{"id":79527,"date":"2020-08-10T19:26:38","date_gmt":"2020-08-10T23:26:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/learn\/weather-in-korean\/"},"modified":"2025-02-04T04:55:57","modified_gmt":"2025-02-04T09:55:57","slug":"weather-in-korean","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/korean\/weather-in-korean\/","title":{"rendered":"Korean Vocabulary Related to the Weather and Seasons"},"content":{"rendered":"

Whether in English or Korean, weather always comes up as a topic for small talk. In today\u2019s lesson, we’ll talk about Korean weather-related vocabulary that might come in handy in conversations with native speakers<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Get ready to embrace awkward small talk in another language.<\/p>\n

[fluentu-toc]<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Korean Seasons<\/h2>\n

Let\u2019s start by introducing you to the seasons, or \uacc4\uc808\u00a0(gye-jeol)<\/em>. There are four distinct seasons in Korea: spring, summer, fall and winter.<\/p>\n

Although, as of late, both summer and winter are becoming more pronounced, extended and unpredictable. Climate change, anyone?<\/p>\n

1. \ubd04\u00a0(bom)<\/em> \u2014 spring<\/h3>\n

If you find yourself in Korea sometime between March and May, then you’re smack in the middle of spring. That’s the best time to chase after cherry blossoms<\/a> and take that perfect selfie for social media.<\/p>\n

The peak time to see cherry blossoms is mid-March to early April, when these pink beauties are at their picture-perfect best.<\/p>\n

2. \uc5ec\ub984\u00a0(yuh-reum)<\/em> \u2014 summer<\/h3>\n

Summer is from June to August. This is the hottest time of the year.<\/p>\n

Ironically, it\u2019s also the wettest. Korea\u2019s \uc7a5\ub9c8\u00a0(jang-ma),<\/em> or rainy season, happens around the middle of June to July.\u00a0<\/p>\n

It’s best to ready your umbrella and raincoats during during rainy season because you could be braving hot and humid weather in the morning, and before you know it, you\u2019re skipping around in puddles in the afternoon.<\/p>\n

After this short, wet streak, temperatures then rise to as high as 40\u2103 around late July to August. There’s way less rain, but it’s still extremely humid. Ditch those thick and baggy clothes and opt for light fabrics.<\/p>\n

3. \uac00\uc744\u00a0(ga-eul)<\/em> \u2014 fall<\/h3>\n

Korea is beautiful all year round, but September to November might just be when it\u2019s most awe-inspiring. That\u2019s when nature plays with the color palette and turns leaves and foliage into crimson, orange and yellow.<\/p>\n

A very popular place to visit in the fall is Seoraksan National Park<\/a> where you can get some stunning autumn views of nature, so get your camera ready. Another popular place is Nami Island<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n

4. \uaca8\uc6b8\u00a0(gyuh-wool)<\/em> \u2014 winter<\/h3>\n

The nation\u2019s winter happens between the months of December and February (snow comes in around late November).<\/p>\n

Koreans have romantic notions regarding the first snow of the year<\/a>. They believe that if you’re lucky enough to be watching the first snow with your \u201cspecial friend,\u201d true love will blossom for both of you.<\/p>\n

For true believers, the first sight of snow sends phones ringing as couples head to the place where they promised to meet. Ah, the promise of forever!<\/p>\n

Korean Words to Describe the Weather<\/h2>\n

\"weather<\/a><\/p>\n

Aside from your opinions about the weather, or \ub0a0\uc528\u00a0(nal-ssi),<\/em> you probably also need to know how to describe a particular day’s forecast.<\/p>\n

Here are some words that might help you describe how temperatures are at the moment. You can use any of these words on their own in Korean and it would already be considered a complete sentence.\u00a0<\/p>\n

5. \ub9d1\uc544\uc694\u00a0(mal-ga-yo)<\/em> \u2014 clear<\/h3>\n

6. \ud574\ub098\uc694<\/strong>\u00a0(hae-na-yo)<\/em> \u2014 sunny<\/h3>\n

7. \ub530\ub4ef\ud574\uc694<\/strong>\u00a0(tda-deut-hae-yo)<\/em> \u2014 warm<\/h3>\n

