How to Respond to 사랑해 (Saranghae) in Korean: Expressing Affection Naturally
Learn to answer 사랑해 with 나도 사랑해, 저도 사랑해요, or playful 나도! Understand when to use each and how to express deeper feelings like 보고 싶어.
By PookieFriends & plans · Yapr Learn
When someone says 사랑해 (saranghae, “I love you”) to you in Korean, the most direct reply is 나도 사랑해 (nado saranghae, “I love you too”) or the polite 저도 사랑해요 (jeodo saranghaeyo). But Korean offers several natural responses depending on your relationship and the level of affection you want to show. This lesson teaches you exactly how to respond, when to use casual versus polite speech, and how to express missing someone or telling them they mean a lot to you. You will also learn a common mistake that can make your reply sound distant or awkward.
By the end, you can…
- respond to 사랑해 with an appropriate level of politeness.
- express missing someone or telling them they mean a lot using natural Korean phrases.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
나도 사랑해
I love you too. (casual)
na-do sa-rang-hae
Use with a close friend, romantic partner, or someone younger than you. This is the most common reply to 사랑해 among peers.
저도 사랑해요
I love you too. (polite)
jeo-do sa-rang-hae-yo
Use with someone older, a superior, or in a formal relationship. It adds respect without sounding cold.
나도 많이 사랑해
I love you a lot too. (casual)
na-do ma-ni sa-rang-hae
Adds emphasis. Use with a close partner or family member when you want to sound especially warm.
보고 싶어
I miss you. (casual)
bo-go si-peo
Use with close friends or a romantic partner. It expresses missing someone, which is a deeper feeling than a simple compliment.
너는 나에게 정말 소중해
You mean a lot to me. (casual)
neo-neun na-e-ge jeong-mal so-jung-hae
Use with someone very close. This expresses deep appreciation, not just a surface compliment.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
The core pattern for responding to 사랑해 is 나도 / 저도 + 사랑해(요). 나도 is casual and 저도 is polite. You can also add 많이 (mani, “a lot”) before 사랑해 to intensify: 나도 많이 사랑해. For deeper affection, use 보고 싶어 (“I miss you”) or 너는 나에게 정말 소중해 (“You mean a lot to me”). These go beyond compliments like 예뻐 (“pretty”) or 멋있어 (“cool”) because they express emotional attachment. Example: A: 사랑해. B: 나도 사랑해. 보고 싶었어.
When to use it
Use casual forms (나도 사랑해, 보고 싶어) with close friends, romantic partners, or people younger than you. Use polite forms (저도 사랑해요) with older relatives, teachers, or in formal settings. If you are unsure, 저도 사랑해요 is safe and respectful. Avoid using casual forms with someone you just met or with a superior, as it can sound rude. For a playful response, some couples say 나도! (nado, “me too!”) with a smile, but this is very informal and only for close relationships.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
자기야, 사랑해.
Honey, I love you.ja-gi-ya, sa-rang-hae나도 사랑해. 오늘 하루도 고마워.
I love you too. Thank you for today as well.na-do sa-rang-hae. o-neul ha-ru-do go-ma-wo나도 네가 보고 싶었어.
I missed you too.na-do ne-ga bo-go si-peo-sseo너는 나에게 정말 소중해.
You mean a lot to me.neo-neun na-e-ge jeong-mal so-jung-haeA little context goes a long way
Korean affection is often expressed through actions and indirect words rather than frequent direct declarations. 사랑해 is common between romantic partners and close family, but friends may use 좋아해 (“I like you”) or 보고 싶어 (“I miss you”) instead. Politeness levels matter: using casual speech with someone older can feel disrespectful, while polite speech with a close partner may sound distant. Observe how Koreans around you speak and adjust gradually.
One thing to watch for
Responding to 사랑해 with a simple 네 (ne, “yes”) or 알겠어 (algesseo, “I got it”).
Try this instead: These replies can sound like you are acknowledging a fact rather than returning affection. Instead, say 나도 사랑해 (casual) or 저도 사랑해요 (polite). If you want to be playful, 나도! works only with very close people, but it is not a full sentence. For a warmer reply, add 보고 싶어 or 너는 나에게 정말 소중해.
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1Your close friend says 사랑해. What is a natural casual reply?
Show a sample answer
나도 사랑해.
나도 사랑해 matches the casual tone of 사랑해 and returns the affection directly. You could also say 나도 많이 사랑해 to add emphasis.
2Your older cousin says 사랑해요. How do you reply politely?
Show a sample answer
저도 사랑해요.
저도 사랑해요 uses the polite 저 and the -요 ending, matching the respectful tone. Using 나도 사랑해 would be too casual for an older relative in many families.
3You want to tell your partner you missed them. What phrase can you use?
Show a sample answer
보고 싶었어.
보고 싶었어 is the past tense of 보고 싶어 and means “I missed you.” It expresses a deeper feeling than a compliment. You can also say 보고 싶어 for “I miss you” in the present.
The safest reply to 사랑해 is 나도 사랑해 (casual) or 저도 사랑해요 (polite). To show deeper affection, add 보고 싶어 or 너는 나에게 정말 소중해. Match the other person’s politeness level and relationship closeness.
Progress is saved on this browser.
Practice real time conversations on Yapr for faster learning.
Put today’s Korean into a conversation with an AI tutor. Speak, make mistakes, and try again.
Practice on Yapr