Ways to say it
| Korean | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 사랑해요 | saranghaeyo | |
| 좋아해요 | joahaeyo | |
| 사랑해 | saranghae | [sʰa̠ɾa̠ŋɦɛ] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) [sʰa̠ɾa̠ŋɦe̞] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) |
| 사랑합니다 | saranghamnida |
This phrase is an affirmation of romantic feeling. The root word 사랑 means "love." In many cases, such as when using 사랑해, the subject "I" and the object "you" are frequently omitted because the context makes the meaning clear. If you want to add emphasis by explicitly stating "I" at the beginning, you can use the phrase 나는 당신을 사랑해요. Additionally, the expression 사랑하는 사람 can be used to refer to someone as your "loved one" or "beloved person."
What does it mean word for word?
The form 사랑해 is built from the noun 사랑 (love) and the verb stem 하다 (to do).
Which one should you use?
While 사랑해요 means "I love you," the form 좋아해요 is often used to express a strong liking or the early stages of romantic affection, meaning "I like you."
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
사랑해요 is the standard polite version used to express affection while maintaining a level of social respect. 사랑합니다 is the highly formal version, often used in public speeches, song lyrics or very formal settings.
How does it change in a sentence?
The formal version 사랑합니다 uses the verb ending 합니다, which is a formal ending that shows respect towards the listener.
How do you pronounce it?
saranghaeyo
Did you know?
- In Korean culture, the concept of 'jeong' 정 describes a deep, collective bond of attachment and love that differs from the romantic focus of 사랑해요, often applying to friends, neighbors and strangers.
- In South Korea, couples often celebrate '100-day anniversaries' rather than just yearly ones, frequently exchanging 사랑해 and gifts to mark the milestone of their first 100 days together.
- The term 사랑 (love) is a purely Korean word, unlike many other Korean words related to emotions or concepts that were borrowed from Chinese characters.
Examples in context
- 사랑해, 듣고 있어? 사랑한다고!I love you, do you hear me? I love you!This sentence uses 사랑해 to show a repetitive or emphatic declaration of love.Tatoeba #8462526 by Eunhee, translation #3390938 by Hybrid
- "사랑해"를 프랑스어로 어떻게 말해?How do you say "I love you" in French?This sentence uses 사랑해 to ask how to say the phrase in another language.Tatoeba #8399411 by Eunhee, translation #2417967 by CK
- "에르나, 사랑해!" "너 취했잖아!""Erna, I love you!" "You're drunk!"This sentence uses 사랑해 in a conversational context regarding someone's state of being.Tatoeba #8556178 by Eunhee, translation #13117325 by moodz
- 저도 사랑합니다.I love you too.
- 8 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
A couple is having a quiet dinner together.
- 도현 Do-hyeon민지 씨, 사랑해요.Minji ssi, saranghaeyo.Minji, I love you.
- 민지 Min-ji저도 도현 씨를 정말 사랑해요.Jeodo Dohyeon ssireul jeongmal saranghaeyo.I love you too, Dohyeon.
- 도현 Do-hyeon오늘 정말 행복하네요.Oneul jeongmal haengbokhaneyo.I am really happy today.
- 민지 Min-ji저도요.Jeodoyo.Me too.
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.
