while expressing affection. 사랑합니다 is the highly formal version, often used in public speeches, song lyrics or very formal settings. Additionally, BTS를 사랑해 is an informal way to express love for the group by specifically mentioning BTS.
How do you pronounce it?
saranghae
Did you know?
- In Korea, the phrase 사랑해 is often considered too heavy for daily use. Many couples prefer to express affection through caretaking phrases like 'Have you eaten?' or 'Get home safely'.
- The word 사랑 is historically related to a term for 'thinking' or 'longing'. This suggests that in the Korean mindset, loving someone is deeply tied to the act of constantly thinking about them.
- When expressing love to a parent or elder, Koreans rarely use 사랑해. Instead, they express love through honorifics and acts of service, as saying 'I love you' directly to a parent can feel uncomfortably blunt.
Examples in context
- 사랑해, 듣고 있어? 사랑한다고!I love you, do you hear me? I love you!This sentence demonstrates using the informal form 사랑해 to emphasize a feeling.Tatoeba #8462526 by Eunhee, translation #3390938 by Hybrid
- "사랑해"를 프랑스어로 어떻게 말해?How do you say "I love you" in French?This sentence shows how to ask for the translation of the informal form 사랑해.Tatoeba #8399411 by Eunhee, translation #2417967 by CK
- "에르나, 사랑해!" "너 취했잖아!""Erna, I love you!" "You're drunk!"This sentence shows the informal form 사랑해 being used in a dialogue.Tatoeba #8556178 by Eunhee, translation #13117325 by moodz
- 사랑해, 방탄소년단! 너희 노래는 항상 나를 웃게 해.I love you, BTS! Your songs always make me smile.
- 8 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Jihoon and Seoyeon are walking in a park at night.
- 지훈 Ji-hun서연아, 정말 사랑해.seoyeon-a, jeongmal saranghae.Seoyeon, I really love you.
- 서연 Seo-yeon나도 지훈아, 사랑해.nado jihun-a, saranghae.I love you too, Jihoon.
- 지훈 Ji-hun고마워, 내 곁에 있어줘서.gomawo, nae gyeote isseojwoseo.Thank you for staying by my side.
- 서연 Seo-yeon항상 네 옆에 있을게.hangsang ne yeope isseulge.I will always be by your side.
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.
