Korean Dictionary
How to say "School Crush" in Korean
“School Crush” in Korean is 짝사랑 (pronounced "jjaksarang").
짝사랑
jjaksarang
Usage & Context
A romantic attraction to someone at school. School crushes are common among students. Many students experience crushes during their school years.
Example Sentence
학교에서 짝사랑을 했다.
I had a school crush.
How to use 짝사랑 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “School Crush” is 짝사랑, romanized as jjaksarang.
Usage tip
Learn this word together with a complete Korean sentence. Meaning often depends on particles, politeness level, and word order.
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 짝사랑.
Pronunciation Guide
'짝' (jjak) is pronounced like 'jack' but with a tense, aspirated 'j' sound. '사' (sa) sounds like 'sa' in 'sad'. '랑' (rang) is like 'rang' in 'rang' (past tense of ring). The stress is fairly even, with a slight emphasis on the first syllable.
More Example Sentences
Recalling past school days.
고등학교 때 짝사랑하던 선배가 있었어요.
I had a crush on a senior in high school.
Discussing the feelings of a crush.
짝사랑은 가슴 아프지만, 때로는 설레기도 하죠.
Unrequited love is heartbreaking, but sometimes it's also exciting.
Reacting to a K-drama character.
K-드라마 주인공이 짝사랑 때문에 힘들어하는 모습이 공감됐어요.
I sympathized with the K-drama protagonist struggling with unrequited love.
Cultural Context
'짝사랑' (jjaksarang), meaning 'one-sided love,' is a ubiquitous theme in Korean popular culture, particularly in K-dramas, webtoons, and K-pop songs set in school environments. It evokes a strong sense of nostalgia, longing, and bittersweet memories for many Koreans, reflecting a universal experience that is particularly emphasized in Korean media narratives.
Editorial note
We review entries like 짝사랑 for pronunciation, example sentence fit, and learner mistakes so the page answers more than a direct dictionary lookup.
Reviewed by Min-jung Park, Korean Language Teacher. Updated May 31, 2026. See our editorial standards.
Common Phrases
짝사랑하다
to have a crush on someone
짝사랑 상대
the object of one's crush
짝사랑 이야기
a story of unrequited love
Related Expressions
썸
sseom
pre-relationship stage, mutual crush ('something')
고백하다
gobaekhada
to confess feelings
연애
yeonae
dating, romantic relationship
첫사랑
cheotsarang
first love
More School Life Words
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