Your K-Style Diary: Describing Today’s Outfit!

Hello! Welcome to [Maeil Hangeul], here to upgrade your Korean skills!

Have you ever wanted to write a diary in Korean but didn’t know where to start? Or maybe you’ve seen your favorite K-pop idols post their outfits on Instagram with the hashtag #데일리룩 and wanted to do the same? You’re in luck! Today, we’re going to learn how to describe your OOTD (Outfit of the Day) in Korean. In Korea, sharing your daily look on social media is a huge trend, and now you can join in by writing about your own style in your diary or online. Let’s get started!

Core Expressions for Your Fashion Diary

Here are three essential phrases to describe what you wore today.

1. 오늘 뭐 입었지? (What did I wear today?)

• Korean: 오늘 뭐 입었지?
• Pronunciation [Romanization]: Oneul mwo ibeotji?
• English Meaning: What did I wear today?
• Detailed Explanation: This is the perfect sentence to start your diary entry! It literally means “What did I wear today?” The ~지? (~ji?) ending is often used when you’re talking to yourself or thinking out loud. It makes your writing sound very natural and personal, just like a real diary.
• 💡 Pronunciation Tip:
  The final sound in ‘입었지’ is [이벋찌 (ibeotjji)]. Notice how the ‘ㅈ(j)’ sound becomes tense, like ‘ㅉ(jj)’. This happens after the ‘ㅆ(ss)’ sound in ‘입었(ibeot)’. Instead of a soft ‘ji’, try making a stronger, shorter ‘jji’ sound. It’s a small change that makes you sound more like a native speaker!

2. ~(을/를) 입다 (To wear [clothes])

• Korean: 청바지를 입었어요.
• Pronunciation [Romanization]: Cheongbajireul ibeosseoyo.
• English Meaning: I wore jeans.
• Detailed Explanation: 입다 (ipda) is the most important verb for talking about clothes. It means “to wear” and is used for things you put on your body, like shirts, pants, coats, and dresses. Remember to attach the object marker ~을 (eul) after a noun ending in a consonant (like 옷을 입다) and ~를 (reul) after a noun ending in a vowel (like 바지를 입다).
• 💡 Pronunciation Tip:
  Listen closely to 입었어요. It’s not pronounced [ip-eoss-eo-yo], but [이버써요 (ibeosseoyo)]. This is because of a very common Korean pronunciation rule called linking sound (연음 – yeoneum). The final consonant of a syllable, in this case ‘ㅂ(b)’, moves over to the next syllable if it starts with a vowel. So, 입(ip) + 어(eo) sounds like [이버 (ibeo)]. It makes the pronunciation much smoother!

3. 마음에 들다 (To like it / To be to one’s liking)

• Korean: 이 옷이 마음에 들어요.
• Pronunciation [Romanization]: I osi maeume deureoyo.
• English Meaning: I like this outfit. (Literally: This outfit enters my heart/mind.)
• Detailed Explanation: While 좋아하다 (joahada) also means “to like,” 마음에 들다 (maeume deulda) is a more nuanced and common expression for saying you find something appealing. It expresses a feeling of satisfaction or that something perfectly suits your taste. It’s the perfect phrase to use when you feel great about your outfit!
• 💡 Pronunciation Tip:
  The ‘ㄹ(r/l)’ sound in 들어요 [deureoyo] can be tricky. It’s not a strong ‘r’ or a hard ‘l’. It’s a light ‘flap’ sound, similar to the ‘tt’ in the American English pronunciation of “water.” Try to gently tap the tip of your tongue just behind your front teeth. Practice saying [드러요 (deureoyo)] for a natural flow.

Example Conversation: Planning a #데일리룩 Post!

Let’s see how these expressions are used in a real conversation between two friends.

A: 와, 오늘 너의 스타일 마음에 들어!
(Wa, oneul neoui seutail maeume deureo!)
(Wow, I like your style today!)

B: 진짜? 고마워! 새로 산 티셔츠를 입었어.
(Jinjja? Gomawo! Saero san tisyeocheureul ibeosseo.)
(Really? Thanks! I wore a new t-shirt I bought.)

A: 엄청 잘 어울린다! 나는 오늘 뭐 입었지… 아, 그냥 편한 청바지를 입었어.
(Eomcheong jal eoullinda! Naneun oneul mwo ibeotji… A, geunyang pyeonhan cheongbajireul ibeosseo.)
(It looks great on you! What did I wear today… Ah, I just wore comfortable jeans.)

B: 좋아! 우리 이따가 같이 #데일리룩 사진 찍어서 올릴까?
(Joa! Uri ittaga gachi #데일리룩 sajin jjigeoseo ollilkka?)
(Nice! Should we take a #dailylook picture together and post it later?)

Culture Tip & Trend Deep Dive

In Korea, fashion is a big part of daily life. The hashtag #데일리룩 (daily look), often used with #OOTD (Outfit of the Day), has millions of posts on Instagram. It’s a way for people to express their personal style, share shopping information, and connect with others who love fashion.

You’ll often see other related hashtags like #꾸안꾸 (kku-an-kku), which is short for “꾸민 듯 안 꾸민 듯” (decorated as if not decorated). It describes a very popular style that looks effortlessly chic and natural.

When you use the phrases we learned today, you’re not just practicing Korean; you’re participating in a modern Korean cultural trend! Try writing a diary entry like this:

오늘의 데일리룩! (Today’s Daily Look!)
하얀색 티셔츠에 청바지를 입었다. (I wore a white t-shirt and jeans.)
심플하지만 아주 마음에 든다. ✨ (It’s simple, but I really like it.)

Let’s Practice!

Ready to check your understanding? Let’s try a quick quiz!

1. Fill in the blank:
You want to write in your diary, “I wore a pretty skirt.” How would you write it?
오늘 예쁜 치마___ __________.
(oneul yeppeun chima___ __________.)

(Answer: 를 입었어요 / reul ibeosseoyo)

Great job! You’re now ready to write about your own amazing style in Korean.

Leave a comment below describing what you’re wearing right now using the phrases we learned today! We can’t wait to see your #데일리룩!