Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Newbie]

I know that the Korean word for love is sarang, but any of you find that somehow the words aren't quite the same?

On a few occassions I've had the crap scared out of me when a Korean woman has said "I love you" after only 2-4 weeks of dating.

The first time it happened I popped out of bed so fast I nearly killed myself.

I've been trying to explain to a lot of Koreans (men and women) that "love" usually isn't thrown around so quickly by us folks, but they just don't seem to get it. A couple of the aforementioned women, I had to explain to them "well, I really like you, but I'm not quite at love" Of course they didn't understand that at all and didn't take it too well.

They usually come back with "you only like me?!?! What!! We're only friends ..." Turns into quite the discussion

I would love to really be able to read Korean poetry/novels to find out just what they think of sarang

[JackSarang]

Sorry, they mean exactly the same.

Korean women are simply in "love" with the idea of being in love. The whole notion of passionate romantic love is pratically a hobby of Koreans. 90% of Korean Top 40 songs are cheesy love ballads.

[coulter]

Haven't you ever been told "I love you" by a Korean girl that you don't even know? I think it sometimes just means "I think you're attractive".

[the_beaver]

I was giving my girlfriend a hard time about this stupidity just the other day.

Not that long ago in Korea nearly nobody would said those words to each other. Now, and I blame Hollywoodization, it's everwhere like a urine stream in a high wind.

[katydid]

[the_beaver]

[Newbie]

[Newbie]

[Bulsajo]

It's not a translation thing, it's an emotional thing (or maybe an emotional maturity thing)- same thing can happen everywhere, lots of people have differing definitions of what 'I love you' means.

To me (and I guess most other people?) it's a big committment word, not to be used lightly, but I've had a couple of ex-gfs say 'I love you' and you can tell they are mentally putting you in the same category as cute puppies, their new pair of shoes, and the general concept of world peace.

Then on the other hand you get the super-intense needy types who say 'I love you' after a couple of dates and you get the impression they would commit suicide if you mentioned they're having a bad hair day (yikes).

[katydid]

[the_beaver]

[camus' plague]

Sounds like any normal situation back home. Home-grown chics I know will throw the 'L' word out just to see a feelings you have for her. I think "Love" is a difficult word to understand in English. It seems everybody has their own definition.

Also, the word "sarang" and love are different in translation. The fact is that "Love" is thrown around much more than "Sarang." For example, we might say, "I love soccer" or "I love McDonalds." But in Korean, 99% of the time "Sarang" is only used for people.

Peace and Love (whatever that means)!

[Pyongshin Sangja]

I love dog.

[phaedrus]

They are definitely different.

Translation dictionaries and translation give you the closest similar word, but so much of language is culturally determined.

Think of the fact that English "love" passed through the sixties.

It is shaded by all the modern fear of commitment and by the love of independence men have.

It is also colored by various uses in the language such as love birds, puppy love, love sick, love bug, "how do I love thee", ............ many many many.

Language is so complex, and to understand the pattern fully you must be a genius. That's why great poets are regarded as artists.


Kids tell me "Teacher I love you" more for the fact they don't understand. I doubt they would say "Seonsaengnim saranghaeyo".

However, I have had grown Korean men that don't know English say "I love you" to me, but the translator corrects the usage and explains to them they mean like.

[katydid]

They say "Teacher I love you" cause they want a good grade!