너와 결혼하고 싶어
neowa gyeolhonhago sipeo
In Korean, "I want to marry you" is 너와 결혼하고 싶어 (neowa gyeolhonhago sipeo).
This phrase is a direct expression used to tell someone that you wish to become their spouse.
What does it mean word for word?
The particle 와 means "with" or "and", so the phrase literally translates to "I want to marry with you".
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
There are several ways to express this depending on the level of formality. The casual version 나 너랑 결혼하고 싶어. is informal. For a more polite approach, you can use 제가 당신과 결혼하고 싶어요, where 제가 acts as a polite pronoun for "I" and 당신과 means "with you". In a formal setting or during a very serious proposal, use 당신과 결혼하고 싶습니다.
How does it change in a sentence?
The verb 결혼하다 (to marry) is combined with the grammar pattern -고 싶어 to express a desire.
How do you pronounce it?
neowa gyeolhonhago sipeo
Did you know?
- Using the pronoun 당신 in 당신과 결혼하고 싶습니다 is rare in daily speech because it can be confrontational, but it becomes a poetic and romantic term of endearment specifically in marriage vows and love letters.
- In traditional Korean culture, the formal request for marriage was not made to the partner but to the partner's parents through a formal process called 혼담.
- While 결혼하다 means 'to marry', Koreans often use the word 프러포즈 (proposal) to refer specifically to the romantic act of asking for marriage, as the English loanword carries a more cinematic connotation.
Examples in context
- 너와 결혼하고 싶어.neowa gyeolhonhago sipeo.I want to marry you.
- 정말 너와 결혼하고 싶어.jeongmal neowa gyeolhonhago sipeo.I really want to marry you.
Example conversation
Minjun proposes to Seoyeon during a quiet dinner.
- 민준 Min-jun서연아, 사실 너와 결혼하고 싶어.Seoyeon-a, sasil neowa gyeolhonhago sipeo.Seoyeon, actually, I want to marry you.
- 서연 Seo-yeon정말이야? 민준 씨, 정말로?jeongmariya? Minjun ssi, jeongmallo?Are you serious? Minjun, really?
- 민준 Min-jun응, 진심으로 너와 결혼하고 싶어.eung, jinsimeuro neowa gyeolhonhago sipeo.Yes, I sincerely want to marry you.
- 서연 Seo-yeon나도 너와 결혼하고 싶어.nado neowa gyeolhonhago sipeo.I want to marry you too.
