찬물
chanmul
Cold water in Korean is 찬물 (chanmul).
찬물 is a phrase used to describe water that has a low temperature.
What does it mean word for word?
The word 찬물 is a compound of 찬, meaning cold and 물, meaning water.
Which one should you use?
While 찬물 specifically refers to cold water, you should use 따뜻한 물 to refer to warm water and 뜨거운 물 to refer to hot water.
How do you pronounce it?
chanmul
When do people say it?
To offer cold water politely, you can use the phrase 찬물 드릴까요 or 시원한 물 드릴까요.
Did you know?
- In Korean culture, someone might use the expression 찬물을 끼얹다, which literally means 'to pour cold water over someone', to describe a person who ruins a joyful atmosphere.
- The adjective 찬 in 찬물 actually comes from the verb 차다, which also means 'to be full' or 'to be stuffed'.
- In traditional Korean medicine and folk belief, drinking 찬물 immediately after a meal is sometimes discouraged because it is thought to hinder digestion.
Examples in context
- 저는 찬물을 원해요.I want cold water.
- 사람들에게 시원한 물을 제공해 주세요.Please provide cold water to the people.
- 찬물이 필요해요.chan-mul-i pil-yo-hae-yo.I need cold water.
- 찬물 좀 주세요.chan-mul jom ju-se-yo.Please give me some cold water.
- 여름에는 찬물이 좋아요.yeo-reum-e-neun chan-mul-i jo-a-yo.I like cold water in summer.
Example conversation
Dohyun and Subin are at a cafe.
- 도현 Do-hyeon수빈 씨, 찬물 드릴까요?Subin-ssi, chan-mul deu-ril-kka-yo?Subin, shall I get you some cold water?
- 수빈 Su-bin네, 찬물 부탁해요.Ne, chan-mul bu-tak-hae-yo.Yes, cold water please.
- 도현 Do-hyeon여기 찬물 있어요.Yeo-gi chan-mul iss-eo-yo.Here is the cold water.
- 수빈 Su-bin고마워요, 도현 씨.Go-ma-wo-yo, Do-hyun-ssi.Thank you, Dohyun.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 찬물, CC BY-SA 4.0.
