Ways to say it
| Korean | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 봄 | bom | [po̞m] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) |
| 춘계 | chun'gye | [t͡ɕʰunɡje̞] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) [t͡ɕʰunɡe̞] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) |
The word refers to the season between winter and summer in temperate climates. You can use the term 봄 향기 to mean spring fragrance.
Which one should you use?
While 봄 is the common word for spring, 춘계 is a more formal or technical term often used in academic, medical or official contexts, such as referring to a spring season in a report. Additionally, the term 봄철 is a formal way to describe the period of spring.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
춘계 is a formal/technical term, and 봄철 is used for a formal description of the spring period. In informal settings, you might hear phrases like 봄이 왔어 to mean spring has come.
How does it change in a sentence?
To express 'in spring' or 'during spring', you add the time particle '-에' to 봄, forming 봄에. When spring is the subject of a sentence, such as 'Spring is coming', you use the subject particle '-이' after 봄, forming 봄이.
How do you pronounce it?
bom
Did you know?
- The Korean word 봄 is a homonym for the noun form of the verb 보다, which means 'to see'.
- In Middle Korean, 봄 was written with a 'side-dot' to indicate a specific tone, a feature that has completely disappeared from modern Korean writing.
- The common Korean word for spring, 봄, might be an ancient borrowing from an Old Chinese character 芃, which describes the 'luxuriant growth' of plants.
Examples in context
- 나는 가을보다 봄이 좋아.I prefer spring to autumn.This sentence is useful for expressing a preference for 봄 over autumn.Tatoeba #5383179 by rainbow4us, translation #258495 by CK
- 일본 차 새 모델은 보통 봄에 나와.New models of Japanese cars usually come out in the spring.This sentence shows how to use 봄 to indicate when something occurs.Tatoeba #13755049 by qlTmalffk, translation #281402 by CK
- 봄은 보스턴을 방문하기 가장 좋은 계절이다.Spring is the best season to visit Boston.This sentence describes 봄 as a good season for visiting a specific location.Tatoeba #11107581 by intertime, translation #11104795 by CK
- 10 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Minjun and Subin are talking about the weather while walking in a park.
- 민준 Min-jun수빈 씨, 봄이 정말 왔나 봐요.Subin-ssi, bom-i jeong-mal wat-na bwa-yo.Subin, it looks like spring has really arrived.
- 수빈 Su-bin맞아요, 민준 씨. 날씨가 너무 좋아요.ma-ja-yo, Minjun-ssi. nal-ssi-ga neo-mu jo-a-yo.That's true, Minjun. The weather is so nice.
- 민준 Min-jun따뜻한 봄 햇살이 정말 좋네요.tta-tteut-han bom haet-sal-i jeong-mal jo-ne-yo.The warm spring sunshine is really wonderful.
- 수빈 Su-bin네, 꽃들도 곧 피겠어요.ne, kkot-deul-do got pi-get-eo-yo.Yes, the flowers will bloom soon too.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “spring” translations and entries 봄, 춘계, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 봄, 춘계, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
