Korean Dictionary
How to say "Love at first sight" in Korean
“Love at first sight” in Korean is 첫눈에 반하다 (pronounced "Cheonune banhada").
첫눈에 반하다
Cheonune banhada
Usage & Context
Falling in love the moment you see someone. Literally 'to fall for (someone) at first sight of snow' — 첫눈 means both 'first snow' and 'at first glance'. A very poetic and romantic expression central to many K-drama storylines about sudden, destined love.
Example Sentence
그 사람을 보자마자 첫눈에 반했어요.
The moment I saw that person, I fell in love at first sight.
How to use 첫눈에 반하다 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Love at first sight” is 첫눈에 반하다, romanized as Cheonune banhada.
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 첫눈에 반하다.
Pronunciation Guide
Pronounce '첫눈에 반하다' as 'Cheo-nun-eh ban-ha-da'. 'Cheo' sounds like 'chuh' in 'church'. 'Nun' is like 'noon'. 'Eh' is like 'eh' in 'bed'. 'Ban' rhymes with 'bahn'. 'Ha' is like 'hah'. 'Da' is like 'dah'. The stress is fairly even across syllables.
Formal & Casual Forms
Formal (존댓말)
첫눈에 반합니다
Cheonune banhamnida
Formal declarative form of the verb '반하다'.
Casual (반말)
첫눈에 반해
Cheonune banhae
Casual form of the verb '반하다'.
More Example Sentences
Talking about a celebrity crush after watching a K-drama.
그 배우를 드라마에서 보고 첫눈에 반했어요.
I saw that actor in a drama and fell in love at first sight.
A child recounting their parents' romantic story.
우리 엄마 아빠는 첫눈에 반해서 결혼했대요.
My mom and dad said they fell in love at first sight and got married.
Expressing a personal belief about romance.
저는 첫눈에 반하는 사랑을 믿어요.
I believe in love at first sight.
Cultural Context
'첫눈에 반하다' is a highly romantic and poetic expression, often a central theme in K-dramas where characters experience an immediate, destined connection. The word '첫눈' literally means 'first snow,' but in this idiom, it means 'first glance' or 'first sight.' This double meaning adds a layer of beautiful imagery, linking the purity and magic of the first snow to the sudden, pure feeling of falling in love. It's a common trope for couples to meet or confess their feelings on the first snowy day in Korea.
Editorial note
We check relationship words like 첫눈에 반하다 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
첫눈에 반한 사람
The person I fell in love with at first sight
첫눈에 반할 줄이야
Who knew I'd fall in love at first sight?
첫눈에 반한 사랑
Love at first sight (as a concept)
Related Expressions
사랑에 빠지다
Sarange ppajida
To fall in love (general)
한눈에 알아보다
Hannune araboda
To recognize at first sight
짝사랑
Jjaksarang
One-sided love, crush
운명
Unmyeong
Destiny, fate
More Relationships Words
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