Communicating with children about staying warm, especially on windy days, requires specific vocabulary and gentle persuasion. This guide provides essential Korean phrases and cultural context for parents needing to convince their child to wear a scarf when it’s cold and windy outside, ensuring they stay comfortable and healthy.
Table Of Content
Core Expression
-
Expression: 목도리 하자
Pronunciation: mok-do-ri ha-ja
Meaning: Let’s wear a scarf. (A common, gentle suggestion between parent and child)
Basic Persuasion Phrases
-
Expression: 목도리 해야지.
Pronunciation: mok-do-ri hae-ya-ji.
Meaning: You should wear a scarf. / You need to wear a scarf. -
Expression: 밖에 추워.
Pronunciation: ba-kke chu-wo.
Meaning: It’s cold outside. -
Expression: 바람 많이 불어.
Pronunciation: ba-ram ma-ni bu-reo.
Meaning: It’s very windy. / The wind is blowing a lot. -
Expression: 이거 해.
Pronunciation: i-geo hae.
Meaning: Wear this. / Do this (referring to putting on the scarf). -
Expression: 목 따뜻하게 해야 해.
Pronunciation: mok tta-tteu-ta-ge hae-ya hae.
Meaning: You need to keep your neck warm. -
Expression: 스카프 맬까?
Pronunciation: seu-ka-peu mael-kka?
Meaning: Shall we put on a scarf? (Using the English loanword ‘scarf’) -
Expression: 목도리 두르자.
Pronunciation: mok-do-ri du-reu-ja.
Meaning: Let’s wrap the scarf (around your neck). -
Expression: 잠깐만 하고 있자.
Pronunciation: jam-kkan-man ha-go it-ja.
Meaning: Let’s just wear it for a little while. -
Expression: 엄마 말 들어야지.
Pronunciation: eom-ma mal deu-reo-ya-ji.
Meaning: You should listen to Mom. -
Expression: 아빠 말 듣자.
Pronunciation: a-ppa mal deut-ja.
Meaning: Let’s listen to Dad. -
Expression: 이거 하면 안 추워.
Pronunciation: i-geo ha-myeon an chu-wo.
Meaning: If you wear this, you won’t be cold.
Explaining Why
-
Expression: 바람 불어서 목이 추울 거야.
Pronunciation: ba-ram bu-reo-seo mo-gi chu-ul geo-ya.
Meaning: Your neck will be cold because the wind is blowing. -
Expression: 감기 걸리면 안 되잖아.
Pronunciation: gam-gi geol-li-myeon an doe-ja-na.
Meaning: You shouldn’t catch a cold, right? / We don’t want you to catch a cold. -
Expression: 목을 보호해야 해.
Pronunciation: mo-geul bo-ho-hae-ya hae.
Meaning: You need to protect your neck. -
Expression: 따뜻하게 입고 나가자.
Pronunciation: tta-tteu-ta-ge ip-go na-ga-ja.
Meaning: Let’s dress warmly and go out. -
Expression: 목도리 안 하면 목 아플 수 있어.
Pronunciation: mok-do-ri an ha-myeon mok a-peul su i-sseo.
Meaning: If you don’t wear a scarf, your throat might hurt. -
Expression: 오늘은 특히 바람이 차가워.
Pronunciation: o-neu-reun teu-ki ba-ra-mi cha-ga-wo.
Meaning: The wind is especially cold today. -
Expression: 건강이 제일 중요해.
Pronunciation: geon-gang-i je-il jung-yo-hae.
Meaning: Health is the most important thing. -
Expression: 그래야 밖에 나가서 놀 수 있지.
Pronunciation: geu-rae-ya ba-kke na-ga-seo nol su it-ji.
Meaning: That way, you can go out and play. -
Expression: 목이 따뜻하면 몸 전체가 따뜻해져.
Pronunciation: mo-gi tta-tteu-ta-myeon mom jeon-che-ga tta-tteu-tae-jyeo.
Meaning: If your neck is warm, your whole body feels warmer. -
Expression: 찬 바람 막아줄 거야.
Pronunciation: chan ba-ram ma-ga-jul geo-ya.
Meaning: It will block the cold wind.
Gentle Encouragement and Compromise
-
Expression: 이 목도리 예쁘지?
Pronunciation: i mok-do-ri ye-ppeu-ji?
Meaning: Isn’t this scarf pretty? -
Expression: 네가 좋아하는 색깔이잖아.
Pronunciation: ne-ga jo-a-ha-neun saek-kka-ri-ja-na.
Meaning: It’s your favorite color, isn’t it? -
Expression: 엄마/아빠도 목도리 할게.
Pronunciation: eom-ma/a-ppa-do mok-do-ri hal-ge.
Meaning: Mom/Dad will wear a scarf too. -
Expression: 우리 같이 목도리 하자.
Pronunciation: u-ri ga-chi mok-do-ri ha-ja.
Meaning: Let’s wear scarves together. -
Expression: 이거 하면 더 멋있어 보여.
Pronunciation: i-geo ha-myeon deo meo-si-sseo bo-yeo.
Meaning: You look cooler/more stylish wearing this. -
Expression: 답답하면 조금 느슨하게 해줄게.
Pronunciation: dap-da-pa-myeon jo-geum neu-seu-na-ge hae-jul-ge.
