How to Say "I Love You" in Korean

When learning any language (whether or not it's Korean), it is important to learn the correct pronunciation of related words or phrases in order not to be misunderstood when speaking.

1. Sa-rang means "lovehttp://www.zkorean.com/dictionary/search_results?word=love
2. hae-yo literally means "I do"http://www.zkorean.com/dictionary/search_results?word=do
3. Sa-rang-hae-yo means "I love you"http://linguanaut.com/english_korean.htm

The pronunciation of sarang and haeyo are straightforward, and even though it is a good idea to practice pronouncing this phrase at home, it is also a good idea to practice with a native Korean speaker to make sure it is being pronounced correctly.

If practicing with a native Korean speaker isn't possible, there are online resources available to aid in pronunciation, reading, and listening.http://www.zkorean.com/http://korean.sogang.ac.kr/

Koreans will say this phrase to their boyfriend, girlfriend, spouse, parent, child, or grandparent. Depending not only who is speaking but also at whom the phrase is being spoken, the phrase can have different endings. The following are examples:

In a dating relationship or marriage, where the man is older than the woman:

woman: '"Oppa, sarang-haeyo!"'

man: '"Na do sarang-haeyo!"'

The word "oppa", which is what a younger woman might call her husband or boyfriend, with the meaning similar to "honey" or "dear" in English. So, the English translation of what she said is "Honey, I love you." The man's response is "I love you, too", with '"Na do"' translated into English as "I, too."http://linguanaut.com/korean_vocabulary.htm

In a different relationship, such as between a parent and child, the phrase ending is different. Unlike in English and in the U.S., where the exact words "I love you" are said by both parent and child, it is not the case in Korea and in Korean. The child must use a more respectful form of the phrase than does the parent.

child: '"Omma, sarang-hamnida!"'

parent: '"Na do sarang-hae!"'

The '"hamnida"' at the end of the child's spoken phrase denotes speaking in a respectful manner, while it is omitted by the parent when speaking.http://www.zkorean.com/reference/grammar_lessons/honorific_rules

If you are studying Korean for business travel or just interested in understanding the latest Korean movie or pop song, you should use this and any other phrases you learn as much as possible. Make sure you practice with a native speaker or use online resources to improve all aspects of Korean.http://www.learnkorean.com/lesson/lesson1.asp If learning at a regular, brick-and-mortar type of school is more convenient, contact a local Korean Embassy or consular office. http://www.koreaembassyusa.org