Meaning
사랑해
saranghae
I love you
Real Feeling
What Koreans really mean
This is the most common and direct way to express 'I love you' in a casual context. It is frequently used between romantic partners, close family members (like parents to children or vice versa), and even very close friends. While '사랑합니다' is more formal, '사랑해' is the standard for emotional intimacy. Koreans tend to express 'I love you' less frequently or overtly than in some Western cultures, often conveying affection through actions or less direct language, but '사랑해' is the clear statement when direct verbal affection is intended.
💬 Used in real life
• Said by a child to their parent before going to bed.
• Used by a romantic partner to their significant other at the end of a phone call.
How It's Used
Real example sentences — tap any bubble to explore it
A couple confessing their feelings
na neo saranghae!
I love you!
A couple confessing their feelings
nado saranghae!
I love you too!
Similar Expressions
Related feelings and meanings — click to explore
Grammar Breakdown
Part by part — learn the structure, not just the meaning
사랑sarangnoun
noun
This is the noun for 'love'.
-하다-hadaverb ending
verb ending
A common verb suffix that turns nouns into verbs, meaning 'to do' or 'to be'.
-아-ainformal speech level ending
informal speech level ending
An informal declarative sentence ending, forming the plain/intimate speech style (해체).
Tags
Korean expressions carry layers of meaning that direct translation misses. The real meaning lives in the emotion, context, and cultural moment.
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