The K-drama "Can This Love Be Translated?" follows the complex romance between interpreter Joo Ho-jin and actress Cha Mu-hee. Despite initially having feelings for other people and facing misunderstandings, Ho-jin and Mu-hee eventually fall in love. Their journey involves globetrotting to picturesque locations in Japan, Canada, and Italy, often as part of a fictional dating reality show called "Romantic Trip."
A significant element of the story is Mu-hee's traumatic past, which manifests as a split personality, Do Ra-mi, after she experiences a severe accident while filming. This alternate personality, inspired by her childhood trauma involving her mother, emerges as Mu-hee gains fame. Ho-jin initially struggles to understand Mu-hee's seemingly erratic behavior, attributing it to her personality type, while Mu-hee is unaware of her Do Ra-mi persona's interactions with Ho-jin.
The central obstacles between Ho-jin and Mu-hee are internal, stemming from their differing communication styles and fears of vulnerability. Ho-jin grapples with understanding Mu-hee's affections, while Mu-hee misinterprets Ho-jin's actions, leading to further complications. The couple finally achieves mutual understanding when Hiro, a co-star on "Romantic Trip," confesses his love to Mu-hee, forcing Ho-jin to interpret his distress and prompting Mu-hee to realize the depth of Ho-jin's feelings.
The series also explores the arcs of supporting characters. Hiro, despite his unrequited love for Mu-hee, grows by learning to be vulnerable and taking personal and professional risks. Sin Ji-seon, Ho-jin's past love interest, finds happiness with Mu-hee's assistant, Kim Yong-u, and they plan to move to the UK together. Ultimately, Mu-hee discovers that Do Ra-mi was not a fictional character but a manifestation of her repressed childhood memories of her mother's abuse. She confronts her past, travels to Los Angeles to see her mother, and returns to Ho-jin. The series concludes with Ho-jin and Mu-hee embracing their love, with Mu-hee expressing her feelings in multiple languages and sharing a kiss under the stars, signifying a happy ending.