How to say “I need you” in Korean
- 네가 필요해nega piryohae
I need you
"I need you" in Korean is 네가 필요해 (nega piryohae). It uses 필요하다 (piryohada), "to be needed", so it literally means "You are needed (by me)". Koreans also often say 너 없으면 안 돼 (neo eopseumyeon an dwae), "I can't do without you".
Ways to say it
| Korean | Level | When to use it |
|---|---|---|
| 네가 필요해 nega piryohae | Casual | To a partner or close friend. In speech, 네가 often sounds like 니가 (niga). |
| 너 없으면 안 돼 neo eopseumyeon an dwae | Casual | "I can't do without you." Emotional and very natural between couples. |
| 너밖에 없어 neobakke eopseo | Casual | "You're the only one I have." Said to a partner or a loyal friend. |
| 당신이 필요해요 dangsini piryohaeyo | Polite | Polite and romantic. You hear it in songs and between older couples. It can sound dramatic in daily life. |
| 도움이 필요해요 doumi piryohaeyo | Polite | "I need help." Use this when you need someone's help rather than the person in a romantic way. |
Examples
Tap a word to see what it means and save it to your flashcards.
Asking a partner not to leave
Making up after a fight
Asking a classmate for help
Tips
필요하다 works differently from English "need". The thing you need takes the subject marker 이/가, so it is 네가 필요해, not 너를 필요해.
Korean speakers rarely use 당신 (dangsin) for "you" in conversation, since it can sound distant or even rude. Between couples, people usually use the person's name, 자기 or 너.
Questions learners ask
What does nega piryohae mean?
네가 필요해 (nega piryohae) means "I need you" in casual Korean.
Why is it 네가 and not 너를?
With 필요하다 the needed thing is the grammatical subject, so it takes 가: 네가 필요해.