사랑해
saranghae[sʰa̠ɾa̠ŋɦɛ]
In Korean, "I love you" is expressed 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 |
These phrases are used to affirm romantic feelings. In Korean, the subject (I) and the object (you) are frequently omitted from the phrase, so 사랑해 can mean "I love you" or simply "Love you".
Which one should you use?
While 사랑해요 means "I love you", the form 좋아해요 means "I like you" and is often used in the earlier stages of a relationship.
How does it change in a sentence?
사랑해 is the casual version used with close friends, younger people or romantic partners of equal or lower status. 사랑해요 is the standard polite version used to show respect to the listener. 사랑합니다 is the highly formal version used in public speeches, ceremonies or very formal settings.
How do you pronounce it?
saranghae
Did you know?
- While 'I love you' is a grand statement, Koreans often use the phrase 'meok-eot-nyeo?' meaning 'Did you eat?' as a way to express affection and care for a loved one's well-being.
- While 사랑해 is for romantic love, Koreans use the word 정 (jeong) to describe a different kind of deep, sticky emotional attachment and collective love that cannot be translated as 'I love you'.
- Older generations of Koreans rarely said 사랑해 to their spouses, as the depth of the feeling was considered so obvious that voicing it was seen as unnecessary or even embarrassing.
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 a repetitive or 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 shows how to ask how to say 사랑해 in another language.Tatoeba #8399411 by Eunhee, translation #2417967 by CK
- "에르나, 사랑해!" "너 취했잖아!""Erna, I love you!" "You're drunk!"This sentence shows the use of 사랑해 in a conversational context.Tatoeba #8556178 by Eunhee, translation #13117325 by moodz
- Saranghae, chingu-ya (사랑해, 친구야)I love you, my friend
- 8 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
A couple is walking in a park at night.
- 민준 Min-jun지은아, 정말 사랑해.Jieun-a, jeongmal saranghae.Jieun, I really love you.
- 지은 Ji-eun나도 민준아, 사랑해.Nado Minjun-a, saranghae.I love you too, Minjun.
- 민준 Min-jun진심이야.Jinsimiya.I mean it.
- 지은 Ji-eun알고 있어.Algo isseo.I know.
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.
