Korean Dictionary
How to say "Cool" in Korean
“Cool” in Korean is 시원한 (pronounced "siwonhan").
시원한
siwonhan
Usage & Context
Indicates pleasantly cool temperature. Autumn in Korea has cool, refreshing weather. This season is popular for outdoor activities and travel.
Example Sentence
가을날씨가 시원해요.
Autumn weather is cool.
How to use 시원한 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Cool” is 시원한, romanized as siwonhan.
Usage tip
Learn this word together with a complete Korean sentence. Meaning often depends on particles, politeness level, and word order.
Common mistake
Do not rely only on the English meaning. Read the Korean example sentence and notice the particles, word order, and politeness level around 시원한.
Pronunciation Guide
시 (si) sounds like 'she' in 'sheet' but with a softer 'sh' sound, almost like 'see'. 원 (won) sounds like 'won' in 'one'. 한 (han) sounds like 'han' in 'hand'. The stress is fairly even across the syllables.
Formal & Casual Forms
Formal (존댓말)
시원합니다
siwonhamnida
Formal declarative ending for the adjective '시원하다'.
Casual (반말)
시원해
siwonhae
Casual declarative ending for the adjective '시원하다'.
More Example Sentences
Talking about quenching thirst on a hot day.
목마를 때 시원한 물 한 잔 마시면 최고예요.
When you're thirsty, drinking a glass of cool water is the best.
Describing a refreshing feeling after personal hygiene.
샤워하고 나니 몸이 시원해요.
My body feels cool and refreshed after showering.
Enjoying a pleasant natural sensation.
바닷가에서 시원한 바람을 맞으니 기분이 좋네요.
It feels good to feel the cool breeze at the beach.
Cultural Context
The word '시원하다' is incredibly versatile in Korean. Beyond just 'cool' temperature, it often conveys a sense of 'refreshing,' 'relieving,' or 'satisfying.' For instance, a spicy soup can be described as '시원하다' if it clears your sinuses and makes you feel refreshed. Similarly, resolving a complicated problem can make you feel '속이 시원하다' (sogi siwonhada), meaning 'my insides feel cool/relieved.' It's a common compliment for food, drinks, and even situations.
Editorial note
We review entries like 시원한 for pronunciation, example sentence fit, and learner mistakes so the page answers more than a direct dictionary lookup.
Reviewed by Min-jung Park, Korean Language Teacher. Updated May 31, 2026. See our editorial standards.
Common Phrases
시원한 맥주 한 잔
A glass of cool beer
속이 시원하다
To feel relieved/satisfied (literally 'inside feels cool')
시원하게 해결하다
To resolve something cleanly/satisfactorily
Related Expressions
서늘한
seoneulhan
chilly (pleasantly cool, slightly cooler than 시원한)
더운
deoun
hot
상쾌한
sangkoehan
refreshing (more about feeling, less about temperature)
시원하게
siwonhage
coolly, refreshingly (adverbial form)
More Weather Words
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