Korean · Everyday Verbs
"to love" in Korean: 사랑하다
사랑하다saranghada
to love in Korean is 사랑하다 (saranghada). 사랑하다 is love for a person or something valued; 좋아하다 is often lighter for everyday preferences.
to love: an everyday statement
가족을 사랑해요.gajogeul saranghaeyo.
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How to pronounce 사랑하다
Say it
saranghada
/saɾaŋhata/
Read 사랑하다 as saranghada. The spoken form 사랑해요 is saranghaeyo; preserve its final 요 when addressing someone politely.
"to love" in Korean: quick reference
| Korean | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| 사랑하다saranghada | to love Dictionary form. | Dictionary form. |
| 사랑해요saranghaeyo | to love (polite present) Use 사랑해요 in an everyday polite sentence. | Use 사랑해요 in an everyday polite sentence. |
| 사랑했어요saranghaesseoyo | to love (polite past) Use 사랑했어요 for a completed past action or state. | Use 사랑했어요 for a completed past action or state. |
How to use 사랑하다 in real life
- 1to love: an everyday statement
가족을 사랑해요.
gajogeul saranghaeyo.
I love my family.
사랑해요 is the present form of 사랑하다.
- 2to love: a different situation
저는 그 사람을 사랑했어요.
jeoneun geu sarameul saranghaesseoyo.
I loved that person.
사랑했어요 is the past form of 사랑하다.
- 3to love: a question or request
자연을 사랑해요?
jayeoneul saranghaeyo?
Do you love nature?
사랑해요 is the present form of 사랑하다.
Mistakes English speakers make with 사랑하다
Incorrect: 사랑하다.
Correct: 사랑해요.
When practicing to love, 사랑하다 names the dictionary entry. In polite speech, change the ending to 사랑해요.
Incorrect: 어제 사랑해요.
Correct: 어제 사랑했어요.
When practicing to love, for a completed event yesterday, use 사랑했어요; the present form 사랑해요 does not express that past event.
Good to know
사랑하다 is love for a person or something valued; 좋아하다 is often lighter for everyday preferences. 사랑해요 is the polite conversational form of 사랑하다; 사랑했어요 gives a past-tense form.
Read this practice conversation aloud
Tutor-led everyday verbs study exercise: two sentences with 사랑하다
Partner
이 표현을 사용해서 한 문장 말해 볼까요?
i pyohyeoneul sayonghaeseo han munjang malhae bolkkayo?
Shall we say a sentence using this expression?
You
가족을 사랑해요.
gajogeul saranghaeyo.
I love my family.
Partner
좋아요. 다른 문장으로도 연습해 볼까요?
joayo. dareun munjangeurodo yeonseupae bolkkayo?
Good. Shall we practice with another sentence too?
You
저는 그 사람을 사랑했어요.
jeoneun geu sarameul saranghaesseoyo.
I loved that person.
This is a sample dialogue for reading aloud. Try both parts, then replace a detail with one from your own life.
Explore ChatPal"to love" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "to love" in Korean
How do I use 사랑하다 in polite speech?
사랑해요 is the polite conversational form of 사랑하다; 사랑했어요 gives a past-tense form.
How do I use 사랑하다 in a past-tense sentence?
사랑했어요 is the polite past form. 사랑하다 is love for a person or something valued; 좋아하다 is often lighter for everyday preferences.
What does 사랑해요 mean here?
사랑해요 is used for to love. For example, 가족을 사랑해요. means “I love my family.”
What should I remember about 사랑하다?
사랑하다 is love for a person or something valued; 좋아하다 is often lighter for everyday preferences.
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