8. \uc2b5\ud574\uc694<\/strong>\u00a0(seup-hae-yo)<\/em> \u2014 humid<\/h3>\n

9. \ub354\uc6cc\uc694\u00a0(duh-wo-yo)<\/em> \u2014 hot<\/h3>\n

10. \ud750\ub824\uc694\u00a0(heu-ryuh-yo)<\/em> \u2014 cloudy<\/h3>\n

11. \ubc14\ub78c <\/strong>\ubd88\uc5b4\uc694<\/strong><\/strong>\u00a0(ba-ram boo-ruh-yo)<\/em> \u2014 windy<\/h3>\n

12. \ube44\uac00 <\/strong>\uc640\uc694<\/strong><\/strong>\u00a0(bi-ga wa-yo)<\/em> \u2014 rainy<\/h3>\n

13. \ucd94\uc6cc\uc694\u00a0(choo-wo-yo)<\/em> \u2014 cold<\/h3>\n

Other Weather Phenomena in Korean<\/h2>\n

\"weather<\/a><\/p>\n

Beyond the sun and snow, there are several weather-related phenomena that, depending on your personal preference, could either ruin or make your day. Here are some of them.<\/p>\n

14. \uad6c\ub984\u00a0(goo-reum)<\/em> \u2014 cloud<\/h3>\n

15. \ube44\u00a0(bi)<\/em> \u2014 rain<\/h3>\n

16. \ud64d\uc218\u00a0(hong-soo)<\/em> \u2014 flood<\/h3>\n

17. \ub208\u00a0(noon)<\/em> \u2014 snow<\/h3>\n

18. \uc5bc\uc74c\u00a0(uh-reum)<\/em> \u2014 ice<\/h3>\n

19. \uc6b0\ubc15\u00a0(woobak)<\/em> \u2014 hail<\/h3>\n

20. \uc548\uac1c\u00a0(an-gae)<\/em> \u2014 fog<\/h3>\n

21. \uae30\uc628\u00a0(gi-on)<\/em> \u2014 temperature<\/h3>\n

22. \ubc14\ub78c\u00a0(ba-ram)<\/em> \u2014 wind<\/h3>\n

23. \ud0dc\ud48d\u00a0(tae-poong)<\/em> \u2014 typhoon<\/h3>\n

24. \ud3ed\ud48d\u00a0(pok-poong)<\/em> \u2014 storm<\/h3>\n

25. \ubc88\uac1c\u00a0(bun-gae)<\/em> \u2014 lightning<\/h3>\n

26. \ucc9c\ub465\u00a0(chun-doong)<\/em> \u2014 thunder<\/h3>\n

27. \ubb34\uc9c0\uac1c\u00a0(moo-ji-gae)<\/em> \u2014 rainbow<\/h3>\n

28. \uc9c0\uc9c4\u00a0(ji-jin)<\/em> \u2014 earthquake<\/h3>\n

Common Korean Phrases About the Weather<\/h2>\n

\"weather<\/a><\/p>\n

In addition to the ones we learned earlier, here are some basic sentences and expressions that might come in handy.<\/p>\n

29. \ub0a0\uc528\uac00 \uc5b4\ub54c\uc694?<\/strong>\u00a0(Nal-ssi-ga eo-ttae-yo?)<\/em> \u2014 How\u2019s the weather?<\/h3>\n

30. \uc624\ub298 <\/strong>\ub0a0\uc528\uac00 <\/strong>\uc5b4\ub54c\uc694?<\/strong><\/strong>\u00a0(O-neul nal-ssi-ga eo-ttae-yo?)<\/em> \u2014 How\u2019s the weather today?<\/h3>\n

