Ways to say it
| Korean | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 로맨스 | romaenseu | [ɾo̞mɛns͈ɯ] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) [ɾo̞me̞ns͈ɯ] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) |
|
| 연애 | yeonae | [ˈjɘ(ː)nɛ] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) [ˈjɘ(ː)ne̞] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) |
|
| 련애 | ryeonae | [ˈɾjɘ(ː)nɛ] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) [ˈɾjɘ(ː)ne̞] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) |
North Korea |
In Korean, there is a distinction between the concept of a romantic relationship and the literary genre. 연애 is the standard term used to describe the act of dating or being in a romantic relationship. In contrast, 로맨스 is a loanword used primarily to describe a genre of storytelling, such as a 'romance novel'.
Which one should you use?
연애 is the common term for dating or a romantic relationship. 로맨스 is used when referring to the genre of a story. Additionally, the term 로망스 is a technical term used specifically to refer to Romance languages or literary forms derived from Latin-influenced cultures, rather than a love affair.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In North Korea, the word for dating or a romantic relationship is written as 련애.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
To express the action of dating or being in a relationship, you can use the collocation 연애를 하다, which combines 연애 with the verb 하다 (to do).
How do you pronounce it?
romaenseu
Did you know?
- While 연애 refers to the act of dating, Koreans often use the word 썸 (ssom) to describe the 'something' that happens before a relationship officially begins. This refers to the ambiguous stage of mutual attraction without a formal commitment.
- The term 로망 (romang) is used in Korean to describe a 'longing' or a 'dreamy ideal' one hopes to achieve. It is a shortened version of the French 'roman' and differs from the English meaning of a love affair.
- There is a specific cultural concept called 밀당 (mildang), which refers to the 'push and pull' of emotional tension during 연애. It is viewed as a strategic game of attraction to maintain interest.
Examples in context
- 로맨스 소설Romance novel
- 로맨스 영화Romance movie
- 로맨스 드라마Romance drama
- 로맨스 커플Romantic couple
- 연애를 시작하다Begin a romantic relationship
- 연애하는 커플A couple in love
- 연인Lover/partner
- 요즘 로맨스 소설을 많이 읽어요.These days, I've been reading a lot of romance novels.
- 로맨스 영화가 제일 좋아요.I like romance movies the most.
- 저와 연애해 줄래요?Will you be in a romantic relationship with me?
- 우리 연인이 되어 줘서 고마워요.Thank you for being my lover/partner.
- 이 영화는 로맨스가 가득해요.i yeonghwaneun romanseuga gadeukhaeyo.This movie is full of romance.
- 현실에서 로맨스를 찾기는 어려워요.hyeonsireseo romanseureul chatgineun eoryeowoyo.It is hard to find romance in real life.
Example conversation
Hyunwoo and Subin are talking about a book.
- 현우 Hyeon-woo이 소설은 로맨스가 정말 멋져요.i soseoreun romenseuga jeongmal meotjyeoyo.The romance in this novel is really wonderful.
- 수빈 Su-bin맞아요, 정말 감동적이에요.majayo, jeongmal gamdongjeogieyo.Right, it is truly touching.
- 현우 Hyeon-woo수빈 씨도 이런 이야기를 좋아하시나요?Subin ssido ireon iyagireul joahasina-yo?Do you like stories like this too, Subin?
- 수빈 Su-bin네, 저는 로맨스 이야기를 좋아해요.ne, jeoneun romense iyagireul joahaeyo.Yes, I like romance stories.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “romance” translations and entries 로맨스, 연애, 련애, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
