Korean Words for Love: Top 20 Explained.

Hey my love.

You’re here because you’re interested in Korean words for love. And because I saranghae you so much, I will teach ’em to you.

Okay, that’s weird… we’re internet strangers.

Anyway, scroll down to add some Korean love words to your brain.

Want to learn how to write in Korean? Download your free Korean Hangul (Alphabet) worksheet here.

1. 사랑 sarang

• Meaning: Love

What’s Sarang? Sarang is the Korean word for love.

You can use it for all kinds of love too… whether romance, family love, or if you loved my awesome language blog.

2. 애정 aejeong

• Meaning: Affection

After sarang, there’s aejong. Aejeong is more formal and used for describing warm feelings… whether in writing or polite conversation.

You generally would not use it in conversation.

3. 연애 yeonae

• Meaning: Romance or dating

Yeonae is the word for dating or being in a relationship. People often use this word when chatting about their love lives with their friends.

Anyway, how is your yeonae going? Leave me a comment. I want to hear all about it.

4. 사랑해요 / 사랑해 saranghaeyo / saranghae

This is how you say I love you in Korean.

• Meaning: I love you

But why is there saranhaeyo and saranghae?

Well… Saranghaeyo is polite. Saranghae is polite and more intimate. You’d say this to a someone special or just a family member.

5. 보고 싶어 bogo sipeo

• Meaning: I miss you

You’ll also find this on my list of cute Korean phrases.

Now, if you were to just translate it… Bogo sipeo literally means, “I want to see you.”

However, people use bogo sipeo to express that they miss someone. And yes, you can use it for all kinds of situations – family, friends, and me, your favorite linguajunkie.

6. 좋아해 joahae

• Meaning: I like you

Let’s say love is too much and you’re not ready for it yet.

Well, then there’s joahae – I like you.

Joahae is a much less heavier phrase than, “I love you, my love.”

You can use it in dating, confessing your feelings…and even about things you like! Not just people.

For example, you can say…

• 한국어 배우는 거 좋아해
• Hangukeo baeuneun geo joahae
• I like learning Korean

Do you like learning Korean? Leave me a comment.

7. 마음 ma-eum

• Meaning: Heart or feelings

Ma-eum is the word for “feelings” or “true thoughts.” You’d use me-eum in writing or conversations to express your emotions.

• 마음이 복잡해요
• Ma-eum-i bokjaphaeyo
• My feelings are complicated.

By the way, it’s okay if your feelings are complicated.

8. 정 jeong

• Meaning: Deep attachment or bond

Jeong is a unique and beautiful Korean word that describes the strong feelings for someone you’ve shared life with for a long time. It’s a mix of attachment, loyalty, warmth, and shared existance.

Jeong is not just for lovers… but for family, friends, and Korean learning apps or Korean textbooks.

9. 첫사랑 cheotsarang

• Meaning: First love

Cheotsarang refers to your first love or crush.

You’ll come across cheotsarang in songs and movies, or reminiscing about the old days… if you’re old, which is still okay, because you’re also young. Young at heart (ma-eum – the word you learned earlier.)

10. 애인 aein

• Meaning: Lover or boyfriend/girlfriend

Aein literally means “person you love.”

Aein’s a bit formal or poetic and is used when talking about your partner in general.

After aein, there is this korean word….

11. 연인 yeonin

• Meaning: Sweetheart or lover

Yeonin is like aein but sounds more formal.

You’ll see yeonin in news stories, books, or polite conversation about others.

12. 마음에 들다 ma-eume deulda

• Meaning: To like or appeal to one’s heart

This contains a word you already learned – heart in Korean is ma-eum.

Ma-eume deulda means that someone or something appeals to you. Another way to say you like or are interested in someone.

You’ll use it when saying you like someone or find them attractive.

13. 반하다 banhada

• Meaning: To fall for someone

Banhada is when you suddenly fall in love or develop a big crush.

You’d use banhada if talking about love at first sight as well.

14. 짝사랑 jjaksarang

• Meaning: One-sided love / unrequited love

Jjaksarang is when you like someone who doens’t like you back… or they don’t know you like ’em.

So, use it for secret crushes or when someone just thinks you’re of you as a chingu (friend.)

15. 키스하다 kiseuhada

• Meaning: To kiss

Kiseuhada is comes from English and simply means to kiss.

Couples use kiseuhada casually when talking about kissing.

Here are some examples using this word…

• 우리 키스했어요
  • Uri kiseuhaesseoyo
  • We kissed.
• 내일 키스할 거예요
  • Naeil kiseuhal geoyeyo
  • We will kiss tomorrow.
• 너랑 키스하고 싶어
  • Neorang kiseuhago sipeo
  • I want to kiss you.

16. 설레다 seolleda

• Meaning: To feel butterflies

(verb)

Seolleda is what you’d use when you feel butterflies in your stomach.

When you’re nervous and awkward around someone you like.

Ever felt it?

17. 허니 heoni

• Meaning: Honey

Yes, Heoni is comes English, but the pronunciation’s not exactly the same.

Heoni’s used by couples, especially younger ones. Kind of like baby, sweety, and so on.

18. 내 사랑 nae sarang

• Meaning: My love

Just another lovely nickname to use. Literally means “my love.”

• Nae – my
• Sarang – love

19. 여보 yeobo

• Meaning: Darling or honey

Yeobo is a traditional Korean love word that couples, married or not, use at home

Think darling or honey.

20. 자기야 jagiya

• Meaning: Sweetie or baby

Jagiya is another popular Korean nickname used by couples.

Like, sweetie or baby. You’d use it in intimate talks, over text, or phone calls.

21. 사랑스러워 sarangseureowo

• Meaning: lovely, lovable

Sarangseureowo literally means “full of love” or “lovable.”

Use it to describe someone or something that’s sweet, adorable, or just makes you feel love.

22. 섹시하다 sekssihada

• Meaning: to be sexy,

(verb)

Sekssihada is another English-borrewed word meaning “to be sexy.”

Love word? Maybe. Maybe not. But fun to know.

How do you use it? Well, you can say…

• 너 섹시하다
• Neo sekssihada
• You’re sexy.

Back to You

Alright, nae sarang (my love)…

I hope you enjoyed this list of Korean words for love.

Which one is your favorite?

Did I miss any?

Do you want to learn more? If so, check out these related guides of mine…

the Main Lingua Junkie