사랑해요! saranghaeyo! I love you! Talking about Relationships in Korean
In this post we’re going to learn vocabulary and expressions that you can use to talk about relationships in Korean. First we’ll cover basic vocabulary that you can use to talk about love and relationships. Next, we’ll move on to expressions you can use to talk about someone who’s caught your eye and who you might be interested in getting to know a bit better. After that we’ll look at some vocabulary you can use to talk about taking someone on a date. Then we’ll move on to vocabulary and expressions that you can use to talk about longer term relationships and marriage. Of course not all relationships end well, so we’ll also see some expressions that are related to not-to-happy relationships and break ups. Finally, we’ll end on a positive note and talk about some nice romantic Valentine’s vibes.
Basic Vocabulary for Love and Relationships in Korean
First, let’s start with some basics. If you’re talking to your significant other, you might want to use a pet name like 애인 aein sweetheart, 여보 yeobo darling, 내 사랑 nae sarang my love, or 자기야 jagiya baby.
- 사랑해
saranghae
I love you. - 나를 사랑해요?
na-reul salanghaeyo?
Do you love me? - (나는) 그녀를 사랑해요.
(na-neun) geunyeo-reul saranghaeyo.
I love her. - (나는 ) 그를 사랑해요.
(na-neun) geu-reul saranghaeyo.
I love him.
- (이 사람은) 내 남자친구/여자 친구예요.
(i saram-eun) nae namjachingu/yeojachingu yeyo.
This is my boyfriend/girlfriend. - (이 사람은) 내 남편이에요/ 내 아내예요.
(i saram-eun) nae nampyeon-ieyo/ nae anae-yeyo.
This is my husband/wife. - 해피 발렌타인 데이!
haepi ballentain dei!
Happy Valentine’s Day! - 행복한 기념일
haengboghan ginyeom-il
Happy Anniversary. - 보고싶어요.
bogo shipeoyo.
I miss you.
Talking about Someone You’re Interested In
Next let’s see some vocabulary you can use if someone has caught your eye.
- 그를 / 그녀를 정말 좋아해요.
geu-reul / geunyeo-reul jeongmal joahaeyo.
I really like him/her. - 그는 정말 잘생겼어요.
geu-reul jeongmal jalsaeng-gyeoss-eoyo.
He is really handsome. - 그녀는 아름다워요.
geunyeo-neun areumdawoyo.
She’s beautiful. - 재미있어요.
jaemi isseoyo.
He is/She is funny. - 흥미로워요.
heungmilowoyo.
He is/She is interesting. - 똑똑해요.
ttogttoghaeyo.
He is/She is smart.
Talking about Dating and Relationships in Korean
Now let’s look at some vocabulary related to dating. Maybe there’s a mutual attraction? One way to find out is to ask.
- 저와 저녁 먹을래요?
jeo-wa jeonyeog meog-eullaeyo?
Do you want to have dinner with me? - 저와 데이트 할래요?
jeo-wa deiteu hallaeyo?
Do you want to go out with me? - 저와 커피/차 마실래요?
jeo-wa keopi/cha mashillaeyo?
Do you want to have coffee/drinks with me? - 같이 저녁 먹어요.
gachi jeonyeog meog-eoyo.
Let’s have dinner together. - 알게 되어서 정말 즐거웠어요.
alge doe-eoseo jeongmal jeulgeowosseoyo.
I really enjoyed getting to know you. - 언제 또 데이트 할래요?
eonje tto deiteu hallaeyo?
Do you want to go out again some time? - 또 보고 싶어요.
tto bogo shipeoyo.
I want to see you again. - 키스하고 싶어요.
kiseuhago shipeoyo.
I want to kiss you.
Talking about Long-Term Relationships in Korean
Next let’s move on to longer term relationships. If you’re in a long-term relationship, you might want to know how to say::
- 두 분은 사귄지 얼마나 되었어요?
du bun-eun sagwinji eolmana doeeosseoyo?
How long have you two been together? - 우리는 일년 정도 사귀고 있어요.
uri-neun ilnyeon jeongdo sagwigo isseoyo.
We’ve been together for a year. - 두 분은 어떻게 만났어요?
du bun-eun eotteokke mannasseoyo?
How did you two meet? - 우리는 직장에서 / 학교에서 만났어요.
uri-neun jigjang-eseo / haggyoeseo mannasseoyo.
We met at work/school. - 우리는 파티에서 / 술집에서 만났어요.
uri-neun pati-eseo / suljib-eseo mannasseoyo.
We met at a party/bar. - 우리는 온라인으로 만났어요.
uri-neun onlain-eulo mannasseoyo.
We met online. - 우리 친구들이/부모님들이 우리를 소개했어요.
uri chingudeul-i/bumonimdeul-i uli-reul sogaehaesseoyo.
Our friends/parents introduced us. - 우리는 일년/이년 정도 사귀고 있어요.
uri-neun ilnyeon/inyeon jeongdo sagwigo isseoyo.
