Getting a child to wear sunglasses on a sunny day can sometimes be a challenge, but knowing the right Korean phrases can make it easier. This guide provides essential expressions for parents needing to persuade their children to protect their eyes from bright sunlight, covering everything from simple requests to explaining the benefits and making it fun.
Table Of Content
Core Expression
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Expression: 선글라스 쓰자
Pronunciation: seon-geul-la-seu sseu-ja
Meaning: Let’s wear sunglasses. (Common way to suggest wearing something on the head/face)
Basic Requests and Suggestions
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Expression: 선글라스 써 봐.
Pronunciation: seon-geul-la-seu sseo bwa.
Meaning: Try wearing the sunglasses. / Put on the sunglasses. -
Expression: 이거 한번 써 볼래?
Pronunciation: i-geo han-beon sseo bol-lae?
Meaning: Do you want to try wearing this? -
Expression: 선글라스 끼세요.
Pronunciation: seon-geul-la-seu kki-se-yo.
Meaning: Please wear your sunglasses. (Using ‘끼다’ – kki-da, also common for glasses) -
Expression: 밖에 나갈 거니까 선글라스 쓰자.
Pronunciation: ba-kke na-gal geo-ni-kka seon-geul-la-seu sseu-ja.
Meaning: Let’s wear sunglasses because we’re going outside. -
Expression: 햇빛이 강하니까 선글라스 써야 해.
Pronunciation: haet-bi-chi gang-ha-ni-kka seon-geul-la-seu sseo-ya hae.
Meaning: The sunlight is strong, so you have to wear sunglasses. -
Expression: 네 선글라스 어디 있지?
Pronunciation: ne seon-geul-la-seu eo-di it-ji?
Meaning: Where are your sunglasses? -
Expression: 엄마/아빠가 도와줄게.
Pronunciation: eom-ma/a-ppa-ga do-wa-jul-ge.
Meaning: Mommy/Daddy will help you. -
Expression: 자, 여기 선글라스.
Pronunciation: ja, yeo-gi seon-geul-la-seu.
Meaning: Okay, here are the sunglasses. -
Expression: 선글라스 쓰는 거 잊지 마.
Pronunciation: seon-geul-la-seu sseu-neun geo it-ji ma.
Meaning: Don’t forget to wear your sunglasses. -
Expression: 눈 보호해야지.
Pronunciation: nun bo-ho-hae-ya-ji.
Meaning: You need to protect your eyes.
Explaining Why (Persuasion)
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Expression: 오늘 해가 너무 쨍쨍해.
Pronunciation: o-neul hae-ga neo-mu jjaeng-jjaeng-hae.
Meaning: The sun is really strong/bright today. -
Expression: 눈이 부셔서 아플 수 있어.
Pronunciation: nu-ni bu-syeo-seo a-peul su i-sseo.
Meaning: It’s so bright it might hurt your eyes. / Your eyes might hurt because it’s dazzling. -
Expression: 선글라스 쓰면 눈이 편안해져.
Pronunciation: seon-geul-la-seu sseu-myeon nu-ni pyeon-an-hae-jyeo.
Meaning: If you wear sunglasses, your eyes will feel comfortable. -
Expression: 눈을 보호하기 위해서 쓰는 거야.
Pronunciation: nu-neul bo-ho-ha-gi wi-hae-seo sseu-neun geo-ya.
Meaning: You wear them to protect your eyes. -
Expression: 강한 햇빛은 눈에 안 좋아.
Pronunciation: gang-han haet-bi-cheun nu-ne an jo-a.
Meaning: Strong sunlight isn’t good for your eyes. -
Expression: 밖에 나가면 눈부실 거야.
Pronunciation: ba-kke na-ga-myeon nun-bu-sil geo-ya.
Meaning: It will be dazzling when you go outside. -
Expression: 선글라스 안 쓰면 눈 찡그리게 돼.
Pronunciation: seon-geul-la-seu an sseu-myeon nun jjing-geu-ri-ge dwae.
Meaning: If you don’t wear sunglasses, you’ll end up squinting. -
Expression: 우리 눈은 소중하니까 지켜야 해.
Pronunciation: u-ri nu-neun so-jung-ha-ni-kka ji-kyeo-ya hae.
Meaning: Our eyes are precious, so we have to protect them. -
Expression: 그래야 밖에서 신나게 놀 수 있지.
Pronunciation: geu-rae-ya ba-kke-seo sin-na-ge nol su it-ji.