31. \ub0a0\uc528\uac00 \ub098\ube60\uc694.<\/strong>\u00a0(Nal-ssi-ga na-ppa-yo.)<\/em> \u2014 The weather is bad.<\/h3>\n

32. \uc88b\uc544\uc694.<\/strong>\u00a0(J<\/em>o-a-yo.)<\/em> \u2014 It’s good.<\/h3>\n

33. \ube44\uac00\u00a0<\/strong>\uc640\uc694.<\/strong><\/strong>\u00a0(Bi-ga wa-yo.)<\/em> \u2014 It\u2019s raining.<\/h3>\n

34. \ub208\uc774\u00a0<\/strong>\uc640\uc694.<\/strong><\/strong>\u00a0(Noon-i wa-yo.)<\/em> \u2014 It\u2019s snowing.<\/h3>\n

35. \ud558\ub298\uc774 <\/strong>\ub9e4\uc6b0 <\/strong>\ub9d1\uc544\uc694.<\/strong><\/strong>\u00a0(Ha-neul-i mae-u mal-ga-yo.)<\/em> \u2014 The sky is clear.<\/h3>\n

36. \uc800\ub294 <\/strong>\ucd94\uc6b4 <\/strong>\ub0a0\uc528\ub97c <\/strong>\uc88b\uc544\ud574\uc694.<\/strong><\/strong>\u00a0(Jeo-neun chu-un nal-ssi-leul joh-a-hae-yo.)<\/em> \u2014 I like cold weather.<\/h3>\n

37. \ube44 <\/strong>\uc628\ub300\uc694.<\/strong><\/strong>\u00a0(Bi on-dae-yo.)<\/em> \u2014 It\u2019s going to rain.<\/h3>\n

Sometimes, you might also want to emphasize things.<\/p>\n

You need to use a couple of \u201cintensifiers\u201d like \uc544\uc8fc<\/strong>\u00a0(a-joo)<\/em> and \ub9ce\uc774<\/strong>\u00a0(ma-nee)<\/em> for this. \uc544\uc8fc means \u201creally\u201d and is used to emphasize degree or intensity, and \ub9ce\uc774 means \u201cvery\u201d or \u201ca lot.\u201d<\/p>\n

\ub0a0\uc528 <\/strong>\uc544\uc8fc <\/strong>\uc88b\uc740\ub370\uc694.<\/strong> (Nal-ssi a-joo <\/strong>jo-eun-de-yo.)<\/em> \u2014 The weather is really<\/strong> nice.<\/p>\n

\ubc14\ub78c <\/strong>\ub9ce\uc774 <\/strong>\ubd88\uc5b4\uc694.<\/strong> (Ba-ram ma-nee <\/strong>bul-uh-yo.)<\/em> \u2014 It\u2019s very<\/strong> windy.<\/p>\n

Weather-related Korean Idioms<\/h2>\n

\"weather<\/a><\/p>\n

In any language, weather vocabulary figures into idiomatic expressions<\/a>, making the language more vivid and colorful. Here are some Korean ones.<\/p>\n

38. \ubc14\ub78c\uc744 \ub9de\ub2e4 (ba-ram-eul mat-da)<\/em> \u2014 Run into the wind<\/h3>\n

\ubc14\ub78c (ba-ram)<\/em> \u2014 wind<\/p>\n

\uc744 (eul)<\/em> \u2014 [particle]<\/p>\n

\ub9de\ub2e4 (mat-da)<\/em> \u2014 run into\/get hit with<\/p>\n

\ubc14\ub78c\uc744 \ub9de\ub2e4 means to be stood up<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Imagine you\u2019re sitting in a Western-themed restaurant, waiting for your date. Suddenly, you see a tumbleweed, like the ones you see in cowboy movies, ominously roll across the floor.<\/p>\n

Your table is quiet. You hear the whistle of the lonely wind. You\u2019ve just been stood up. \ubc14\ub78c (wind) here represents the nothingness that is your date. Nada. Zilch.<\/p>\n

