How to Say "I Love You" in Korean (and Actually Mean It)

You just finished watching your third K-drama this month. Your bias just said "saranghae" to another member during a livestream. Or maybe you're dating someone Korean and you want to say "I love you" without sounding like an idiot.

So you Google it and get hit with "사랑해 (saranghae)." Cool. But then you see 사랑해요 (saranghaeyo). And 사랑합니다 (saranghamnida). And you're like, wait—what's the difference? When do I use which one? Can I just say this to anyone?

Here's the thing: saying "I love you" in Korean isn't like English. You can't just memorize one phrase and call it done. The Korean language has different ways to express love depending on who you're talking to, and if you mess it up, you're not just making a language mistake—you're being disrespectful.

The Korean Word for Love: 사랑 (Sarang)

Let's start with the basics. The word for "love" in Korean is 사랑 (sarang). That's your noun. When you add 하다 (hada, meaning "to do") to it, you get 사랑하다 (saranghada)—"to love." This is how you'd find it in a dictionary.

But nobody actually says 사랑하다 in conversation. You conjugate it based on who you're talking to. And that's where it gets interesting.

The Three Ways to Say "I Love You" in Korean

Korean has this whole formality system where verb endings change based on your relationship with the person you're addressing. If you want to learn Korean, understanding this system is crucial—not just for saying "I love you," but for speaking Korean properly in general.

사랑해 (Saranghae) - For Your Person

This informal phrase is what you'd use with your boyfriend, girlfriend, or anyone you're genuinely intimate with. It's the most common way to say love in Korean between romantic partners.

Pronunciation: sa-rang-hae

When you say "I love you" using 사랑해, you're telling someone you don't just care about them—you're all in. In Korean culture, this is deeply personal. You wouldn't use it casually.

When to use it:

When NOT to use it:

사랑해요 (Saranghaeyo) - The Polite Version

This polite expression adds 요 (yo) to the end, which makes it respectful. You'd say "I love you" this way to your parents, or when confessing feelings to someone you want to show respect toward.

Pronunciation: sa-rang-hae-yo (or sa-rang-hae-yo)

When to use it:

사랑합니다 (Saranghamnida) - The Formal Version

This formal version shows up in speeches, religious contexts, or when addressing crowds. It's respectful but distant.

When to use it:

If you use 사랑합니다 with your girlfriend or boyfriend, they'll think you're being weird or sarcastic. Don't do it.

Breaking Down the Korean Verb Structure

The verb "to love" in Korean follows a regular conjugation pattern since it's a 하다 (hada) verb. Once you learn how to conjugate 사랑하다, you can apply the same rules to tons of other Korean verbs.

Here's the breakdown:

If you want to dive deeper into how Korean verb conjugation works, check out our complete guide to Korean verbs. Understanding verb conjugation is essential for speaking Korean naturally.

Why Formality Matters So Much

Look, Korea has this whole Confucian hierarchy thing baked into the language. Age, social status, relationship—all of it determines how you speak. And "I love you" isn't thrown around lightly.

Traditionally, Koreans showed love through actions more than words. Your mom cooks your favorite meal—that's how she says "I love you." Your partner walks you home in the cold—that's their expression of love and affection. Actually saying "사랑해" was reserved for serious romantic moments.

This is changing with younger generations who grew up watching Western media and K-dramas, but the weight is still there. When a Korean person says "사랑해" to you, it means something.

The social rules:

Say "I Love You Too" in Korean

If someone says "I love you" to you in Korean, you can respond with:

나도 사랑해 (nado saranghae) - "I love you too" (informal) 나도 사랑해요 (nado saranghaeyo) - "I love you too" (polite)

나도 (nado) means "me too." So literally it's "me too love."

You can also be super explicit and say 나는 너를 사랑해 (naneun neoreul saranghae), which means "I love you" with all the pronouns included. But native speakers usually drop them because the context makes it obvious who you're talking about.

"I Like You" - Another Way to Say It

Koreans actually use this phrase more between friends or early in dating. It's one of the first ways to express interest without the intensity of 사랑해.

좋아해 (joahae) - "I like you" (informal) 좋아해요 (joahaeyo) - "I like you" (polite)

This comes from the verb 좋아하다 (joahada, "to like"). Use this when you're not ready to drop the L-bomb but want to express romantic feelings. It's less heavy.

Other Korean Love Expressions

보고 싶어 (Bogo Sipeo) - "I Miss You"

Literally translates to "I want to see you," but Koreans use it to say they miss someone. It works in all kinds of situations—family, friends, romantic partners.

The polite version is 보고 싶어요 (bogo sipeoyo).

Korean Terms of Endearment

Once you're in a relationship, you'll hear these:

자기야 (jagiya) - "Honey/darling/baby" This is what couples call each other. Super common in Korean dramas.

여보 (yeobo) - "Honey/dear" Used by married couples specifically.

내 사랑 (nae sarang) - "My love" Direct translation, and it sounds just as romantic in Korean as it does in English.

오빠 (oppa) - What women call older guys they're dating Yes, it literally means "older brother," but in a romantic context it's like saying "babe." K-drama fans know this one well.

More Love Vocabulary

애정 (aejeong) - Affection More formal than 사랑, used in writing or polite conversation.

애인 (aein) - Lover/partner A formal way to refer to your significant other.

정 (jeong) - Deep attachment/affection This Korean word doesn't have a direct English translation. It's that feeling of attachment you develop over time with someone. Native speakers use 정이 있다 (jeongi itta) to say they have affection for someone without implying romantic love.

Korean Dating Culture Context

Here's something that surprises a lot of Westerners: Koreans say "I love you" way earlier than you'd expect. After 2-3 dates? Not uncommon. In Western cultures, saying "I love you" that fast would be a red flag. In Korea, people are just more romantic.

Korean couples also have this whole "confession culture" called 고백 (gobaek). One person explicitly declares their romantic interest, and that's when you officially become a couple. The first official date becomes your anniversary. Koreans even track their 100-day, 200-day, and 300-day anniversaries.

If you're learning Korean to connect with Korean culture—or maybe you're dating someone Korean—understanding these relationship customs matters as much as knowing the right words to say.

Cute Variations for Texts

When texting your partner in Korean, you'll see these cute variations:

사랑행 (saranghaeng) or 사랑해용 (saranghaeyong) Adding that ㅇ (ng) sound at the end makes it cute and playful. Like how English speakers might say "I love youuuu."

사랑해요오~ (saranghaeyooo~) Extended vowels for extra cuteness. You'll see this all over KakaoTalk messages.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Don't use 사랑해 with:

Don't use 사랑합니다 with:

Remember:

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