Because 사랑해요 (saranghaeyo) is too mainstream.

February is indeed a month full of love. Maybe you are thinking of different ways for expressing your feeling for the loved ones. Maybe you have a Korean partner. Maybe s/he isn’t but you know s/he really loves Korean drama. Maybe you are just learning how to seduce in every languages in the world. Well, it doesn’t matter what is your purpose for reading this article in the first place. Let’s get to the point. Here are 14 romantic phrases I have compiled for expressing your love in Korean, as often heard in many songs.

I wrote this in a respectful informal form. If you want to make it banmal (반말), simply remove the ~요 (~yo) suffix.

보고 싶어요.

Bogo sipeoyo

I miss you. (lit. I want to see you.)

니가 그리워요.

Niga geuriwoyo.

I miss you.

내 앞에 너만 보여요.

Nae ape neoman boyeoyo.

Only you that I can see in front of me.

언제까지라도 너를 잊지 못해요.

Eonjekkajirado neoreul ijji mothaeyo.

I could never forget you for ever.

항상 그대를 생각해요.

Hangsang geudaereul saenggakhaeyo.

I always think about you.

너 때문에 행복해요.

Neo ttaemune haengbokhaeyo.

Because of you I am happy.

난 너밖에 누구도 원하지 않아요.

Nan neobakke nugudo wonhaji anhayo.

I want nobody but you.

너를 기다릴게요.

Neoreul gidarilgeyo.

I will wait for you.

난 너만 기다리잖아요.

Nan neoman gidarijanhayo.

You are the only one I am longing for.

내가 그대 곁을 지켜줄게요.

Naega geudae gyeoteul jikyeojulgeyo.

I will protect you. / I will be on your side.

나랑 사귈래요?

Narang sagwillaeyo?

Would you be my girlfriend/boyfriend?

결혼할래요?

Gyeorhonhallaeyo?

Would you marry me?

우리는 친구보다는 연인이 더 어울리는 것 같아요.

Urineun chingubodaneun yeonini deo eoullineun geot gatayo.

Rather than a friend, we match better as lovers.

그대가 나를 선택해서 고마워요.

Geudaega nareul seontaekhaeseo gomawoyo.

Thank you for choosing me.

너 (neo), 당신 (dangsin), 그대 (geudae) have the same meaning, which is “you”. While these words are common in songs, it’s not really common for Koreans to use “you” for the other person. Instead you could replace it with the name, nickname, or pet names such as 자기 (jagi = my love), 애인 (aein = lover), 오빠 (oppa = older brother), 누나 (nuna = older sister). Plus, isn’t it more lovely that way?