Getting young children to wear appropriate rain gear, like a poncho, can sometimes feel like a negotiation. This guide provides practical Korean phrases for parents visiting a park or outdoors with their child when the weather turns wet. Learn how to gently persuade, encourage, and handle resistance when trying to get your little one into their rain poncho.
Table Of Content
Core Expression
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Expression: 우비 입자
Pronunciation: u-bi ip-ja
Meaning: Let’s wear the rain poncho. (Casual suggestion)
Basic Persuasion Phrases
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Expression: 비 온다!
Pronunciation: bi on-da!
Meaning: It’s raining! -
Expression: 우비 입어야 해.
Pronunciation: u-bi i-beo-ya hae.
Meaning: You have to wear the rain poncho. -
Expression: 이거 입어볼까?
Pronunciation: i-geo i-beo-bol-kka?
Meaning: Shall we try wearing this? -
Expression: 젖으면 안 돼.
Pronunciation: jeo-jeu-myeon an dwae.
Meaning: You shouldn’t get wet. -
Expression: 감기 걸릴 수 있어.
Pronunciation: gam-gi geol-lil su i-sseo.
Meaning: You might catch a cold. -
Expression: 엄마랑 같이 입자.
Pronunciation: eom-ma-rang ga-chi ip-ja.
Meaning: Let’s wear it together with Mom. (Or 아빠랑 ‘ap-pa-rang’ for Dad) -
Expression: 이 우비 정말 귀엽다!
Pronunciation: i u-bi jeong-mal gwi-yeop-da!
Meaning: This rain poncho is really cute! -
Expression: 비 맞으면 추워.
Pronunciation: bi ma-jeu-myeon chu-wo.
Meaning: It’s cold if you get rained on. -
Expression: 이거 입으면 계속 놀 수 있어.
Pronunciation: i-geo i-beu-myeon gye-sok nol su i-sseo.
Meaning: If you wear this, you can keep playing. -
Expression: 자, 어서 입어봐.
Pronunciation: ja, eo-seo i-beo-bwa.
Meaning: Come on, hurry and try it on. -
Expression: 뽀송뽀송하게 있자.
Pronunciation: ppo-song-ppo-song-ha-ge it-ja.
Meaning: Let’s stay nice and dry.
Encouraging Your Child
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Expression: 우비 입으면 슈퍼히어로 같아!
Pronunciation: u-bi i-beu-myeon syu-peo-hi-eo-ro ga-ta!
Meaning: When you wear the poncho, you look like a superhero! -
Expression: 이거 입고 물웅덩이에서 첨벙첨벙 놀자!
Pronunciation: i-geo ip-go mul-ung-deong-i-e-seo cheom-beong-cheom-beong nol-ja!
Meaning: Let’s wear this and splash in the puddles! -
Expression: 우비가 너를 지켜줄 거야.
Pronunciation: u-bi-ga neo-reul ji-kyeo-jul geo-ya.
Meaning: The poncho will protect you. -
Expression: 따뜻하고 마르게 해줄 거야.
Pronunciation: tta-tteu-ta-go ma-reu-ge hae-jul geo-ya.
Meaning: It will keep you warm and dry. -
Expression: 안 젖고 싶은 거 맞지?
Pronunciation: an jeot-go si-peun geo mat-ji?
Meaning: You don’t want to get wet, right? -
Expression: 무서운 거 아니야. 그냥 옷이야.
Pronunciation: mu-seo-un geo a-ni-ya. geu-nyang o-si-ya.
Meaning: It’s not scary. It’s just clothes. -
Expression: 색깔이 정말 예쁘지?
Pronunciation: saek-kka-ri jeong-mal ye-ppeu-ji?
Meaning: The color is really pretty, isn’t it? -
Expression: 이거 입으면 더 신나게 놀 수 있어!
Pronunciation: i-geo i-beu-myeon deo sin-na-ge nol su i-sseo!
Meaning: If you wear this, you can play more excitedly! -
Expression: 비 오는 날도 재미있게!
Pronunciation: bi o-neun nal-do jae-mi-it-ge!
Meaning: Let’s have fun even on a rainy day! -
Expression: 씩씩하게 입어보자!
Pronunciation: ssik-ssik-ha-ge i-beo-bo-ja!
Meaning: Let’s wear it bravely! -
Expression: 우와, 정말 잘 어울린다!
Pronunciation: u-wa, jeong-mal jal eo-ul-lin-da!
Meaning: Wow, it looks really good on you!
Handling Resistance
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Expression: 왜 입기 싫어?
Pronunciation: wae ip-gi si-reo?
Meaning: Why don’t you want to wear it? -
Expression: 불편해?
Pronunciation: bul-pyeon-hae?
Meaning: Is it uncomfortable? -
Expression: 딱 한 번만 입어보자.
Pronunciation: ttak han beon-man i-beo-bo-ja.
Meaning: Let’s just try wearing it once. -
Expression: 우비 안 입으면 집에 가야 해.
