10 Endearing Korean Love Words And Phrases

Ling Learn Languages
9 min readMay 21, 2021

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Love 사랑 (sarang) in Korean is more than just saying Korean love words and phrases to each other like 사랑해요 (saranghaeyo). If you are watching any Korean drama, you can have a glimpse of Korean culture about dating and relationships. If you are a fan of any Kpop group, you will surely have a bias that makes your heart race whenever you see him or her. This will make you want to learn different Korean love words and phrases to express how they feel.

Common Korean Love Phrases

Do you have a crush? Do you have a boyfriend or girlfriend? or just a fan of a handsome Oppa from a Kpop band and Korean drama? If you do, here are some Korean love phrases and words you might want to learn to scream your hearts out. These romantic Korean phrases will definitely make your boyfriend or girlfriend fall in love with you even more.

1. 보고 싶어 (Bogo Sipeo)

English translation: I miss you

Have you ever felt like you want to see someone as often as you want to? The perfect word for you to use is 보고 싶어 (Bogo Sipeo). One of the most painful feelings in the world is missing someone. The first manifestation of being in love is that you are missing the one you love very often.

Quick language tip. Koreans do not often say “you” unless you are close with that person.

2. 나는 너에게 반했어 (Naneun Neo-ege Banhaesseo)

English translation: I’ve got a crush on you.

Having a crush on someone never fails to make your heart race. It might not be as serious as “I love you” and “I like you,” but it will definitely give you chills when you see that person. A study says that when your crush knows that you have feelings towards him/her, he might suddenly develop feelings for you. There’s no harm in trying, anyway.

3. 같이 있고 싶어 (Gachi Itgo Sipeo)

English translation: I want to be with you

Did you remember the heartbreaking scene in the Korean drama “Crash Landing On You” when Captain Ri Jeong Hyuk have to go back to North Korea, leaving Yoon Se-ri in South Korea? What are the odds that your loved one lived in a place where it is illegal for you to meet? But, like what they say, love knows no distance. That’s how badly they want to be with each other. If you are wondering how to express that in Korean, 같이 있고 싶어 (Gachi itgo sipeo), is the easiest way for you.

4. 만나고 싶어 (Mannago Sipeo)

English translation: I want to see you

Seeing the person, you love even just for a second, will brighten your day. When you miss someone, you will definitely make a way to see that person. Don’t just sit there missing someone and not do anything about it. You can say 만나고 싶어 (mannago sipeo) to let him/her know that you wanted to see him/her. To Koreans, dates don’t have to be expensive. Even having long walks, food trips in street food carts, and drinks can be considered as a date just like Bo-ra and Sun-woo do in Reply 1988.

5. 좋아해 (Joahae)

English translation: I like you

Saying “I like you” is a common way to confess to someone. In confessing, Koreans usually use this phrase because “I love you” is a deeper feeling. Like is emotion-based, while love is decision-based. When you like someone, you are thrilled to be with him/her, but when you love someone, you find genuine happiness. Remember that when you like someone, it can happen overnight, but it takes time in love.

많이 좋아해 (Mani Joahae)

You can also use this word to express how much you like someone. In English, it means “I like you a lot.” However, this would not change the fact that “I love you” is still deeper.

6. 사랑해 (Saranghae)

English translation: I love you

Who among us does not want to hear being told, “I love you?” It is one of the best feelings in the world that is really priceless. There are different ways to say I love you in the Korean language, but this is the basic way you can hear from them when watching their dramas. Just like what is stated above, love does not happen overnight. It takes time. You don’t easily say I love you / 사랑해 (saranghae) to someone if you are unsure what you really feel.

많이 사랑해 (Mani Saranghae)

Another way to say I love you in Korean language is 많이 사랑해 (mani saranghae) to show extra sweetness. This phrase means “I love you a lot” in the Korean language.

나도 사랑해 (Nado Saranghae)

Being loved back is also one of the greatest feelings in the world. You do not have to hide your feeling. One-sided love is not easy for some. So, if you have been told “I love you,” and you want to reciprocate the feeling, you can say, 나도 사랑해 (nado saranghae), which means “I love you too.”

