사랑해
How to say I love you in Korean A1
사랑해 vs 사랑해요 vs 사랑합니다 — plus 좋아해 (I like you) and how K-dramas actually use them.
Every form, from formal to casual
The verb is 사랑하다. Korean does not need “I” or “you” here — 사랑해 alone is the whole sentence.
| Korean | Romanization | Level | Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| 사랑합니다 | saranghamnida | Formal | Song lyrics, speeches, fans to idols on stage |
| 사랑해요 | saranghaeyo | Polite | Parents, early relationships |
| 사랑해 | saranghae | Casual | Partner, close family |
| 좋아해 | joahae | Casual | I like you — the confession word |
| 많이 사랑해 | mani saranghae | Casual | I love you a lot |
Which one do I actually use?
Confessions in Korea usually start with 좋아해 (“I like you”); 사랑해 comes later and is heavier than English “love you” tossed at the end of a call. Fans shout 사랑해요! at concerts — polite, because the idol is not a close friend.
Pronunciation notes
- 사랑해
sa-rang-hae. The ㅇ closes 랑 as “ng”; 해 rhymes with “heh”.
- 좋아해
좋아 → [조아]: ㅎ in the batchim is silent before a vowel.
Vocabulary set
Cards are saved in this browser and scheduled with spaced repetition.
Quick drill
Common mistakes
- ✗ 나는 너를 사랑해 in everyday speech✓ 사랑해Grammatical but robotic; Koreans drop the pronouns.
- ✗ 사랑해 to a new acquaintance✓ 좋아해사랑 is committed love; 좋아하다 is liking / romantic interest.
Example sentences
많이 사랑해.
mani saranghae.
I love you a lot.
나도 사랑해.
nado saranghae.
I love you too.
너 좋아해.
neo joahae.
I like you.
FAQ
How do you say I love you in Korean?
사랑해 (saranghae) casually, 사랑해요 politely, 사랑합니다 formally.
What does 좋아해 mean?
“I like you.” It is the usual confession phrase; 사랑해 is stronger.
How do you say “I love you too”?
나도 사랑해 (casual) or 저도 사랑해요 (polite).
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