너무 더워
neomu deowo
The phrase "so hot" in Korean is expressed as 너무 더워 (neomu deowo).
This phrase is used specifically to describe a very high air temperature or weather. For example, you would use it to comment on a heatwave or a sweltering afternoon.
Which one should you use?
It is important to distinguish between heat in the air and heat in an object.
How does it change in a sentence?
In the informal style, you use 너무 더워. To make the phrase polite and suitable for formal social situations, you add the suffix 요 (yo) to create 너무 더워요.
How do you pronounce it?
neomu deowo
Did you know?
- During the summer, it is common to combat the feeling of 너무 더워 by eating 이열치열, a philosophy of 'fighting heat with heat' by consuming hot soups.
- If you want to emphasize that it is 'so hot' that you are exhausted, you can use the term 더위 먹다, which literally means 'eating the heat'.
- In extreme heat, Koreans often say 찜통더위, which literally translates to 'steamer pot heat', comparing the humidity and temperature to a bamboo steamer.
Examples in context
- 밖은 너무 더워요.bak-keun neomu deoweoyo.It is so hot outside.
- 오늘 날씨가 너무 더워.oneul nalssiga neomu deoweo.The weather is so hot today.
- 에어컨이 없어서 너무 더워요.eeokeoni eopseoseo neomu deoweoyo.It is so hot because there is no air conditioning.
Example conversation
Ji-eun and Min-jun are walking together on a summer afternoon.
- 지은 Ji-eun민준 씨, 오늘 너무 더워요.Min-jun ssi, oneul neomu deoweoyo.Min-jun, it is so hot today.
- 민준 Min-jun맞아요. 정말 너무 더워요.majayo. jeongmal neomu deoweoyo.That's right. It is really so hot.
- 지은 Ji-eun우리 카페에 들어갈까요?uri kape-e deureogalkkayo?Shall we go into a cafe?
- 민준 Min-jun좋아요. 얼른 가요.joayo. eolleon gayo.Good idea. Let's go quickly.
