Korean Dictionary
How to say "Love at First Sight" in Korean
“Love at First Sight” in Korean is 첫눈에 반하다 (pronounced "Cheonnune Banhada").
첫눈에 반하다
Cheonnune Banhada
Usage & Context
첫눈에 반하다 means to fall in love at first sight and is one of the most classic tropes in Korean dramas. The dramatic moment when two leads lock eyes and instantly feel a connection is a beloved drama cliche. This expression is used both in dramas and in everyday Korean romantic speech.
Example Sentence
드라마에서 두 주인공이 첫눈에 반하는 장면이 정말 설레었어요.
The scene where the two leads fell in love at first sight was really heart-fluttering.
How to use 첫눈에 반하다 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Love at First Sight” is 첫눈에 반하다, romanized as Cheonnune Banhada.
Usage tip
Drama lines are memorable, but some expressions are emotional or exaggerated compared with everyday Korean.
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
For 'Cheonnune', 'Cheot' sounds like 'chut' in 'shutter', but the 't' blends with the 'n' of 'nune' to make a strong 'n' sound, like 'cheon-nune'. 'Nun' is like 'noon', and 'e' is like 'uh'. 'Banhada' is 'Ban' like 'bahn', 'ha' like 'hah', and 'da' like 'dah'.
Formal & Casual Forms
Formal (존댓말)
첫눈에 반했어요
Cheonnune banhaesseoyo
Polite past tense form, commonly used.
Casual (반말)
첫눈에 반했어
Cheonnune banhaesseo
Casual past tense form, used with close friends.
More Example Sentences
A romantic confession scenario.
그는 그녀에게 첫눈에 반했다고 고백했어요.
He confessed that he fell in love with her at first sight.
Expressing a personal belief about romance.
저는 첫눈에 반하는 사랑을 믿어요.
I believe in love at first sight.
A wishful thought inspired by K-dramas.
드라마처럼 첫눈에 반하는 경험을 해보고 싶어요.
I want to experience love at first sight like in dramas.
Cultural Context
This phrase is a quintessential K-drama trope, often depicted with dramatic slow-motion and intense eye contact. It embodies the romantic ideal of '운명' (unmyeong - destiny) in relationships. In real life, Koreans use this phrase to describe a strong, immediate attraction, often accompanied by '설렘' (seollem - heart-fluttering excitement).
Editorial note
We review drama-style expressions like 첫눈에 반하다 for tone, because lines that sound natural in a scene can feel too emotional or direct in everyday Korean.
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 순간
The moment I fell in love at first sight
Related Expressions
첫 만남
cheot mannam
First meeting
운명적인 만남
unmyeongjeogin mannam
Fated encounter
사랑에 빠지다
sarange ppajida
To fall in love
썸 타다
sseom tada
To have something going on (pre-relationship)
More K-Drama Expressions Words
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