Meaning: That way, you can play excitedly outside. -
Expression: 눈 건강을 위해서 꼭 쓰자.
Pronunciation: nun geon-gang-eul wi-hae-seo kkok sseu-ja.
Meaning: Let’s definitely wear them for eye health.
Making It Fun and Appealing
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Expression: 선글라스 쓰면 정말 멋있어!
Pronunciation: seon-geul-la-seu sseu-myeon jeong-mal meo-si-sseo!
Meaning: You look really cool when you wear sunglasses! -
Expression: 엄마/아빠처럼 선글라스 써 볼까?
Pronunciation: eom-ma/a-ppa-cheo-reom seon-geul-la-seu sseo bol-kka?
Meaning: Shall we try wearing sunglasses like Mommy/Daddy? -
Expression: 이 선글라스 쓰면 슈퍼히어로 같아!
Pronunciation: i seon-geul-la-seu sseu-myeon syu-peo-hi-eo-ro ga-ta!
Meaning: You look like a superhero wearing these sunglasses! -
Expression: 우리 같이 선글라스 쓰고 사진 찍을까?
Pronunciation: u-ri ga-chi seon-geul-la-seu sseu-go sa-jin jji-geul-kka?
Meaning: Shall we wear sunglasses together and take a picture? -
Expression: 네가 제일 좋아하는 캐릭터 선글라스네!
Pronunciation: ne-ga je-il jo-a-ha-neun kae-rik-teo seon-geul-la-seu-ne!
Meaning: These are your favorite character sunglasses! -
Expression: 와, 연예인 같다!
Pronunciation: wa, yeon-ye-in gat-da!
Meaning: Wow, you look like a celebrity! -
Expression: 선글라스 쓰고 멋지게 걸어보자!
Pronunciation: seon-geul-la-seu sseu-go meot-ji-ge geo-reo-bo-ja!
Meaning: Let’s wear sunglasses and walk coolly! -
Expression: 친구들도 너 선글라스 쓴 거 보면 멋있다고 할 거야.
Pronunciation: chin-gu-deul-do neo seon-geul-la-seu sseun geo bo-myeon meo-sit-da-go hal geo-ya.
Meaning: Your friends will also say you look cool when they see you wearing sunglasses. -
Expression: 비밀 요원처럼 보이는데?
Pronunciation: bi-mil yo-won-cheo-reom bo-i-neun-de?
Meaning: You look like a secret agent? -
Expression: 이 색깔 너한테 정말 잘 어울린다!
Pronunciation: i saek-kkal neo-han-te jeong-mal jal eo-ul-lin-da!
Meaning: This color looks really good on you!
Responding to Resistance
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Expression: 왜 쓰기 싫어?
Pronunciation: wae sseu-gi si-reo?
Meaning: Why don’t you want to wear them? -
Expression: 불편해? 어디가 불편한지 말해줘.
Pronunciation: bul-pyeon-hae? eo-di-ga bul-pyeon-han-ji mal-hae-jwo.
Meaning: Is it uncomfortable? Tell me where it’s uncomfortable. -
Expression: 잠깐만 써 보자. 금방 익숙해질 거야.
Pronunciation: jam-kkan-man sseo bo-ja. geum-bang ik-suk-hae-jil geo-ya.
Meaning: Let’s just try wearing them for a moment. You’ll get used to it quickly. -
Expression: 그럼 다른 선글라스 써 볼까?
Pronunciation: geu-reom da-reun seon-geul-la-seu sseo bol-kka?
Meaning: Then shall we try different sunglasses? -
Expression: 안 쓰면 눈 아플 텐데, 괜찮겠어?
Pronunciation: an sseu-myeon nun a-peul ten-de, gwaen-chan-ket-sseo?
Meaning: Your eyes will hurt if you don’t wear them, will you be okay? -
Expression: 딱 5분만 쓰고 있어 보자.
Pronunciation: ttak o-bun-man sseu-go it-sseo bo-ja.
Meaning: Let’s try wearing them for just 5 minutes. -
Expression: 엄마/아빠 말 한번 들어줘.
Pronunciation: eom-ma/a-ppa mal han-beon deu-reo-jwo.
Meaning: Please listen to Mommy/Daddy just this once. -
Expression: 선글라스 안 쓰면 밖에 못 나가.
Pronunciation: seon-geul-la-seu an sseu-myeon ba-kke mot na-ga.
Meaning: If you don’t wear sunglasses, we can’t go outside. (Use cautiously) -
Expression: 나중에 쓰고 싶어지면 말해줘.
