So this basic phrase is very simple to learn and easy to use (in the right situation of course ;p)
We wanted to touch a bit more on this topic as we have already done two graphics about love related vocabulary (Terms of Endearment and Dating terms). As you can see, there are quite a few ways to express how you feel about someone aside from just I love you. There are actually several more that we may touch on in the near future so this may be a part 1.
Of course if you watch dramas and listen to some Koreans songs, you will hear a lot of these. I don’t watch too many of the love dramas as they are a bit too sappy for my taste, but you can hear some good vocabulary from them.
List of phrases and vocabulary in this graphic:
사랑해 = I love you. Use this with close people like family, boyfriends, girlfriends, etc. There is no formal “요” ending because you are saying it to people you are close to. You usually wouldn’t add “나” or “너” (I and you) because it is implied.
나도 사랑해 = I love you too. If someone tells you they love you, you can respond (if you feel the same way!) by saying this phrase.
사랑행 = Extra cute way of saying I love you. Some people like to add this ending to sound more cute. It is a form of aegyo.
좋아해요 = I like you.
많이 좋아해요 = I like you a lot./ I really like you.
당신 없인 못 살아 = I can’t live without you
여자친구 = Girlfriend
남자친구 = Boyfriend
커플 = Couple
데이트 = Date