사랑해
saranghae[sʰa̠ɾa̠ŋɦɛ]
In Korean, "I love you" is said as 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 |
This phrase is used to affirm romantic feelings.
Which one should you use?
The phrase 좋아해요 literally means "I like you". Although it can be used to express romantic interest, it serves as a softer or less intense way to express affection compared to the more direct 사랑해.
How do you pronounce it?
saranghae
When do people say it?
In Korean culture, the phrase 사랑해 is used much more sparingly and seriously than the English "I love you" is used in casual conversation.
Did you know?
- Koreans sometimes use the term 정 (jeong), which has no English equivalent, to describe a deep, lingering attachment that is different from the romantic passion implied by 사랑해.
- In Korean pop songs and dramas, the phrase 사랑해 is often accompanied by a 'finger heart', where the thumb and index finger are crossed to form a tiny heart shape.
- To express love to a parent or elder, Koreans traditionally avoided saying 사랑해 because it felt too direct or Western, preferring to show love through actions or by saying they are grateful.
Examples in context
- 사랑해, 듣고 있어? 사랑한다고!I love you, do you hear me? I love you!This sentence shows the phrase 사랑해 being used 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 demonstrates how to ask for a translation of 사랑해.Tatoeba #8399411 by Eunhee, translation #2417967 by CK
- "에르나, 사랑해!" "너 취했잖아!""Erna, I love you!" "You're drunk!"This sentence shows an example of using 사랑해 in a conversational context.Tatoeba #8556178 by Eunhee, translation #13117325 by moodz
- 친구여, 나는 널 사랑합니다.Friend, I love you.
- 8 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
A couple is walking through a park at sunset.
- 지훈 Ji-hun지은아, 정말 사랑해.Jieun-a, jeongmal saranghae.Jieun, I really love you.
- 지은 Ji-eun나도 너를 사랑해, 지훈아.Nado neoreul saranghae, Jihun-a.I love you too, Jihun.
- 지훈 Ji-hun고마워, 이렇게 말해줘서.Gomawo, ireoke malhaejwoseo.Thank you for telling me that.
- 지은 Ji-eun진심이야, 항상 사랑해.Jinsimiya, hangsang saranghae.I mean it, I love you always.
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.
