Are You "Cold" or "Freezing"? Korean Vocabulary for Winter

 

Is it just "cold" or is it "freezing"? Don't let your Korean vocabulary freeze up! Learn 4 essential words for "cold" in Korean, from the standard '춥다' to the aching '시리다' and the dramatic '얼어 죽겠다'.

1. 춥다 (chupda): The Standard "Cold" 

This is the word you will use 90% of the time. It refers to the air temperature being low. You can use it for the weather, a room, or how your body feels generally.

📝 Examples (예문)

• 오늘 날씨가 너무 추워요.
  (Oneul nalssiga neomu chuwoyo.)
  The weather is too cold today.
• 방이 좀 춥네요.
  (Bangi jom chumneyo.)
  The room is a bit cold.
• 추워서 코트 입었어요.
  (Chuwoseo koteu ibeoss-eoyo.)
  It was cold, so I wore a coat.
• 안 추워요?
  (An chuwoyo?)
  Aren't you cold?

2. 쌀쌀하다 (ssalssalhada): "Chilly" / "Nippy" 

This word is perfect for autumn or early spring. It describes weather that is cool, crisp, and slightly cold, but not freezing. It's often used to talk about the wind or the feeling of the air.

📝 Examples (예문)

• 바람이 꽤 쌀쌀해요.
  (Barami kkwae ssalssalhaeyo.)
  The wind is quite chilly.
• 가을이라 아침저녁으로 쌀쌀하다.
  (Gaeurira achim-jeonyeogeuro ssalssalhada.)
  Since it's autumn, it's chilly in the mornings and evenings.
• 날씨가 쌀쌀하니 따뜻하게 입으세요.
  (Nalssiga ssalssalhani ttatteuthage ibeuseyo.)
  The weather is chilly, so dress warmly.
• 갑자기 날씨가 쌀쌀해졌어.
  (Gapjagi nalssiga ssalssalhaejyeoss-eo.)
  The weather suddenly got chilly.

3. 시리다 (sirida): "Aching Cold" / "Freezing" (Body Parts) 

This is a unique Korean nuance! 시리다 (sirida) describes a sharp, aching cold sensation felt in specific body parts like your hands, feet, teeth, or knees. It feels like the cold is penetrating your bones.

⚠️ Usage Tip!
Don't use `시리다` for the weather itself (e.g., "The weather is 시리다" is wrong). Use it for *your body's reaction* to the cold. (e.g., "My hands are 시리다").

📝 Examples (예문)

• 손이 시려요.
  (Soni siryeoyo.)
  My hands are freezing (aching with cold).
• 찬물을 마시니까 이가 시리다.
  (Chanmureul masinikka iga sirida.)
  My teeth ache because I drank cold water.
• 발이 너무 시려워서 감각이 없어요.
  (Bari neomu siryeowoseo gamgagi eopseoyo.)
  My feet are so freezing cold I can't feel them.
• 옆구리가 시리다.
  (Yeopguriga sirida.)
  My side feels empty/lonely. (Idiom: implying loneliness as 'coldness')

4. 얼어 죽겠다 (eoreo jukgetda): "Freezing to Death" 

Koreans love dramatic expressions! 얼어 죽겠다 (eoreo jukgetda) literally means "I will freeze to death." It comes from `얼다` (to freeze) + `죽다` (to die). Use this when it is unbearably cold.

📝 Examples (예문)

• 밖에 얼어 죽겠어요!
  (Bakke eoreo jukgess-eoyo!)
  It's freezing to death outside!
• 난방 좀 켜주세요, 얼어 죽겠네.
  (Nanbang jom kyeojuseyo, eoreo jukgenne.)
  Please turn on the heating, I'm freezing to death.
• 이 날씨에 나가면 얼어 죽어.
  (I nalssie nagamyeon eoreo jugeo.)
  If you go out in this weather, you'll freeze to death.
• 진짜 얼어 죽을 만큼 추워요.
  (Jinjja eoreo jugeul mankeum chuwoyo.)
  It's seriously cold enough to freeze to death.

Summary: Levels of Coldness 

Here is a quick guide to choosing the right word.

Korean Word	Meaning	Intensity	Target
춥다	Standard "Cold"	Medium	Weather, Room, Feeling
쌀쌀하다	Chilly / Nippy	Light	Weather, Wind (Autumn)
시리다	Aching / Numb	Specific Pain	Hands, Feet, Teeth (Parts)
얼어 죽겠다	Freezing to death	Extreme	Extreme Weather (Expression)

 

❄️

Key "Cold" Words Recap

Standard "Cold": 춥다 (chupda)

Autumn "Chilly": 쌀쌀하다 (ssalssalhada)

Body Parts "Aching": 시리다 (sirida)

Extreme:

얼어 죽겠다 (eoreo jukgetda)

Pro Tip: Use '시리다' for cold hands/teeth!

Stay warm and speak Korean confidently!

Frequently Asked Questions 

Q: What is the opposite of 춥다?

A: The opposite is 덥다 (dopda), which means "hot." (Also: 쌀쌀하다 opposite is 따뜻하다/warm).

Q: Can I say "My room is 시리다"?

A: No! Use 춥다 for a room (방이 추워요). Use 시리다 for your body parts (e.g., hands, feet) that feel numb or painful from cold.

Q: Is 얼어 죽겠다 common?

A: Yes, very common in winter! It's a fun exaggeration to emphasize how terribly cold it is.

Q: How do I say "It's getting colder"?

A: You can say "날씨가 추워지고 있어요" (The weather is becoming cold) or "점점 추워져요" (It's getting colder and colder).

Now you're ready to face the Korean winter! Remember the difference between just being "cold" (춥다) and your hands "aching" (시리다).

Stay warm out there! Happy studying! 🧣🧤