Learn Korean: How to Talk About the Weather
Hello everyone! Today, let's learn some useful expressions for talking about the weather, especially as the seasons change. The conversation we'll explore is perfect for a friendly chat on a nice day. Let's dive in!
1. Dialogue Situation
Imagine you're walking outside and the weather is just perfect. The air is crisp and the sun is shining, but it's not too hot. You run into a friend or an acquaintance, and you want to start a simple conversation. This dialogue is great for those casual, everyday moments. It's a natural and common way to break the ice or simply appreciate the day with someone else.
2. Main Dialogue & English Translation
A: 오늘은 날씨가 정말 좋습니다.
Today, the weather is really nice.
B: 네, 바람이 너무 시원하게 부네요.
Yes, the wind is blowing so coolly.
A: 여름이 지나가고 가을이 오나봐요.
It seems like summer is passing and autumn is coming.
B: 그러게요. 좀 더 시원해졌으면 좋겠어요.
I know. I wish it would get a little cooler.
3. Key Vocabulary
- 날씨 (nal-ssi): Weather. A fundamental word for starting any weather-related conversation.
- 정말 (jeong-mal): Really, truly. A great intensifier to add emphasis to your words.
- 바람 (ba-ram): Wind. Another essential word for describing the feeling of the outdoors.
- 시원하다 (si-won-ha-da): To be cool, refreshing. This word is often used for a pleasant, cool temperature, not just for cold things.
- 여름 (yeo-reum): Summer. One of the four seasons.
- 가을 (ga-eul): Autumn/Fall. Another of the four seasons.
4. Key Expressions & Application Sentences
Let's break down some of the most useful phrases from the dialogue.
- 날씨가 좋다 (nal-ssi-ga jot-ta): "The weather is good/nice."
오늘은 날씨가 정말 좋아요. (Today, the weather is really nice.)
How would you say "The weather is bad?" You'd say: 날씨가 안 좋아요 (nal-ssi-ga an jo-a-yo). - 바람이 불다 (ba-ram-i bul-da): "The wind blows."
바람이 시원하게 불어서 기분이 좋아요. (The wind is blowing refreshingly, so I feel good.)
If you want to describe a strong wind, you can say: 바람이 세게 불어요 (ba-ram-i se-ge bul-eo-yo). - ~이/가 지나가다 (~i/ga ji-na-ga-da): "To pass, to go by."
겨울이 지나가고 봄이 왔어요. (Winter has passed and spring has come.)
You can use this for time, too: 시간이 너무 빨리 지나가요. (Time is passing by too quickly.) - 그러게요 (geu-reo-ge-yo): "I know," "You can say that again," "That's what I was thinking." This is a perfect phrase for agreeing with someone in a casual, conversational way.
그러게요, 요즘 너무 바빠요. (I know, I've been so busy lately.)
It's a great conversational filler that shows you're engaged.
5. Today's Point: Grammar for Everyday Conversations
-나 보다 (-na bo-da): "It seems like," "I guess"
This grammar pattern is used to express a guess or assumption based on what you see or feel. It's perfect for when you're observing something and making a soft conclusion.
The structure is simple: add -나 보다 directly after a verb stem. For adjectives, you use -은/ㄴ가 보다.
- Verb: 오다 (o-da) -> 오 + 나 보다 = 오나 보다 (o-na bo-da) (It seems to be coming.)
- Adjective: 좋다 (jot-ta) -> 좋 + 은가 보다 = 좋은가 보다 (jo-eun-ga bo-da) (It seems to be good.)
Example from the dialogue:
여름이 지나가고 가을이 오나봐요.
It seems like summer is passing and autumn is coming.
6. Application Dialogue
Let's try a different scenario using what we've learned.
A: 내일은 비가 올 것 같아요.
I think it will rain tomorrow.
B: 그러게요. 날씨가 흐리네요.
I know. The weather is cloudy.
A: 바람이 불어서 좀 쌀쌀합니다.
It's a little chilly because of the wind.
B: 가을이 오려나 봅니다.
It seems like autumn is about to come.
And that's it for today! Practice these phrases to sound more natural when talking about the weather. See you next time!