39. \uac00\ub791\ube44\uc5d0 \uc637 \uc816\ub294 \uc904 \ubaa8\ub978\ub2e4. (Ga-rang-bi-e ot jeot-neun-jul mo-reun-da.)<\/em> \u2014 You don’t realize your clothes are getting wet in a drizzle.<\/h3>\n

\uac00\ub791\ube44 (ga-rang-bi)<\/em> \u2014 light rain<\/p>\n

\uc637 (ot)<\/em> \u2014 clothes<\/p>\n

\uc816\ub2e4 (jeot-da)<\/em> \u2014 get wet<\/p>\n

\ubaa8\ub974\ub2e4 (mo-reu-da)<\/em> \u2014 don’t know<\/p>\n

This is a Korean proverb<\/a> that points to how little things add up to a lot<\/strong>\u2014like in terms of money and wealth.<\/p>\n

Saving even a little money can soon mean a lot, but it can also go the other way. Losing money, even a little, will soon send you to the poor house.<\/p>\n

The English equivalent for this would be \u201cA little leak will sink a great ship\u201d or \u201cMany drops make a flood.\u201d<\/p>\n

40. \uaf43\uc0d8\ucd94\uc704. (Kkot-saem-chu-wi.)<\/em> \u2014 The cold envies the flowers.<\/h3>\n

\uaf43 (kkot)<\/em> \u2014 flower<\/p>\n

\uc0d8 (saem)<\/em> \u2014 envy<\/p>\n

\ucd94\uc704 (chu-wi)<\/em> \u2014 cold<\/p>\n

In Korea, around March, spring comes for its annual show, and flowers start blooming again.<\/p>\n

But every once in a while, there\u2019s a spring frost or cold snap that feels like winter returning<\/strong>, seemingly jealous of the flowers in bloom. That\u2019s where this expression comes from.<\/p>\n

The explanation for the phenomena is that the chill comes from up North in Siberia, blowing through countries like Japan and Korea.<\/p>\n

Interestingly, Japan also has a similar expression with the term \u82b1\u51b7\u3048 (hanabie), <\/em>which literally means “flowers get cold” but conveys the same idea as this Korean idiom.<\/p>\n

41. \ubc14\ub78c\uc744 \ub123\ub2e4 (ba-ram-eul nuh-ta)<\/em> \u2014 To put in wind<\/h3>\n

\ubc14\ub78c (ba-ram)<\/em> \u2014 wind<\/p>\n

\uc744 (eul)<\/em> \u2014 [particle]<\/p>\n

\ub123\ub2e4 (nuh-ta)<\/em> \u2014 put in<\/p>\n

This expression is similar to the English one about \u201cputting wind in one\u2019s sails.\u201d It\u2019s motivating and encouraging, or coaxes someone into action<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

This goes both ways. For example, you can encourage someone for his benefit, like bucking your friend up for a job interview. On the other hand, you can also inflate his ego so he drunkenly walks up to a girl who you know will turn him down.\u00a0<\/p>\n

42. \ud558\ub298\uc744 \uc9c0\ubd95 \uc0bc\ub2e4 (ha-neul-eul ji-bung sam-da)<\/em> \u2014 Make the sky a roof<\/h3>\n

\ud558\ub298 (ha-neul)<\/em> \u2014 sky<\/p>\n

\uc744 (eul)<\/em> \u2014 [participle]<\/p>\n

\uc9c0\ubd95 (ji-bung)<\/em> \u2014 roof<\/p>\n

\uc0bc\ub2e4 (sam-da)<\/em> \u2014 make<\/p>\n

The person who makes the sky his roof is a person who sleeps anywhere and wanders from place to place<\/strong>. The idea encapsulates a vagabond who is perpetually unsettled and always exploring someplace else.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

If you want to hear these words and phrases used by native Korean speakers, you can check out FluentU.<\/a>

FluentU<\/strong> takes authentic videos\u2014like music videos, movie trailers, news and inspiring talks\u2014and turns them into personalized language learning lessons.<\/p>\r\n

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