7. 진심으로 사랑해 (Jinsimeuro Saranghae)

English translation: I love you with all my heart

If you are a guy and want to win someone’s heart, you will surely need to bring many romantic Korean love phrases that will make her heart melt. You can use figures of speech like this to exaggerate and express how deeply you are in love. But, like what they say, the heart is not the one that is responsible for regulating our emotional responses. It is the hypothalamus. Can you imagine saying, “I love you with all my hypothalamus?.” Probably, not! So, let’s stick with 진심으로 사랑해 (jinsimeuro saranghae).

8. 나랑 사귈래 (Narang Sagwillae)

English translation: I’d like you to be my girlfriend or boyfriend.

In dating, Koreans are very particular about unwritten rules. It is better to get to know yourselves as a friend first, before going to a deeper relationship as boyfriends and girlfriends. Did you know that Koreans date at least three times before deciding if they want to be a couple or not? This will give time for you to get to know the person even more. A guy usually asks this question, but there will always be an exemption, especially nowadays.

9. 랑 더 오래 같이 있고 싶어 (Neorang Deo Orae Gachi Itgo Sipeo)

English translation: I would like to spend more time with you

Time flies so fast when you are with the person you love. You probably wish that you are Kim Shin in Goblin that has control over time. Sadly, you are not, so the only thing you can do is put it into words and say, 랑 더 오래 같이 있고 싶어 (Neorang deo orae gachi itgo sipeo).

10. 나는 너를 친구 이상으로 생각해 (Naneun Neoreul Chingu Isangeuro Saengakhae)

English translation: I think of you as more than a friend

Remember when Taek and Jung Hwan fell in love with their childhood best friend Deok Sun in Reply 1988? Did you see how complicated things can get if you fell in love with a friend? It is not bad to fall in love with a friend. In fact, it has a lot of advantages because you knew each other for a long period of time. But, the question is, are you willing to risk your friendship to say, 나는 너를 친구 이상으로 생각해 (naneun neoreul chingu isangeuro saengakhae)

Cute And Flattery Korean Phrases To Tell Your Loved-One

Koreans love to be cutesy in everything they do. But, when we say cute, it’s not always for the girls. Guys can be cute too. In fact, they have this term called 애교 (Aegyo) which means “acting cute” in English. In Korea, they don’t have strict masculinity standards, unlike in other cultures.

It is important in a relationship to compliment each other with sweet and flattery words that can make them smile. Here are some romantic Korean phrases that you can use to compliment your loved one.

Extra Cheesy Korean Love Phrases

Tired of common Korean love words and phrases? Why not try these Korean phrases to make it sweeter?

Clingy Korean Love Phrases

Aside from romantic Korean phrases, there are lots of gestures to express your love. But, take note, Koreans do not show affection to the public (PDA). Yes, you may see some couples who kiss and hug but not too much. Keep that in mind before you say these clingy Korean love phrases.

Korean Love Words And Terms For Endearment

Do you ever wonder how Koreans call their special someone? Fun fact, girlfriend call their boyfriends Oppa if he is older than her while boyfriends call their girlfriends Nuna if she is older than him. Aside from this, here are some Korean love words and terms for endearment that you must learn:

Korean Love Quotes

Do you want to spice up your Valentine’s Day greetings and morning messages? Try these love quotes in the Korean language:

Korean Phrases About Fight And Break Up

Fighting and misunderstandings are normal in a relationship. But don’t let it come into a breakup. They say the only thing constant in this world is change. There’s no such thing as forever. But, hey, there is still a lifetime.

Communication in a relationship is important. Learning the different Korean love words and phrases is essential to understand each other. If you want to learn more basic phrases in Korean, there is a separate blog for you. For now, practice everything that you have learned, especially the pronunciation of these words. It is important to say it right because it might lose the meaning of the word.

Deepen You Love For The Korean Language. Learn Korean Now!

Did you enjoy learning Korean through this blog post? Well then, you should start learning Korean now using Ling App. Did you know that Koreans love to keep in touch with one another? But, how will you do that if you cannot express how you feel? Worry no more because Ling App will help you learn Korean and other languages for free. Start your first lesson now and get ready to fall in love with the Korean language even more!

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