섹스를 하다
sekseu-reul hada
The English phrase 'make love' can be translated into Korean as 섹스를 하다 (sekseu-reul hada). Wiktionary also lists 성관계를 하다 (seonggwan'gye-reul hada).
Meaning: to engage in sexual intercourse (verb)
Ways to say it
| Korean | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| 섹스를 하다 | sekseu-reul hada |
| 성관계를 하다 | seonggwan'gye-reul hada |
Which one should you use?
섹스를 하다 is more direct and common in everyday speech. In contrast, 성관계를 하다 is a formal, clinical or technical term for sexual intercourse.
How does it change in a sentence?
To express that someone 'had sex' in the past tense, change the verb 하다 to the past tense form 했다.
How do you pronounce it?
sekseu-reul hada
Did you know?
- In romantic literature or subtitles for movies, the phrase 사랑을 나누다 is often used instead, which literally means 'to share love'.
- The word 'sex' in the phrase 섹스를 하다 is a loanword from English, written in the Korean phonetic alphabet, showing how much modern Korean has integrated Western terminology.
- Because Korean culture traditionally values modesty, the phrase 섹스를 하다 is rarely used in public conversation and is often replaced by vague expressions like 'spending the night'.
Examples in context
- 네, 그렇습니다. 저희는 사랑을 나누었어요.Yes, we made love.
- 어제 애인하고 섹스했어.I had sex with my partner yesterday.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “make love” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
