“사랑해” is the conjugated form of the verb “사랑하다” which means “to do love.” Need a refresher? See my lesson on Korean verb conjugation.

The verb “하다” means to do - to review this verb, see my lesson on 하다.

”사랑해” does not carry only romantic or intimate weight, much like “I love you” in English isn’t used exclusively with a romantic partner. You can say “사랑해요” to older family members like your parents, for example, although the casual “사랑해” to your parents is still fine. To review when to add “요” to Korean phrases, see my lesson on politeness levels.

If you want an expression that is exclusive to romantic situations, use “좋아하다”! You would say “좋아해요” to someone you like or have a crush on.