내가 제일 사랑해
naega jeil saranghae
In Korean, "i love you most" is expressed as 내가 제일 사랑해 (naega jeil saranghae).
This phrase is used to tell someone that you love them more than anyone else.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of 내가 (I), 제일 (most/best) and 사랑해 (love).
Which one should you use?
The term 제일 is used here to mean "the most" in terms of degree or preference.
How do you pronounce it?
naega jeil saranghae
Did you know?
- In Korean culture, expressing love through words is traditionally less common than in English. Many people prefer to show love through acts of service, such as preparing a meal or asking 밥 먹었니? ('Did you eat?').
- The word 사랑 was not always used for romantic love. Historically, it was used to describe feelings of pity, compassion or a deep sense of kinship.
- While 제일 means 'most' in this phrase, it is a homonym for other words, including the term for 'memorial day' and 'New Year's Eve'.
Examples in context
- 세상에서 내가 제일 사랑해.sesangeseo naega jeil saranghae.I love you most in the world.
- 누구보다 내가 제일 사랑해.nuguboda naega jeil saranghae.I love you most, more than anyone.
- 기억해, 내가 제일 사랑해.gieokhae, naega jeil saranghae.Remember, I love you most.
Example conversation
Minjun and Seoyeon are saying goodbye before going home.
- 민준 Min-jun서연아, 사랑해.Seoyeon-a, saranghae.Seoyeon, I love you.
- 서연 Seo-yeon나도 민준이 제일 사랑해.nado Minjun-i jeil saranghae.I love Minjun most too.
- 민준 Min-jun아니야, 내가 제일 사랑해.aniya, naega jeil saranghae.No, I love you most.
- 서연 Seo-yeon알았어, 정말 귀엽네.arasseo, jeongmal gwiyeopne.Alright, you're really cute.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 내가, 사랑해, 제일, CC BY-SA 4.0.
