If you are a K-drama or K-pop fan you most probably heard these three little words, ์ฌ๋ํด (sa-rang-hae) numerous times, meaning I love you in Korean.
However! The system of Honorifics plays a vital role in the Korean language, so the phrase โI Love Youโ needs to be VERY carefully worded.
Basically:
์ฌ๋ํฉ๋๋ค (sa-rang-ham-nida) is the most formal way to say I love you in Korean.
This is not the most common but is used in situations that require politeness. Letโs say a K-pop idol in his or her fan meeting wants to express his love to the fans. Ideally, he or she would wrap up the fan meeting by saying these words.
์ฌ๋ํด์ (sa-rang-hae-yo) is a more common way to express I love you.
Itโs respectful but shows a closer relationship. Natives would use this in most situations so if you are unsure which I love you to use, this is the safest expression to choose.
์ฌ๋ํด (sa-rang-hae) is also a popular word you hear in K-dramas. Use this to the ones you are closest to and of course to that special person in your life.
There are other ways to express love in Korean, so make sure you give this article a read before dropping the L-bomb!
How do you say I love you in your language?