Pronunciation: na-jung-e sseu-go si-peo-ji-myeon mal-hae-jwo.
Meaning: Tell me later if you feel like wearing them. -
Expression: 알았어, 그럼 모자라도 꼭 써야 해.
Pronunciation: a-rat-sseo, geu-reom mo-ja-ra-do kkok sseo-ya hae.
Meaning: Okay, then you must at least wear a hat.
Cultural Tips
In Korea, protecting children from strong sunlight is generally considered important by parents. While sunglasses for children are common, some kids might resist wearing them initially, just like anywhere else.
Parents often use a gentle and encouraging tone when persuading children. Explaining the reason (protecting eyes, comfort) is a common approach rather than simply demanding compliance.
Making it fun or relating it to something the child likes (characters, looking cool like parents or celebrities) is a popular tactic. Peer influence can also be mentioned (“Your friends will think it’s cool”).
If a child strongly refuses, parents might try to compromise (e.g., wearing a hat instead) or set clear boundaries (e.g., needing them for outdoor play), though approaches vary by family.
Children’s fashion, including accessories like sunglasses, is quite popular in Korea, so finding stylish options that appeal to kids is usually easy.
Real Conversation Example
Situation: A mother (A) is trying to get her young son (B) to wear sunglasses before going to the park on a sunny day.
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Expression: A: 자, 우리 공원 가기 전에 선글라스 쓰자! 오늘 햇빛이 아주 강해.
Pronunciation: ja, u-ri gong-won ga-gi jeo-ne seon-geul-la-seu sseu-ja! o-neul haet-bi-chi a-ju gang-hae.
Meaning: A: Okay, let’s wear sunglasses before we go to the park! The sunlight is very strong today. -
Expression: B: 싫어! 안 쓸래. 불편해.
Pronunciation: si-reo! an sseul-lae. bul-pyeon-hae.
Meaning: B: No! I don’t want to wear them. They’re uncomfortable. -
Expression: A: 왜 불편해? 선글라스 안 쓰면 눈이 부셔서 놀기 힘들 텐데. 눈 보호해야지.
Pronunciation: wae bul-pyeon-hae? seon-geul-la-seu an sseu-myeon nu-ni bu-syeo-seo nol-gi him-deul ten-de. nun bo-ho-hae-ya-ji.
Meaning: A: Why are they uncomfortable? If you don’t wear sunglasses, it will be too bright, making it hard to play. You need to protect your eyes. -
Expression: B: 그래도 싫어…
Pronunciation: geu-rae-do si-reo…
Meaning: B: But I still don’t want to… -
Expression: A: 그럼 이거 써 볼래? 네가 좋아하는 파란색 공룡 선글라스잖아! 이거 쓰면 엄청 멋있어 보여!
Pronunciation: geu-reom i-geo sseo bol-lae? ne-ga jo-a-ha-neun pa-ran-saek gong-nyong seon-geul-la-seu-ja-na! i-geo sseu-myeon eom-cheong meo-si-sseo bo-yeo!
Meaning: A: Then do you want to try these? They’re the blue dinosaur sunglasses you like! You look super cool wearing these! -
Expression: B: 공룡 선글라스? 음… 한번 써 볼까?
Pronunciation: gong-nyong seon-geul-la-seu? eum… han-beon sseo bol-kka?
Meaning: B: Dinosaur sunglasses? Hmm… Should I try them on? -
Expression: A: 그래! 와~ 정말 멋지다! 공룡처럼 용감해 보이는데?
Pronunciation: geu-rae! wa~ jeong-mal meot-ji-da! gong-nyong-cheo-reom yong-gam-hae bo-i-neun-de?
Meaning: A: Yes! Wow~ You look really cool! You look brave like a dinosaur? -
Expression: B: 히히, 진짜? 그럼 쓰고 갈래!
Pronunciation: hi-hi, jin-jja? geu-reom sseu-go gal-lae!
Meaning: B: Hehe, really? Then I’ll wear them and go!
Practice Tips
Role-playing is a great way to practice these phrases! Try taking turns being the parent and the child~ You can practice explaining why sunglasses are needed and making it sound fun. Listen to how Korean parents talk to their children in dramas or reality shows for more natural intonation.
Don’t be afraid to mix and match phrases. Start with a simple request, explain the reason if needed, and add some fun encouragement! Remember to adjust the politeness level depending on your relationship with the child (though these examples use informal language suitable for parents and young children). Keep practicing, and you’ll be able to handle this situation smoothly in Korean!
