Gray Skies? Brighten Your Korean Convos!
Hello! It’s [Maeil Hangeul] here to upgrade your Korean skills!
Do you ever look out the window, see a gray sky, and want to talk about it in Korean? Today, we’re going to learn exactly that! Knowing how to talk about the weather is perfect for starting a conversation with anyone in Korea.
And guess what? Lately in Korea, many people actually enjoy the cozy, moody vibe of a cloudy day. It’s the perfect excuse to visit a pretty café and listen to some relaxing music. So, let’s learn how to talk about these days like a true local!
Core Expressions for a Cloudy Day
Here are the key phrases you absolutely need to know.
- 날씨가 흐리다 (Nal-ssi-ga heu-ri-da)
- Romanization: [Nal-ssi-ga heu-ri-da]
- English Meaning: The weather is cloudy.
- Detailed Explanation: This is the most standard and essential phrase for a cloudy day.
날씨 (nalssi)means “weather” and흐리다 (heurida)is the verb “to be cloudy.” When you talk to someone, you’ll use the polite form: 날씨가 흐려요 (Nal-ssi-ga heu-ryeo-yo).
- 꾸리꾸리하다 (Kku-ri-kku-ri-ha-da)
- Romanization: [Kku-ri-kku-ri-ha-da]
- English Meaning: To be gloomy / overcast.
- Detailed Explanation: This is a very fun and descriptive word! It describes not just the dark sky, but also the slightly gloomy or heavy feeling that comes with it. It’s more informal and expressive than
흐리다. Use 날씨가 꾸리꾸리해요 (Nal-ssi-ga kku-ri-kku-ri-hae-yo) with friends to sound more like a native speaker!
- 비가 올 것 같아요 (Bi-ga ol geot ga-ta-yo)
- Romanization: [Bi-ga ol geot ga-ta-yo]
- English Meaning: It looks like it’s going to rain. / I think it will rain.
- Detailed Explanation: This is a super useful pattern!
비가 오다 (biga oda)means “to rain,” and the grammar-(으)ㄹ 것 같다is used to make a guess or prediction. When the clouds look dark and heavy, this is the perfect phrase to use.
- 우산을 챙기다 (U-san-eul chaeng-gi-da)
- Romanization: [U-san-eul chaeng-gi-da]
- English Meaning: To pack / bring an umbrella.
- Detailed Explanation:
우산 (usan)is “umbrella” and챙기다 (chaenggida)is a fantastic verb that means “to pack” or “to make sure you have something.” When you tell a friend 우산 챙겨요! (Usan chaeng-gye-yo!), you’re saying, “Don’t forget your umbrella!” It’s a very caring phrase.
Example Dialogue
Let’s see how these expressions work in a real conversation!
- A: 와, 오늘 날씨가 좀 꾸리꾸리하네.
(Wa, oneul nalssiga jom kkurikkurihane.)
Wow, the weather is a bit gloomy today. -
B: 맞아. 날씨가 흐려서 그런지 비가 올 것 같아.
(Maja. Nalssiga heuryeoseo geureonji biga ol geot gata.)
I know. Maybe because it’s so cloudy, it looks like it’s going to rain. -
A: 그럼 우리 우산 챙겨서 카페 갈까? 이런 날에는 따뜻한 커피가 최고지!
(Geureom uri usan chaenggyeoseo kape galkka? Ireon nareneun ttatteuthan keopiga choegoji!)
Then should we grab our umbrellas and go to a café? A warm coffee is the best on days like this! -
B: 좋아!
(Joa!)
Sounds great!
Culture Tip: The “Cloudy Day Vibe” (흐린 날 감성)
In Korea, a cloudy day isn’t just about bad weather. For many young Koreans, it’s about a specific mood or “vibe” (감성 – gamseong).
- SNS Trend: On Instagram, you’ll see many Koreans post pictures of a coffee cup against a window with a gray sky, using hashtags like #흐린날 (cloudy day) or #카페투어 (café tour). It’s considered very aesthetic and relaxing.
- K-Drama Moment: You’ll often hear a character in a K-Drama say, “날씨가 꾸리꾸리하네” right before a thoughtful or romantic scene. The weather sets the mood!
- By using a word like 꾸리꾸리하다, you’re not just describing the sky; you’re sharing in a cultural feeling. This shows you understand more than just the language!
Let’s Practice!
You did an amazing job today! We learned how to say it’s cloudy with 날씨가 흐리다, express the gloomy feeling with 꾸리꾸리하다, and make a smart prediction with 비가 올 것 같아요.
Now, try these quick exercises!
- Fill in the blank: You look outside and the sky is very dark and gray. To sound like a native, you can say: “오늘 날씨가 정말 ______.” (Hint: Use the expressive word!)
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What would you say? Your friend is about to leave the house, and you think it will rain later. How do you tell them, “Don’t forget your umbrella!” in a polite, friendly way?
You’re ready for the next cloudy day in Korea! Now it’s your turn. Look outside and tell us what the weather is like in the comments using one of today’s expressions!
