Korean Dictionary
How to say "First Frost" in Korean
“First Frost” in Korean is 첫 서리 (pronounced "Cheos Seori").
첫 서리
Cheos Seori
Usage & Context
첫 서리 (first frost) marks the onset of winter in Korea and is an important signal for farmers to harvest remaining crops. Weather agencies announce the date of the first frost each year. The first frost is associated with the end of autumn color and the coming of cold.
Example Sentence
올해 첫 서리가 예년보다 일찍 내렸어요.
This year the first frost came earlier than usual.
How to use 첫 서리 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “First Frost” is 첫 서리, romanized as Cheos Seori.
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 첫 서리.
Pronunciation Guide
첫 (Cheot) sounds like 'chut' in 'shut' but with an unreleased 't' at the end. 서리 (Seori) is pronounced 'saw-ree'. When combined, the 's' in '첫' often becomes a tense 'ss' sound, making it 'chut-ssaw-ree'.
More Example Sentences
Discussing traditional autumn activities.
첫 서리가 내리면 김장 준비를 시작해야죠.
When the first frost comes, we should start preparing for kimchi making.
Describing beautiful autumn scenery.
산에 첫 서리가 내려서 단풍이 더 예뻐졌어요.
The first frost has fallen on the mountain, making the autumn leaves even prettier.
Relaying a weather report.
일기예보에서 내일 아침 첫 서리를 예고했어요.
The weather forecast predicted the first frost for tomorrow morning.
Cultural Context
첫 서리 (Cheos Seori) is a significant seasonal marker in Korea, signaling the official end of autumn and the impending winter. It's particularly important for farmers, as it indicates the time to harvest remaining crops like cabbage for Kimjang (kimchi making). Weather agencies often announce the date of the first frost, and it's associated with the peak beauty of autumn foliage before leaves start to fall.
Editorial note
We review entries like 첫 서리 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
첫 서리가 내리다
The first frost falls
첫 서리 피해
Damage from the first frost
첫 서리 맞은 배추
Cabbage hit by the first frost (often considered sweeter)
Related Expressions
서리
Seori
Frost (general)
늦서리
Neujeoseori
Late frost
상강
Sanggang
Frost's Descent (one of the 24 solar terms)
입동
Ip-dong
Start of Winter (one of the 24 solar terms)
More Weather Words
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