What does 사랑해 (saranghae) mean?
- 사랑해saranghae
I love you
Casual: friends and people younger than you
사랑해 (saranghae) means "I love you" in Korean. It is the casual form, so people say it to partners, close friends, siblings and children. You will hear it constantly in K-dramas, love songs and fan messages to idols.
Where it comes from
It comes from the verb 사랑하다 (saranghada), "to love," which is 사랑 (love) plus 하다 (to do). 해 is the casual present-tense ending, so the word on its own means "(I) love (you)."
How to use 사랑해
Korean usually drops "I" and "you" when they are obvious, so 사랑해 by itself is a complete sentence. Adding 너를 (you) is possible but often sounds heavier or more dramatic.
Because it is casual, use it with people you are close to. With parents many families use 사랑해 too, though some people switch to the polite 사랑해요, especially with grandparents or in a letter.
Saying 사랑해 to someone you just started dating can feel fast in Korea, the same as in English. Couples often say 좋아해 (I like you) first.
Examples
Tap a word to see what it means and save it to your flashcards.
Saying goodbye to mom on the phone
Replying to a partner's message
A fan's letter to an idol
Other ways to say it
| Korean | Meaning | When |
|---|---|---|
| 사랑해요 | I love you (polite) | Polite form for parents, grandparents, or fans to idols. |
| 사랑합니다 | I love you (formal) | Formal form, common in speeches, letters and on stage. |
| 사랑한다 | I love you | Plain form; sounds firm or dramatic, often heard in dramas. |
| 나도 사랑해 | I love you too | Casual reply. |
| 많이 사랑해 | I love you so much | Literally "I love you a lot." |
Hear it in songs
Real lines from songs broken down on Hanbok. Open a song to see every line explained.
- 사랑해 너만 보고 싶어 이런 말 듣고 싶잖아?I love you, I only want to see you, you want to hear these words, right?Hi High · LOONA
- 따스한 바람이 불어올 즘 너와 나 사랑했던 아니 여전히 사랑해 이 순간을When the warm breeze blows, you and I... I loved you, no, I still love you, this moment.START! · Stray Kids
- (말하자면 나는 너를) (널 사랑해왔었어) (아주 오래 전부터, 아주 오래 전부터) (나는 너만을)To put it simply, I love you. I've been loving you for a long time, only you.As I Told You · Kim Sung Jae
- 내일 보다 멀리 영원보다 오래 사랑해 널More than tomorrow, farther than forever, I love you.Neverending Story · Stray Kids
Questions learners ask
What is the difference between saranghae and saranghaeyo?
Both mean "I love you." 사랑해 is casual, for people close to you, and 사랑해요 adds the polite ending 요, which is safer with older people or when speaking publicly.
How do you reply to saranghae?
The usual reply is 나도 사랑해 (nado saranghae), "I love you too." Politely, say 저도 사랑해요 (jeodo saranghaeyo).
Is saranghae only romantic?
No. Koreans say it to family and close friends too, much like English speakers say "love you" to a sibling or best friend.