How to say “It's cold” in Korean
- 추워요chuwoyo
It's cold
"It's cold" in Korean is 추워 (chuwo), or 추워요 (chuwoyo) to be polite. It also means "I'm cold." For cold things like water or ice, Koreans use 차가워 (chagawo) instead.
Ways to say it
| Korean | Level | When to use it |
|---|---|---|
| 추워 chuwo | Casual | Cold weather, or "I'm cold." To friends and family. |
| 추워요 chuwoyo | Polite | Polite. Fine with most people. |
| 춥습니다 chupseumnida | Formal | Formal. Heard in weather reports or speeches. |
| 차가워 chagawo | Casual | Cold to the touch: water, drinks, hands, ice. Polite: 차가워요 (chagawoyo). |
| 쌀쌀해 ssalssalhae | Casual | "It's chilly." A cool, crisp feeling, often in fall or early spring. |
Examples
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Stepping outside in winter
Touching water in the sink
An autumn evening walk
Tips
Use 춥다 for weather and for how your body feels. Use 차갑다 for objects that are cold to the touch. 물이 추워 (the water is cold) is a common learner mistake.
추워 can mean "it's cold" or "I'm cold." Korean usually drops the subject, so both come out the same.
Korean winters are harsh, so you will hear 추워 constantly from December to February.
More on 추워 in our Korean phrase guides.
Questions learners ask
How do you ask "Are you cold?" in Korean?
Say 추워? (chuwo?) casually or 추워요? (chuwoyo?) politely.
What is the difference between 추워 and 차가워?
추워 is about weather or feeling cold. 차가워 is about things that are cold to the touch, like a drink or someone's hands.