We’ve been together for a year/two years. - 우리는 오랫동안 사귀고 있어요.
uri-neun olaetdong-an sagwigo isseoyo.
We’ve been dating for a long time. - 우리는 함께 살아요.
uri-neun hamkke salayo.
We live together. - 우리는 아직 결혼하지 않았어요.
uri-neun ajig gyeolhonhaji anasseoyo.
We’re not married yet. - 우리는 결혼하고 싶지만 준비가 안되었어요.
uri-neun gyeolhonhago shipjiman junbiga andoeeosseoyo.
We want to get married, but we’re not ready.
Talking about Marriage
Of course we can’t talk about vocabulary for relationships in Korean without talking about marriage. If you decide that you want to get married, you might want to say:
- 결혼해 줄래요?
gyeolhonhae jullaeyo?
Will you marry me? - 결혼하자!
gyeolhonhaja!
Let’s get married. - 우리는 약혼했어요.
uri-neun yaghonhaesseoyo.
We’re engaged. - 이건 제 약혼반지예요.
igeon je yaghonbanjiyeyo.
This is my engagement ring. - 이 사람은 제 약혼자예요.
i saram-eun je yaghonjayeyo.
This is my fiancé(e). - 우리는 결혼식을 계획하고 있어요.
uri-neun gyeolhonshig-eul gyehoeghago isseoyo.
We’re planning our wedding. - 우리 결혼식은 간단하고 작을 거에요.
uri gyeolhonshig-eun gandanhago jageul geoeyo.
Our wedding will be simple and small. - 신부가 아름다워요.
shinbu-ga areumdawoyo.
The bride is beautiful. - 신랑이 잘생겼어요.
shinlang-i jalsaeng-gyeosseoyo.
The groom is handsome. - 결혼식이 아름다웠어요.
gyeolhonshig-i areumdawosseoyo.
The wedding was beautiful. - 이 사람은 제 남편이에요.
i saram-eun je nampyeon-ieyo.
This is my husband. - 이 사람은 제 아내에요.
i saram-eun je anaeeyo.
This is my wife. - 결혼한지 얼마나 되었어요?
gyeolhonhanji eolmana doeeosseoyo?
How long have you been married? - 오늘은 우리의 결혼기념일이에요.
oneul-eun uri-e gyeolhonginyeom-il-ieyo.
Today is our wedding anniversary.
Talking about Difficulties in Relationships in Korean
Next let’s move on to less happy vocabulary. Hopefully your relationship is long and strong and full of happiness. But, sometimes things just don’t work out.
- 우리는 더이상 함께 있지 않아요.
uri-neun deoisang hamkke itji anayo.
We’re not together anymore. - 그들은 함께 있으면 행복하지 않아요.
geudeul-eun hamkke isseumyeon haengboghaji anayo.
They’re not happy together. - 그들은 항상 말다툼해요.
geudeul-eun hangsang maldatumhaeyo.
They argue all the time. - 그들은 크게 싸우고 있어요.
geudeul-eun keuge ssaugo isseoyo.
They’re having a big fight. - 그는 그녀를 속였어요.
geu-neun geunyeo-reul sogyeosseoyo.
He cheated on her. - 그녀는 그를 속였어요.
geunyeo-neun geu-reul sogyeosseoyo.
She cheated on him. - 그는/그녀는 바람을 피고 있어요.
geu-neun/geunyeo-neun balam-eul pigo isseoyo.
He is/She is having an affair. - 헤어지고 싶어요.
heeojigo shipeoyo.
I want to break up with you. - 이혼하고 싶어요.
ihonhago shipeoyo.
I want to get a divorce. - 그들은 헤어졌어요.
geudeul-eun heeojyeosseoyo.
They broke up. - 그들은 이혼했어요.
geudeul-eun ihonhaesseoyo.
They got divorced.
해피 발렌타인 데이! haepi ballentain dei! Happy Valentine’s Day
Finally, let’s end on a good note and talk about the romance of Valentine’s Day.
- 이 꽃들은 …씨를 위한 거에요.
i kkotdeul-eun …shi-reul wihan geoeyo.
These flowers are for you. - 이 초콜릿들은 …씨를 위한 거에요.
i chokollitdeul-eun …shi-reul wihan geoeyo.
These chocolates are for you. - 우리 낭만적인 저녁식사를 해요.
uri nangmanjeog-in jeonyeogsigsa-reul haeyo.
Let’s have a romantic dinner. - 제게 아주 소중해요.
jege aju sojunghaeyo.
You’re very important to me. - 내 삶을 …씨와 함께하고 싶어요.
nae salm-eul …shi-wa hamkkehago shipeoyo.
I want to spend my life with you. - 언제나 …씨를 생각해요.
eonjena …shi-reul saeng-gaghaeyo.
I think about you all the time.
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