Pronunciation: u-bi an i-beu-myeon ji-be ga-ya hae.
Meaning: If you don’t wear the poncho, we have to go home. -
Expression: 몸이 젖지 않게 하는 게 중요해.
Pronunciation: mo-mi jeot-ji an-ke ha-neun ge jung-yo-hae.
Meaning: It’s important not to get your body wet. -
Expression: 고집부리지 마.
Pronunciation: go-jip-bu-ri-ji ma.
Meaning: Don’t be stubborn. -
Expression: 엄마 말 들어야지.
Pronunciation: eom-ma mal deu-reo-ya-ji.
Meaning: You should listen to Mom. (Or 아빠 ‘ap-pa’ for Dad) -
Expression: 잠깐만 입고 있어 봐.
Pronunciation: jam-kkan-man ip-go i-sseo bwa.
Meaning: Just wear it for a little while. -
Expression: 다른 친구들도 다 입었어.
Pronunciation: da-reun chin-gu-deul-do da i-beo-sseo.
Meaning: All the other friends are wearing them too. -
Expression: 싫다고만 하지 말고 이유를 말해봐.
Pronunciation: sil-ta-go-man ha-ji mal-go i-yu-reul mal-hae-bwa.
Meaning: Don’t just say no, tell me the reason why. -
Expression: 이거 안 입으면 놀이 못 해.
Pronunciation: i-geo an i-beu-myeon no-ri mot hae.
Meaning: If you don’t wear this, you can’t play.
Cultural Tips
In Korea, keeping children warm and dry, especially during transitional seasons or rainy weather, is generally considered very important by parents and caregivers to prevent illness. You’ll often see young children well-equipped with raincoats, boots, and umbrellas.
While direct commands are used, Korean parents often employ gentle persuasion, positive framing (like making it fun), and sometimes reasoning (explaining the consequences like catching a cold or having to go home) when dealing with resistant children, similar to parenting styles elsewhere.
Using cute character-themed rain gear (캐릭터 우비 – kae-rik-teo u-bi) is very popular and can be a helpful tool in convincing children to wear them. Pointing out the cute design can sometimes be enough encouragement.
Comparing the child’s behavior to others (다른 친구들도 다 입었어 – da-reun chin-gu-deul-do da i-beo-sseo) is a common tactic, appealing to the child’s desire to fit in or follow group behavior, though its effectiveness varies.
Real Conversation Example
Situation: A parent (A) and their young child (B) are playing in a park when it starts to rain lightly. The parent pulls out a rain poncho.
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Expression: A: 어, 비 온다! 우리 우비 입자.
Pronunciation: eo, bi on-da! u-ri u-bi ip-ja.
Meaning: Oh, it’s raining! Let’s wear our rain poncho. -
Expression: B: 싫어! 안 입을래!
Pronunciation: si-reo! an i-beul-lae!
Meaning: No! I don’t want to wear it! -
Expression: A: 왜 입기 싫어? 이거 입어야 안 젖지. 젖으면 감기 걸릴 수 있어.
Pronunciation: wae ip-gi si-reo? i-geo i-beo-ya an jeot-ji. jeo-jeu-myeon gam-gi geol-lil su i-sseo.
Meaning: Why don’t you want to wear it? You have to wear this so you don’t get wet. If you get wet, you might catch a cold. -
Expression: B: 답답해…
Pronunciation: dap-da-pae…
Meaning: It feels stuffy… -
Expression: A: 괜찮아. 이거 입으면 계속 놀 수 있어. 봐봐, 귀여운 개구리 모양이네!
Pronunciation: gwaen-cha-na. i-geo i-beu-myeon gye-sok nol su i-sseo. bwa-bwa, gwi-yeo-un gae-gu-ri mo-yang-i-ne!
Meaning: It’s okay. If you wear this, you can keep playing. Look, it’s a cute frog shape! -
Expression: B: 개구리?
Pronunciation: gae-gu-ri?
Meaning: Frog? -
Expression: A: 응! 자, 팔 넣어봐. 씩씩하게 입어보자! 우와, 정말 잘 어울린다!
Pronunciation: eung! ja, pal neo-eo-bwa. ssik-ssik-ha-ge i-beo-bo-ja! u-wa, jeong-mal jal eo-ul-lin-da!
Meaning: Yes! Here, put your arms in. Let’s wear it bravely! Wow, it looks really good on you!
Practice Tips
Dealing with little ones requires patience, especially in a foreign language! Try role-playing this scenario with a language partner or even by yourself, imagining your child’s potential responses~.
Listen to how Korean parents talk to their children in parks or public spaces if you get the chance. Pay attention to their tone and the specific phrases they use for encouragement or gentle commands.
Don’t worry about perfection! Using simple phrases like 우비 입자! (u-bi ip-ja!) or 비 와! (bi wa!) is a great start. Keep practicing, and these expressions will become more natural over time!
