너무 사랑해요
neomu saranghaeyo
The English phrase "I love you so much" is translated into Korean as 너무 사랑해요 (neomu saranghaeyo).
This phrase is used to express a strong feeling of love and affection for someone.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase consists of 너무, which means "so much" or "too much" and 사랑해요, which is the polite form of the verb "to love".
How does it change in a sentence?
In Korean, the subject "I" and the object "you" are often omitted in this phrase because they are implied by context.
How do you pronounce it?
neomu saranghaeyo
Did you know?
- In Korean culture, direct expressions of love like 사랑해요 are often replaced by indirect phrases such as 'Have you eaten?' to convey care and affection.
- The word 너무 was historically used to mean 'excessively' in a negative sense, like 'too much' of a bad thing. While it is now commonly used to mean 'so much' in a positive way, some strict traditionalists still prefer other adverbs for positive emphasis.
- The word 너무 is a linguistic descendant of a Middle Korean verb that meant 'to surpass' or 'to go over' a boundary. Using it effectively describes a feeling that has quite literally overflowed its limits.
Examples in context
- 너무 사랑해요.neomu saranghaeyo.I love you so much.
- 진심으로 너무 사랑해요.jinsimeuro neomu saranghaeyo.I love you so much, sincerely.
- 정말 너무 사랑해요.jeongmal neomu saranghaeyo.I really love you so much.
Example conversation
A couple is saying goodbye after a date.
- 지은 Ji-eun오늘 정말 즐거웠어요.oneul jeongmal jeulgeowosseoyo.I had a great time today.
- 현우 Hyeon-woo저도요. 조심히 가세요.jeodoyo. josimhi gaseyo.Me too. Get home safely.
- 지은 Ji-eun현우 씨, 너무 사랑해요.hyeonu ssi, neomu saranghaeyo.Hyunwoo, I love you so much.
- 현우 Hyeon-woo저도 지은 씨 너무 사랑해요.jeodo jieun ssi neomu saranghaeyo.I love you so much too, Jieun.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 너무, CC BY-SA 4.0.
