What does 얼음 mean?
얼음 (eol-eum) means: Ice.
Speakers use this noun to refer to frozen water or ice used to cool things like drinks, as well as situations where part of the body has frozen and lost sensation from cold weather. It commonly combines with verbs such as 녹다 (to melt), 얼다 (to freeze), and 깨다 (to break). It frequently appears in descriptions of cold weather, winter conditions, and chilled food or beverages.
Depending on the context, references to frozen body parts can evoke a strong sense of physical discomfort or harsh winter conditions.
◆ The Social Shutdown — While English speakers might call someone 'cold,' Korean native speakers use '얼음' to describe an absolute, physical cessation of movement and warmth in social dynamics. If a conversation instantly dies or a toxic awkwardness fills a room, Koreans describe the atmosphere turning into ice with terms like '얼음판' (ice rink).
Depending on the context, references to frozen body parts can evoke a strong sense of physical discomfort or harsh winter conditions.
◆ The Social Shutdown — While English speakers might call someone 'cold,' Korean native speakers use '얼음' to describe an absolute, physical cessation of movement and warmth in social dynamics. If a conversation instantly dies or a toxic awkwardness fills a room, Koreans describe the atmosphere turning into ice with terms like '얼음판' (ice rink).
Other sides of 얼음
◆ drinks_and_dining — Speakers use this word when talking about cooling down warm drinks or adding pieces to beverages. It appears when someone points out that a juice is not cold enough and suggests adding pieces to lower the temperature quickly. It combines with verbs like 넣다.
◆ financial_freeze — Speakers use this metaphorically to describe situations where activity has stopped entirely, much like water turning to ice. It appears in contexts discussing halted agreements, sudden stagnation in markets, or deep stalls in cooperative efforts. It combines with verbs of breaking or thawing, such as 깨다 and 풀리다, to describe the resumption of movement or communication.
Can lend a vivid, weighty tone to discussions of economic stagnation or political deadlock, framing a temporary halt as something rigid and deeply entrenched.
◆ cold_treatment — Speakers use this figurative sense when describing strained relations between individuals, groups, or nations. It turns up in contexts where hostility, distance, or a lack of warmth characterizes an interaction. It commonly combines with verbs of breaking or melting, such as 깨다, 녹다, and 풀리다, as well as nouns representing frozen conflicts or damaged ties like 냉전.
Can frame an interpersonal conflict as something physical that needs to be actively broken through or given time to warm up, often highlighting the transition from hostility to dialogue.
◆ financial_freeze — Speakers use this metaphorically to describe situations where activity has stopped entirely, much like water turning to ice. It appears in contexts discussing halted agreements, sudden stagnation in markets, or deep stalls in cooperative efforts. It combines with verbs of breaking or thawing, such as 깨다 and 풀리다, to describe the resumption of movement or communication.
Can lend a vivid, weighty tone to discussions of economic stagnation or political deadlock, framing a temporary halt as something rigid and deeply entrenched.
◆ cold_treatment — Speakers use this figurative sense when describing strained relations between individuals, groups, or nations. It turns up in contexts where hostility, distance, or a lack of warmth characterizes an interaction. It commonly combines with verbs of breaking or melting, such as 깨다, 녹다, and 풀리다, as well as nouns representing frozen conflicts or damaged ties like 냉전.
Can frame an interpersonal conflict as something physical that needs to be actively broken through or given time to warm up, often highlighting the transition from hostility to dialogue.
🎙️ 얼음은 표기 그대로 읽지 않아요 — 실제로는 [어름]로 소리나요 (연음법칙). 발음 연습하기 →
How it's actually used
- 나는 냉장고에서 차가운 얼음을 꺼내 먹었다.
na-neun naeng-jang-go-e-seo cha-ga-un eol-eum-eul kkeo-nae meog-eot-da.
I took cold ice out of the refrigerator and ate it.
💡 Getting ice from the fridge. - 지수는 꽁꽁 언 강의 얼음을 깨고 낚시를 했다.
ji-su-neun kkong-kkong eon gang-ui eol-eum-eul kkae-go nakk-si-reul haet-da.
Jisoo broke the ice on the frozen solid river and went fishing.
💡 Breaking ice on a frozen river. - 승규는 얼음이 박인 발을 녹이기 위해 난로 앞에 앉았다.
seung-gyu-neun eol-eum-i bak-in bal-eul nog-i-gi wi-hae nan-ro ap-e an-jat-da.
Seunggyu sat in front of the heater to warm up his frost-bitten feet.
💡 Warming feet that are numb from the cold.