Key Facts
- 계절 (gyejeol) means a season of the year, or a time of year.
- Part of speech: noun; origin: Sino-Korean.
- Register: neutral, standard word.
- Hanja: 季節 (季 season + 節 node, period).
- Level: A1.
Season in Korean: What Does 계절 Mean?
계절 is a Sino-Korean noun. Its hanja 季節 pairs 季 season with 節 node or period, and it covers two senses: a season of the year and, more loosely, a time of year. It is the standard word for spring, summer, autumn and winter as a set. The native 철 is a colloquial alternative, as in 봄철, while 시즌 covers sports and sales seasons.
How Do You Pronounce 계절?
Pronounce it gye-jeol. The first syllable starts with gy, a y glide after g, and the last syllable ends in l. In everyday speech the first syllable is often said ge, without the glide, and standard pronunciation allows both. The romanization stays gyejeol. Particles attach to the l, so 계절이 and 계절을 are said gyejeori and gyejeoreul.
How Do You Use 계절 in a Sentence?
한국은 사계절이 있어요.
Korea has four seasons.
Hangugeun sagyejeori isseoyo. 사계절 is the four seasons in one word. The sentence says that Korea has them, with 이 attached as the subject marker.
어떤 계절을 좋아해요?
Which season do you like?
Eotteon gyejeoreul joahaeyo? 어떤 means which, so the question asks which season you like. 좋아해요 is the polite verb.
계절이 바뀌었어요.
The season has changed.
Gyejeori bakkwieosseoyo. 바뀌었어요 is changed, in the past tense. The sentence describes a change that has already arrived.
Common Word Combinations
| Korean | English |
|---|---|
| 사계절 | four seasons |
| 계절이 바뀌다 | the season changes |
| 좋아하는 계절 | favorite season |
| 계절 과일 | seasonal fruit |
사계절 gathers all four seasons. 계절이 바뀌다 is the season changes. 좋아하는 계절 is favorite season, and 계절 과일 is seasonal fruit.
Common Mistake
Wrong: ✗ 계절 for a sports season or the season of a TV series.
Correct: ✓ 시즌 for sports, TV and sales seasons; 계절 for spring, summer, autumn and winter.
Why: 계절 only names a season of the year. 시즌 is the loanword Koreans use for any other kind of season.
How Does 계절 Differ from Similar Words?
| Word | Meaning | How to tell it from 계절 |
|---|---|---|
| 철 | season, time of year (native) | 철 is the native colloquial word for a season, for example 봄철. |
| 시즌 | season (loanword) | 시즌 is the loanword for sports and sales seasons. |
| 날씨 | weather | 날씨 is day-to-day weather, not the season. |
Choosing a Season for a Trip
Two classmates are planning when to visit Korea. They use polite speech while comparing their preferences.
Mina
어떤 계절을 좋아해요?
Eotteon gyejeoreul joahaeyo?
Which season do you like?
Alex
저는 가을을 좋아해요.
Jeoneun gaeureul joahaeyo.
I like autumn.
Mina
왜 가을을 좋아해요?
Wae gaeureul joahaeyo?
Why do you like autumn?
Alex
날씨가 시원해서 좋아요.
Nalssiga siwonhaeseo joayo.
I like it because the weather is cool.
The question asks for a 계절, so the answer names 가을, autumn. The reason uses 날씨 because coolness describes the weather. 좋아하는 계절 means “the season you like”; Korean does not need a separate word meaning “favorite” in this phrase.
Where Will You See 계절 outside a Textbook?
계절 appears in travel descriptions, weather features and school conversations about the year. A heading about 사계절 may describe how a place changes across spring, summer, autumn and winter. In a clothing listing, 사계절 describes something intended for use throughout the year. It does not mean there are four items in the package.
On a menu or fruit display, 계절 과일 means fruit associated with the current season. The phrase does not name a particular fruit: the selection can change. Here 계절 works before another noun, much like “seasonal” in English. On a dessert menu, ask about the actual fruit if you need to know what will arrive.
The word 계절 is neutral enough for a class assignment or a conversation with a friend. A person can answer the favorite-season question with just 봄 or 가을 when the topic is clear. Adding the polite ending to the whole answer makes it suitable for a new acquaintance; the noun itself has no special polite replacement.
What Does 철 Add to a Seasonal Phrase?
철 often points to the right time for something, especially food. 제철 means the proper season, and 제철 과일 is fruit in season. The literal idea is “its season”; the useful meaning is that now is the natural time for that food. 계절 과일 labels seasonal fruit, while 제철 puts more emphasis on being in season now.
환절기 is another useful word: the period when seasons change. You may meet it in conversations about changing temperatures and what to wear. It names the transition, whereas 사계절 names the complete set. A remark about 환절기 is about the change between seasons rather than a fifth season.
Names to Use When Someone Asks about 계절
| Korean | Meaning | One useful distinction |
|---|---|---|
| 봄 | spring | One individual season, rather than the whole yearly cycle. |
| 여름 | summer | Use this name when summer is your answer to the question. |
| 가을 | autumn, fall | Both English names translate to this one Korean word. |
| 겨울 | winter | A season name even on an unusually warm day. |
| 환절기 | change of seasons | The transition period rather than one of the four names. |
The seasons vocabulary lesson groups the four names. Learn them alongside 계절 so you can answer a preference question, then add a weather word to explain your choice.
Quick Self-Test
- A menu lists 계절 과일. Does that identify one fixed kind of fruit?
- Which word means the transition between seasons: 사계절 or 환절기?
- A friend asks your favorite 계절. Can 가을 answer the question?
Show answers
- No. It means seasonal fruit; the actual fruit depends on the selection.
- 환절기. 사계절 means the four seasons together.
- Yes. 가을 is autumn, one of the four seasons.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Do I Say 'Four Seasons'?
Say 사계절, one word that means all four seasons together. A common sentence is 한국은 사계절이 있어요, which means Korea has four seasons.
What Does 季節 Mean?
季 means season and 節 means node or period. Together they name one of the divisions of the year, which is exactly what 계절 means in Korean.
Can I Use 계절 for a TV Season?
No. A TV series season, a sports season or a sales season is 시즌, the loanword. Keep 계절 for spring, summer, autumn and winter.
What Is the Difference between 계절 and 날씨?
날씨 is the weather on a given day, such as sun or rain. 계절 is the season, a stretch of several months. A warm day in winter changes the 날씨, not the 계절.
Where to Go Next
계절 is part of the nature seasons vocabulary list. Read the TV season word for the entertainment sense, and the weather word to see the difference. The index is Korean words A to Z.