Korean Dictionary
How to say "Crush (romantic interest)" in Korean
“Crush (romantic interest)” in Korean is 좋아하는 사람 (pronounced "Johahaneun saram").
좋아하는 사람
Johahaneun saram
Usage & Context
Someone you have romantic feelings for. Literally 'a person you like'. In Korean romantic culture, confessing feelings (고백, gobaek) is a formal and significant step. K-dramas frequently portray elaborate confession scenes, reflecting cultural emphasis on the importance of clearly stating romantic intentions.
Example Sentence
좋아하는 사람이 생겼어요. 어떻게 고백할까요?
I have someone I like. How should I confess my feelings?
How to use 좋아하는 사람 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Crush (romantic interest)” is 좋아하는 사람, romanized as Johahaneun saram.
Usage tip
Relationship words can sound too direct if the social context is wrong. Check the age, closeness, and formality before using it.
Common mistake
Do not rely only on the English meaning. Read the Korean example sentence and notice the particles, word order, and politeness level around 좋아하는 사람.
Pronunciation Guide
좋아하는 (jo-a-ha-neun): 좋 (jo) sounds like 'joe'. 아 (a) sounds like 'ah'. 하 (ha) sounds like 'ha'. 는 (neun) sounds like 'nun'. The 'ㅎ' (h) in '좋아' often softens or disappears, so it can sound like 'jo-a-neun'. 사람 (sa-ram): 사 (sa) sounds like 'sa' in 'salsa'. 람 (ram) sounds like 'ram'. The phrase flows naturally.
More Example Sentences
Asking a friend about their romantic interests.
혹시 좋아하는 사람 있어요?
Do you happen to have someone you like?
Discussing future romantic plans or intentions.
저는 좋아하는 사람이 생기면 고백할 거예요.
If I get someone I like, I'll confess.
Expressing feelings through a letter to a crush.
좋아하는 사람에게 편지를 쓰는 중이에요.
I'm in the middle of writing a letter to the person I like.
Cultural Context
좋아하는 사람 (johahaneun saram) literally means 'a person you like' and is the most common way to refer to a romantic crush in Korean. Unlike in some Western cultures where 'crush' can be a fleeting feeling, in Korea, having a '좋아하는 사람' often implies a more serious interest that could lead to a formal '고백' (gobaek), or confession of feelings. K-dramas frequently feature elaborate and significant '고백' scenes, highlighting the cultural importance of clearly defining romantic intentions and moving from 'liking' to a potential relationship.
Editorial note
We check relationship words like 좋아하는 사람 against age, closeness, and politeness rules, because a literal English match often misses the social meaning.
Reviewed by Min-jung Park, Korean Language Teacher. Updated May 31, 2026. See our editorial standards.
Common Phrases
좋아하는 사람이 생겼어요
I have a crush (literally: someone I like has appeared).
좋아하는 사람 있어요?
Do you have a crush?
좋아하는 사람에게 고백하다
To confess to one's crush.
Related Expressions
짝사랑
jjaksarang
unrequited love / one-sided crush
썸 타다
sseom tada
to be in a 'some' (pre-relationship) stage
고백하다
gobaekhada
to confess (one's feelings)
연애하다
yeonaehada
to date / to be in a relationship
More Relationships Words
Master Korean with AI-Powered Learning
Practice Crush (romantic interest) and 10,000+ words with native pronunciation and AI conversation.
