Korean Dictionary
How to say "Sunny" in Korean
“Sunny” in Korean is 맑은 (pronounced "malgeun").
맑은
malgeun
Usage & Context
Describes clear, bright weather with no clouds. Commonly used in daily weather conversations and forecasts in Korea. A positive weather condition that encourages outdoor activities.
Example Sentence
오늘 날씨가 정말 맑아요.
The weather is really sunny today.
How to use 맑은 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Sunny” is 맑은, romanized as malgeun.
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 맑은.
Pronunciation Guide
Pronounced 'MAHL-geun' — the 'mahl' rhymes with English 'doll' and the final 'geun' is a soft 'gun' with a schwa. The 'ㄺ' batchim simplifies so only the 'ㄱ' sound carries when linking to the next syllable.
Formal & Casual Forms
Formal (존댓말)
맑습니다
Makseumnida
Formal declarative form used in news broadcasts and weather reports on TV.
Casual (반말)
맑아
Malga
Casual form used with close friends; drop the '-요' ending from '맑아요'.
More Example Sentences
Planning a weekend outing in Seoul
하늘이 맑아서 한강에 가고 싶어요.
The sky is clear, so I want to go to the Han River.
Hiking or sightseeing small talk
맑은 날에는 멀리 있는 산도 잘 보여요.
On sunny days you can see distant mountains clearly.
Sharing the forecast with a friend
이번 주말에는 맑을 예정이래요.
They say it's supposed to be sunny this weekend.
Cultural Context
Koreans distinguish '맑다' (clear/bright sky) from '화창하다' (gloriously sunny and warm) — weather apps and KBS forecasts typically use '맑음' as the noun-form icon label. In spring, '맑은 날' is often paired with warnings about 미세먼지 (fine dust), because a visibly blue sky has become culturally notable after years of hazy pollution. A common compliment to a child's or clear-skinned person's complexion, '얼굴이 맑다', uses the same word metaphorically.
Editorial note
We review entries like 맑은 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
날씨가 맑아요.
The weather is clear/sunny.
맑고 따뜻해요.
It's sunny and warm.
오늘 하늘이 참 맑네요.
The sky really is clear today.
Related Expressions
화창하다
Hwachanghada
Bright and sunny (warmer, more poetic than 맑다)
쾌청하다
Kwaecheonghada
Refreshingly clear (used in weather reports)
햇살
Haetsal
Sunlight / sunbeams
맑음
Malgeum
'Sunny' as a weather icon label
Frequently asked questions
What is the correct pronunciation of "맑은" (malgeun) and are there any common mistakes?+
The correct pronunciation of "맑은" is mal-geun. The 'ㄹ' (r/l) sound in '맑' is a liquid consonant, often a soft 'l' when followed by another consonant or at the end of a syllable. The 'ㄱ' (g) in '은' is a regular 'g' sound. A common mistake is not fully articulating the 'ㄹ' or making it too strong. Practice saying it smoothly, linking the syllables.
How can I use "맑은" in everyday Korean sentences, especially about weather?+
"맑은" is an adjective meaning "clear" or "sunny." You can use it before a noun, like "맑은 날" (malgeun nal) for "a sunny day," or "맑은 하늘" (malgeun haneul) for "a clear sky." When describing the weather, you might say "날씨가 맑아요" (nalssiga malgayo) meaning "The weather is clear/sunny." It's very common in daily weather conversations.
Does "맑은" change based on formality in Korean, or is it generally neutral?+
"맑은" itself is the adjectival form derived from the base verb "맑다" (malgda), meaning "to be clear/sunny." Its form doesn't change based on formality. However, the ending of the sentence it's used in will reflect formality. For example, "날씨가 맑습니다" (nalssiga malgseumnida) is formal, while "날씨가 맑아요" (nalssiga malgayo) is polite informal, and "날씨가 맑아" (nalssiga malga) is informal.
Are there other Korean words similar to "맑은" that also describe bright or clear weather?+
Yes, "화창한" (hwachanghan) is a very similar word often used to describe "bright and clear" weather, emphasizing a pleasant, warm feeling. For example, "화창한 날씨" (hwachanghan nalssi) means "bright and clear weather." While "맑은" focuses on the absence of clouds and clarity, "화창한" adds a nuance of warmth and pleasantness, making it suitable for describing a perfect day.
What are common mistakes learners make when using "맑은," or are there any specific nuances to remember?+
A common mistake is confusing "맑은" with "밝은" (balgeun), which means "bright" in terms of light intensity, not weather clarity. While a sunny day is bright, "밝은" is used for things like "밝은 빛" (balgeun bit, bright light) or "밝은 색" (balgeun saek, bright color). "맑은" specifically refers to the clarity of air or water, or the absence of clouds in weather.
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