Last updated: September 3, 2023
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What’s The Difference Between Saranghae And Saranghaeyo? (Explained)
Last updated: September 3, 2023
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Summary: Saranghae is an informal or casual word used for the same age, someone younger than you, the children, lover, wife & husband, whereas Saranghaeyo is informal but still polite and used for holders, lovers, wives, husbands, and parents.
Saranghae, and Saraghaeyo, both mean ‘I love you’, but the words, when used in sentences, might change their meaning.
Almost a quarter of the world’s population is eager to learn Korean, participate in Korean-themed productions, and exhibit their passion for Korean cuisine.
The presence of South Korea’s strong economy, geopolitical significance, and expanding presence in Asian popular culture are the reasons why. Pop culture in Korea has extended internationally on various forums.
Keep reading to know the richness, and popularity of the Korean language, as well as identify the difference between Korean words that sound similar.
Korean Language
The alphabet and writing system used for the Korean language is unique.
Korean, the official language of North and South Korea, is spoken by roughly 80 million people. It is also the official language of the Chinese province of Yanbian.
The Korean language family is exclusive to Korean. The dialect from Jeju Island is also a part of the Korean language.
Beijing, Tokyo, Osaka, Los Angeles, New York, Atlanta, and Sydney are the cities with the most significant concentrations of Korean residents outside of the Korean peninsula. Additionally, China, Japan, and the United States are the three countries with the most Korean speakers.
There are nine distinct dialects of Korean. Both North and South Korea’s official settings use standard Korean dialects. It is the southern variation of the Seoul dialect.
The K-Culture
One of the few, if not the only nation in the world, South Korea, has made it a priority to lead the globe in the export of popular culture.
The English translation of the Chinese word hallyu is “Korean Wave.” It alludes to the South Korean cultural economy’s success in exporting popular music, TV shows, movies, and other forms of entertainment around the world.
The Hallyu effect has been enormous, accounting for 1.87 billion US dollars, or 0.2% of Korea’s 2004 GDP.
Most recently, in 2019, Hallyu helped the Korean economy by an estimated 12.3 billion USD.
The origins of Hallyu are proof of its work which include the following:
- Lifting the ban on foreign travel for local Koreans
- Restructuring of Korean chaebols
- Banning the censorship laws
- Increased focus on infrastructure
Why Is The Korean Language Popular These Days?
The language is lovely, but it attracts people to many different things. We’re talking about K-Pop, Hallyu singers, Korean dramas, and the very danceable Gangnam Style when we say that Korean piqued the curiosity of people all over the world.
It has been said since the reign of King Sejong the Great that anyone can learn Hangul in just one hour and that you can read Korean within a day.
Being able to speak Korean could be useful because few people are now learning it, which could lead to many opportunities. As a result, you will face less opposition.
Data from the 21st edition of Ethnologue from 2010 show that 48.4 million people speak Korean as their primary language.
What Is Saranghae?
If you use a website or app to translate “I love you” into Korean, the result will be “saranghae.” This word does indeed imply “I love you,” however it may not be the appropriate expression.
Saranghae is used as I love you in a more informal style rather than a formal one if you are at all familiar with how Korean works.
Korean is a hierarchical language. Thus, your formality will vary based on the audience and the context.
In addition, Koreans have only recently begun to express their affection for one another more freely.
But not as frequently as it may be in Western cultures, the younger generations are now saying it more frequently. Older generations or even parents of young children might never mention it at all.
What Is Saranghaeyo?
The word “saranghaeyo” is the most common, polite way to say “I love you” in Korean.
That is a polite method of expressing your love. This expression is frequently used with parents since it is polite.
In this kind of circumstance, you’re not just saying “I love you,” but you’re also showing appreciation for everything they do. Saranghaeyo could also be used to express your feelings to someone.
You would use the -imnida (formal) endings to show respect whenever you address a large group of people at once, such as in front of an audience, thus it would be saranghamnida.
What Is The Difference Between Saranghae And Saranghaeyo?
The word for “love” in Korean is “sarang.” Its meaning changes to “loving someone” when you combine it with the verb.
Korean is a language of context. The context usually indicates who you are talking about when you declare your love for someone.
Both Saranghae and Saranghaeyo are expressions of affection. The distinction can be found in the Koreans’ usage frequency and tone of voice.
Only Saranghaeyo is addressed in a more formal manner to signify respect and love among individuals. In Korea, it is also the word for “I love you” that is used the most.
In Korean, you must address those who are older than you in a formal manner; in this case, the ending (yo) makes it more courteous.
Saranghae is frequently spoken to in a very casual way that seems to leave out the respect component while expressing “I love you.” Although it is commonly used against youngsters, elder people see no reason to do so.
Hence, if you want to tell someone you love them, you should say Saranghaeyo to someone older than you and Saranghae to someone younger than you.
How Can You Learn Korean By Yourself?
Learning a new language was never simple before a few years ago. Particularly when it comes to languages like Korean, which are not the simplest for a native English speaker to acquire.
But, everything has changed as a result of the popularity of language learning tools and apps. Becoming a language specialist by yourself is no longer possible.
Let’s look at the several ways through which Korean can be learned easily.
| Ways to Learn Korean | Description |
| App – Mondly | It includes brief daily lessons, useful information, and real Korean dialogues performed by local voice actors. |
| Korean Movies | You’ll have a terrific time getting acquainted with the Korean language given that South Korea is home to many fantastic movies. |
| Hangul | If you wish to study Korean, you can get a head start by learning the Korean alphabet, Hangul. |
| Dictionary | Always have a Korean dictionary on hand, not necessarily Naver, but whichever you want. Throughout the day, look up pertinent words. |
Alternatives To The Korean Language
Japanese
Japan is a developed, stunning nation with much to offer in terms of lifestyle, work, entertainment, and culture.
Japanese is the first language of 99.2% of the population in Japan. The following lesser-used languages are still spoken on the islands: Amami, Kyukyu, Kikai, and Miyako.
The bulk of Japanese language students opts for this language due to their professional needs or unique cultural backgrounds that call for additional language abilities.
Japanese people have a strong affinity for visual languages, as opposed to the more familiar characters that most of us are accustomed to.
Chinese
The majority of linguists categorize all varieties of spoken Mandarin as belonging to the Sino-Tibetan language family and think that an initial language known as Proto-Sino-Tibetan once existed.
Chinese is significant because it is the most widely spoken language in the world, spoken by an estimated billion people in China and other countries.
Overwhelming growth in the nation indicates that both the economy and public perception of China are on the rise.
It is anticipated that China will continue to see growth. Stop pondering the reasons why learning Mandarin is a bad idea.
Conclusion
- Saranghae and Saranghaeyo express the same thing, but how locals interpret the tone varies. In Korean, “Sarang” means “love,” and the inclusion of verbs makes it “I love you.”
- The most casual method to express “I love you” is “saranghae,” which is typically used while speaking to someone younger or the same age as them.
- The normal way to pronounce it is saranghaeyo; you can use it, for instance, while speaking to an older person with whom you are close, as a means to still show some respect.
- Despite the fact that it appears and sounds difficult, learning Korean is a fascinating and simple process. The writing system is entirely rational, and the syntax is simple.
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