Learning the Korean language isn’t just about mastering grammar and vocabulary; it’s also about understanding culture. An essential part of Korean culture is the changing seasons and the weather. Knowing how to talk about weather and seasons will not only help you in daily conversations but also enhance your understanding of Korean festivities and activities linked to different times of the year. Let’s learn some key Korean words for weather and seasons.

날씨 (nalssi): Weather
Understanding how to talk about the weather is fundamental in any language. The word 날씨 is the general term for weather in Korean.
오늘 날씨가 어때요?
(How’s the weather today?)

계절 (gyejeol): Season
Korea has four distinct seasons, and the word 계절 represents them all.
한국에는 네 가지 계절이 있어요.
(There are four seasons in Korea.)

봄 (bom): Spring
Spring is a beautiful season in Korea, famous for its cherry blossoms.
봄이 왔어요. 벚꽃이 만개했어요.
(Spring has arrived. The cherry blossoms are in full bloom.)

여름 (yeoreum): Summer
Summers can be hot and humid in Korea, and it’s a great time to enjoy outdoor activities.
여름에는 더워서 바다에 가고 싶어요.
(In summer, it’s hot, so I want to go to the sea.)

가을 (gaeul): Autumn/Fall
Autumn is well-loved for its cool weather and beautiful fall foliage.
가을이 제일 좋아요. 날씨가 시원하고 단풍이 예뻐요.
(I like autumn the best. The weather is cool, and the autumn leaves are pretty.)

겨울 (gyeoul): Winter
Winters are cold in Korea, often bringing snow and opportunities for winter sports.
겨울에는 눈이 와서 스키를 탈 수 있어요.
(In winter, it snows, so you can go skiing.)

맑다 (malgda): Clear
This adjective describes clear, cloudless weather.
오늘 하늘이 맑아서 기분이 좋아요.
(The sky is clear today, so I feel good.)

흐리다 (heureuda): Cloudy
Use this term when the sky is covered with clouds.
오늘은 하늘이 흐려서 비가 올 것 같아요.
(Today the sky is cloudy, so it looks like it will rain.)

비 (bi): Rain
Talking about rainfall is common when discussing weather, and 비 is the word you need.
비가 와서 우산을 챙겨야 해요.
(It’s raining, so I need to take an umbrella.)

눈 (nun): Snow
Snow is a significant aspect of the winter season in Korea.
눈이 내리니까 밖이 하얗게 변했어요.
(The snow is falling, so outside has turned white.)

바람 (baram): Wind
A regular feature of weather reports, 바람 is an essential word to know.
바람이 강하게 부니까 조심하세요.
(The wind is blowing strongly, so be careful.)

덥다 (deopda): Hot
덥다 is an adjective you’ll use quite frequently during the Korean summer.
오늘 너무 더워서 에어컨을 틀어야겠어요.
(It’s so hot today that I have to turn on the air conditioner.)

춥다 (chupda): Cold
Alternatively, during winter, you might find yourself using 춥다 quite often.
오늘은 춥기 때문에 따뜻하게 입어야 해요.
(It’s cold today, so you need to dress warmly.)

선선하다 (seonseonhada): Cool
This is a comfortable state, neither too hot nor too cold, often associated with spring and autumn.
가을이 되니까 날씨가 선선해져서 좋아요.
(Now that it’s autumn, the weather has become cool, which is nice.)

Understanding and using these vocabulary words will greatly improve your ability to communicate about the weather and seasons in Korea. Practice using them in sentences, and soon you’ll be able to discuss the weather like a native speaker! Keep in mind that the weather can influence many facets of daily life in Korea, including what people wear, activities they participate in, and even the foods they enjoy, which makes this part of your language learning journey not only practical but also culturally enriching.