Describe Korea’s Viral Frozen Lakes Like a Pro!

Hello! This is Maeil Hangul, here to upgrade your Korean skills!

Have you ever seen a landscape so beautiful it left you speechless? Winter in Korea offers some truly magical sights, especially the stunning frozen lakes and rivers. Lately in Korea, visiting these icy wonderlands and posting breathtaking photos on Instagram has become a huge trend! Today, we’re going to learn the essential Korean expressions to describe these scenes perfectly. Get ready to impress your Korean friends with your descriptive skills!

Core Expressions You Need to Know

Here are four key expressions to describe a frozen winter scene like a native speaker.

1. 꽁꽁 얼다 (kkong-kkong eol-da)

• Pronunciation: [kkong-kkong eol-da]
• English Meaning: To be frozen solid.
• Detailed Explanation: 얼다 (eol-da) simply means “to freeze.” But when you add 꽁꽁 (kkong-kkong), a mimetic word, it emphasizes that something is frozen completely and solidly. It’s a very common and expressive word you’ll hear all the time in winter. You can use it for rivers, lakes, your hands, or even food!

2. 반짝반짝 (ban-jjak-ban-jjak)

• Pronunciation: [ban-jjak-ban-jjak]
• English Meaning: Sparkling, glittering, twinkling.
• Detailed Explanation: This is another beautiful mimetic word that describes the way light reflects off a surface. It’s perfect for describing ice glittering in the sun, stars in the night sky, or even sparkling city lights. When you see a frozen lake shining under the winter sun, this is the perfect word to use. You can use it as an adverb: 반짝반짝 빛나요 (It shines sparklingly).

3. 그림 같다 (geu-rim gat-da)

• Pronunciation: [geu-rim gat-da]
• English Meaning: To be like a picture; picturesque.
• Detailed Explanation: 그림 (geu-rim) means “picture” and 같다 (gat-da) means “to be like.” Together, this phrase is a wonderful compliment for any scenery that is so beautiful it looks like a painting or a photograph. It’s a very common way to express admiration for a beautiful view.
  • Example: 와, 풍경이 정말 그림 같아요! (Wow, the scenery is really like a picture!)

4. 숨이 멎을 것 같다 (sum-i meoj-eul geot gat-da)

• Pronunciation: [sum-i meo-jeul geot gat-da]
• English Meaning: To be breathtaking.
• Detailed Explanation: This is a more dramatic and powerful expression. Let’s break it down: 숨 (sum) means “breath,” and 멎다 (meot-da) means “to stop.” So, the literal meaning is “it feels like my breath will stop.” You use this when a sight is so stunningly beautiful that it literally takes your breath away.

Example Dialogue

Let’s see how these expressions are used in a real conversation. Two friends, A and B, are looking at a photo from the famous Hwacheon Sancheoneo Ice Festival.

A: 이 사진 좀 봐! 친구가 화천 산천어 축제에서 찍었대.
(i sa-jin jom bwa! chin-gu-ga hwa-cheon san-cheo-neo chuk-je-e-seo jji-geot-dae.)
Look at this photo! My friend took it at the Hwacheon Sancheoneo Ice Festival.

B: 와, 강이 완전히 꽁꽁 얼었네! 얼음이 햇빛에 반짝반짝 빛난다.
(wa, gang-i wan-jeon-hi kkong-kkong eo-reot-ne! eo-reum-i haet-bi-che ban-jjak-ban-jjak bit-nan-da.)
Wow, the river is frozen solid! The ice is sparkling in the sunlight.

A: 응, 진짜 예쁘지? 풍경이 완전 그림 같아.
(eung, jin-jja ye-ppeu-ji? pung-gyeong-i wan-jeon geu-rim ga-ta.)
Yeah, it’s so pretty, right? The scenery is totally picturesque.

B: 맞아. 실제로 보면 숨이 멎을 것 같아. 나도 가보고 싶다!
(ma-ja. sil-je-ro bo-myeon sum-i meo-jeul geot ga-ta. na-do ga-bo-go sip-da!)
I agree. Seeing it in person must be breathtaking. I want to go too!

Culture Tip & Trend Deep Dive

In Korea, finding the perfect photo spot for Instagram is a popular hobby, and these frozen landscapes are the ultimate winter destination. This is often called finding your “인생샷” (in-saeng-syat), which means “photo of a lifetime.”

When Koreans visit places like the Hwacheon Ice Festival or the frozen Soyang River in Chuncheon, they don’t just take pictures. They also enjoy activities like ice fishing (얼음낚시), ice skating, and eating delicious local food.

Pro Tip: If you post a photo of a frozen lake, try using popular Korean hashtags like #겨울왕국 (Gyeo-ul-wang-guk – “Winter Kingdom,” the Korean title for Disney’s Frozen), #겨울여행 (Gyeo-ul-yeo-haeng – “winter trip”), and #꽁꽁 to sound just like a local!

Let’s Practice!

Great job today! You’ve learned four amazing expressions to describe the beauty of a Korean winter. Now, let’s check what you remember.

1. Fill in the blank:
   The lake is frozen completely solid!
   호수가 완전히 ___________ 얼었어요.

2. Make a sentence:
   Imagine you see a beautiful, sparkling night sky. How would you describe it using 반짝반짝?

You’re all set to describe winter scenery like a pro!

Why not try it now? Leave a comment below describing a beautiful winter scene you’ve seen, using the expressions you learned today!