What does 짝사랑 mean?
짝사랑 (jjak-sa-rang) means: One-sided, unrequited love.
Literally 'half love' or 'paired love' that isn't actually paired — the ache of loving someone who doesn't know, or doesn't feel the same. A staple word in K-drama plots and high school diaries alike.
🎙️ 짝사랑은 표기 그대로 읽지 않아요 — 실제로는 [짝싸랑]로 소리나요 (경음화). 발음 연습하기 →
How it's actually used
- 3년 동안 친구를 짝사랑하는 건 정말 지치는 일이야.
sam-nyeon dongan chingureul jjaksaranghaneun geon jeongmal jichineun iriya.
Unrequitedly loving my friend for three years is really exhausting.
💡 Use with '하다' to mean having a crush on someone. - 짝사랑도 사랑이라지만 때로는 너무 아프다.
jjaksarangdo sarangirajiman ttaeroneun neomu apeuda.
They say unrequited love is still love, but sometimes it hurts too much.
💡 Often used in emotional reflections or diary entries. - 매일 그 사람의 출근 시간에 맞춰 버스 정류장에서 기다리는 건 슬픈 짝사랑일 뿐이야.
maeil geu saramui chulgeun sigane majchwo beoseu jeongnyujangeseo gidarineun geon seulpeun jjaksarangil ppuniya.
Waiting at the bus stop every day to match his commute time is just a sad unrequited love.
💡 Captures the bittersweet, quiet routine of pining for someone.
Related words in Love & Affection
애지중지하다 ae-ji-jung-ji-ha-da애틋하다 ae-teut-ha-da애교 ae-gyo애정하다 ae-jeong-ha-da사랑스럽다 sa-rang-seu-reop-da