Meaning: If it feels stuffy, I’ll loosen it a bit for you. -
Expression: 딱 5분만 하고 있어볼까?
Pronunciation: ttak o-bun-man ha-go i-sseo-bol-kka?
Meaning: Shall we try wearing it for just 5 minutes? -
Expression: 착하다, 우리 아들/딸.
Pronunciation: cha-ka-da, u-ri a-deul/ttal.
Meaning: Good boy/girl, our son/daughter. (Used as praise after compliance) -
Expression: 목도리 하면 용감해 보여!
Pronunciation: mok-do-ri ha-myeon yong-gam-hae bo-yeo!
Meaning: You look brave when you wear a scarf! -
Expression: 네가 좋아하는 캐릭터 목도리잖아.
Pronunciation: ne-ga jo-a-ha-neun kae-rik-teo mok-do-ri-ja-na.
Meaning: It’s the scarf with your favorite character on it.
Cultural Tips
In Korea, there’s a strong cultural emphasis on protecting oneself from catching a cold (감기 – gam-gi). Parents are often particularly vigilant about keeping children warm, especially the neck, chest, and feet, as these areas are traditionally believed to be vulnerable points for cold air to enter the body.
Parent-child communication in Korean often involves direct instructions mixed with terms of endearment and gentle persuasion. Phrases like “해야지” (hae-ya-ji – you should do it) are common but usually delivered in a soft tone.
Using positive reinforcement, like complimenting the child’s appearance (예쁘다 – ye-ppeu-da, 멋있다 – meo-sit-da) or relating the item to something they like (favorite color, character), is a common tactic.
Compromise is also frequently used. Suggesting wearing the item “just for a little while” (잠깐만 – jam-kkan-man) or offering to wear one too (같이 하자 – ga-chi ha-ja) can be effective ways to gain cooperation.
While directness is common, Korean parents often prioritize maintaining harmony and avoiding direct confrontation, hence the mix of instruction, reasoning, and gentle coaxing.
Real Conversation Example
Situation: A mother (A) is trying to get her young child (B) ready to go outside on a windy autumn day.
Characters:
A: 엄마 (Eomma – Mom)
B: 아이 (Ai – Child)
-
Expression: A: 자, 이제 나가자. 어? 밖에 바람 많이 분다. 목도리 해야겠네.
Pronunciation: ja, i-je na-ga-ja. eo? ba-kke ba-ram ma-ni bun-da. mok-do-ri hae-ya-gen-ne.
Meaning: Okay, let’s go out now. Oh? It’s very windy outside. We should put on your scarf. -
Expression: B: 싫어! 목도리 답답해. 안 할래.
Pronunciation: si-reo! mok-do-ri dap-da-pae. an hal-lae.
Meaning: No! Scarves are stuffy. I don’t want to wear it. -
Expression: A: 안 돼. 오늘 바람 많이 불어서 목 따뜻하게 해야 감기 안 걸려. 이거 해보자. 예쁘지?
Pronunciation: an dwae. o-neul ba-ram ma-ni bu-reo-seo mok tta-tteu-ta-ge hae-ya gam-gi an geol-lyeo. i-geo hae-bo-ja. ye-ppeu-ji?
Meaning: No way. It’s very windy today, so you need to keep your neck warm so you don’t catch a cold. Let’s try wearing this. Isn’t it pretty? -
Expression: B: 그래도 싫어…
Pronunciation: geu-rae-do si-reo…
Meaning: I still don’t want to… -
Expression: A: 그럼 엄마도 같이 할게. 우리 둘 다 목도리 하고 나가면 안 춥고 좋지. 잠깐만 하고 있자, 응?
Pronunciation: geu-reom eom-ma-do ga-chi hal-ge. u-ri dul da mok-do-ri ha-go na-ga-myeon an chup-go jo-chi. jam-kkan-man ha-go it-ja, eung?
Meaning: Then Mom will wear one too. If we both wear scarves when we go out, we won’t be cold, and it’ll be nice. Let’s just wear it for a little while, okay? -
Expression: B: 음… 알았어. 조금만 할게.
Pronunciation: eum… a-ra-sseo. jo-geum-man hal-ge.
Meaning: Hmm… Okay. I’ll wear it just for a bit. -
Expression: A: 착하다, 우리 딸! 자, 예쁘게 매줄게.
Pronunciation: cha-ka-da, u-ri ttal! ja, ye-ppeu-ge mae-jul-ge.
Meaning: Good girl, our daughter! Okay, I’ll tie it nicely for you.
Practice Tips
Understanding how to gently persuade or instruct a child in Korean involves more than just vocabulary; it’s about tone and context! Try practicing these phrases by role-playing with a friend or language partner~ Imagine you’re the parent and they are the child resisting wearing the scarf.
Pay attention to the nuances! Notice how parents might combine direct statements like 목도리 해야지 (mok-do-ri hae-ya-ji) with softer approaches like 예쁘지? (ye-ppeu-ji?) or compromises like 잠깐만 하자 (jam-kkan-man ha-ja). Listening to Korean dramas or observing families in Korea can also provide great real-life examples!
Don’t be afraid to mix and match the phrases you’ve learned here. The key is to communicate your concern for the child’s well-being while encouraging cooperation. Good luck! 화이팅! (hwa-i-ting! – Fighting!/You can do it!)
