내 유일한 사랑
nae yuilhan sarang
내 유일한 사랑 (nae yuilhan sarang) is the Korean phrase for my only love.
This phrase is used to describe the one person that someone loves above all others. It is highly poetic and dramatic, most commonly found in song lyrics, literature or highly stylized romantic declarations rather than in everyday conversation.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of 내 (my), 유일한 (only/unique) and 사랑 (love).
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
내 유일한 사랑 is an informal expression. For a polite version suitable when speaking to someone of higher status or in a formal setting, use 제 유일한 사랑.
How does it change in a sentence?
The word 내 is a contraction of the full, uncontracted form 나의 (na-ui), though 내 is much more common in speech.
How do you pronounce it?
nae yuilhan sarang
Did you know?
- The word 유일한 (only/unique) is derived from Hanja (Chinese characters), reflecting how Korean uses a mix of native words and Sino-Korean roots to express deep emotional concepts.
- While 내 유일한 사랑 is highly romantic, the word 사랑 (love) can also be used as a verb in Korean by adding 하다 (to do), turning the abstract noun into an action.
- The word 내 can also function as a suffix meaning 'through' or 'throughout' in other grammatical contexts.
Examples in context
- 내 유일한 사랑, 항상 나와 함께 해 줘My only love, always stay with me
- 그녀는 내 유일한 사랑이야.geunyeoneun nae yuilhan sarang-iya.She is my only love.
- 너는 내 유일한 사랑이야.neoneun nae yuilhan sarang-iya.You are my only love.
- 그는 내 유일한 사랑이었어.geuneun nae yuilhan sarang-ieosseo.He was my only love.
Example conversation
A romantic evening at a park.
- 현우 Hyeon-woo민지야, 너는 내 유일한 사랑이야.Minji-ya, neoneun nae yuilhan sarang-iya.Minji, you are my only love.
- 민지 Min-ji정말? 감동이야, 현우야.Jeongmal? Gamdong-iya, Hyeon-u-ya.Really? I'm touched, Hyeon-u.
- 현우 Hyeon-woo진심으로 하는 말이야.Jinsim-euro haneun mariya.I am saying this sincerely.
- 민지 Min-ji나도 너를 정말 사랑해.Nado neoreul jeongmal saranghae.I love you so much too.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 내, CC BY-SA 4.0.
