Key Facts
- Korean: 비, Revised Romanization bi
- Part of speech: noun
- Origin: native Korean
- Register: neutral everyday word
- Key phrase: 비가 오다, it rains
Rain in Korean: What Does 비 Mean?
비 means rain. Rain does not "do" anything in Korean; it comes (오다) and stops (그치다).
How Do You Pronounce 비?
비 is [bi]. The ㅂ at the start of a word is between English b and p, with little breath.
Example Sentences with 비
비가 와요.
Biga wayo.
It is raining.
와요 is the polite form of 오다. This is the basic "it's raining".
오늘 비가 많이 와요.
Oneul biga mani wayo.
It rains a lot today.
많이 means "a lot".
비가 그쳤어요.
Biga geuchyeosseoyo.
The rain has stopped.
그쳤어요 is the past tense of 그치다, "to stop".
Phrases with 비
| Korean | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 비가 오다 | it rains |
| 비가 그치다 | the rain stops |
| 소나기 | shower |
| 비를 맞다 | to get rained on |
소나기 is a sudden summer shower. 비를 맞다 means getting wet in the rain.
A Common Mistake with 비
- Wrong: 비가 해요 or 비가 있어요
- Correct: 비가 와요
비 takes the verb 오다. Neither the verb for "do" nor the verb for "exist" describes falling rain.
비 Compared with 눈 and 우산
| Word | Meaning | How it differs |
|---|---|---|
| 비 | rain | This page's word |
| 눈 | snow | Snow; also eye |
| 우산 | umbrella | Often used with rain |
Leaving a Café: Is It Still Raining?
Two classmates check the weather before leaving a café. Rain is the subject of the first question, while the umbrella becomes the topic of the next one. All four lines use everyday polite speech.
Classmate A
아직 비가 와요?
Ajik biga wayo?
Is it still raining?
Classmate B
네, 많이 와요.
Ne, mani wayo.
Yes, it is raining a lot.
Classmate A
우산 있어요?
Usan isseoyo?
Do you have an umbrella?
Classmate B
네. 같이 써요.
Ne. Gachi sseoyo.
Yes. Let’s share it.
아직 means “still” in this question. The reply can leave out 비가 because both speakers know what is falling. In the last line, 같이 써요 proposes using the umbrella together. Korean uses 쓰다 for using an umbrella, so this is a practical invitation to share shelter on the walk.
Match the Rain Phrase to the Situation
비가 오다 and 비가 내리다 both describe falling rain. 내리다 means to fall or come down here. You will hear it in forecasts as well as ordinary descriptions; 비가 오다 remains a useful first choice for telling someone what the weather is doing.
비 오는 날 means “a rainy day” or “a day when it rains”. 오는 describes 날, day, and the phrase can appear in a diary title, a playlist name or a plan for staying indoors. It names the kind of day; it is not a complete statement with a polite ending like 비가 와요.
비를 맞다 literally means to be hit by rain. The natural English translation is to get rained on or get wet in the rain. Compare the particles: 비가 와요 reports the weather, while 비를 맞다 describes someone’s exposure to it. You can talk about rain falling without saying anyone got wet.
비가 그치다 describes the rain stopping. 비가 안 오다 means rain does not fall. The first expression points to a change after rain; the second simply says there is no rain at the relevant time. This difference matters when someone is waiting for a shower to end.
Where Will You Hear or Read 비?
In everyday messages, a report of 비 often explains a delay, an umbrella reminder or a change of plans. A speaker who says 비가 많이 와요 gives the amount in ordinary language. 많이 means a lot; it does not specify an official rainfall measurement.
Weather forecasts also use 강수 확률, “probability of precipitation”. This is a forecast label rather than another everyday name for rain. Precipitation includes weather such as rain and snow, so read it alongside the weather symbols and the forecast text.
Rain Words to Learn Next
| Korean | Meaning | When it helps |
|---|---|---|
| 소나기 | sudden shower | Describe a short burst of rain. |
| 이슬비 | drizzle | Describe very fine, light rain. |
| 장마 | rainy season | Talk about a period of seasonal rain. |
| 우산 | umbrella | Ask about protection from the rain. |
The weather vocabulary lesson groups these with other conditions. 소나기 and 이슬비 describe kinds of rain, while 장마 names a season or prolonged rainy period. Keeping those categories separate makes a forecast easier to follow.
Quick Self-Test
- Which means someone gets wet: 비가 오다 or 비를 맞다?
- What does 비 오는 날 mean?
- Which word names a rainy season rather than a short shower?
Show answers
- 비를 맞다 describes getting rained on. 비가 오다 reports falling rain.
- A rainy day, or a day when it rains.
- 장마. A sudden shower is 소나기.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Do You Say "It's Raining" in Korean?
Say 비가 와요, literally "rain comes". Korean uses 오다, to come, for falling rain, so 비가 와요 means "it is raining" and 비가 많이 와요 means "it is raining a lot". The same verb works for snow, 눈.
How Do You Say "the Rain Stopped" in Korean?
Say 비가 그쳤어요, from 비가 그치다, "the rain stops". 그치다 is the verb for rain, snow or crying coming to an end. After a shower, you will often hear people say this before heading outside again.
What Is 소나기?
소나기 is a sudden shower: heavy rain that starts quickly and stops after a short time, common on Korean summer afternoons. It is also the title of a famous Korean short story that many students read at school, about a brief childhood friendship.
How Do You Say "Get Caught in the Rain" in Korean?
Say 비를 맞다, literally "to be hit by rain". It means getting wet in the rain, usually without an umbrella. If someone arrives soaked, they might explain that they got caught in the rain, using this phrase. 우산, umbrella, is the word you need to avoid it.
Related Words and Next Steps
- See more weather words.
- Find more single words like rain in the Korean words A to Z index.
- Review rain (비) with the vocabulary flashcard decks.