Key Facts
- Hangul: 바람; Revised Romanization: baram
- Part of speech: noun
- Origin: native
- Register: Neutral everyday word; 바람 also means 'wish' or 'infidelity' as homonyms.
Wind in Korean: What Does 바람 Mean?
바람 is the everyday word for moving air. The same spelling also covers two other meanings: "wish" (a separate word, related to the verb for "to hope") and, informally, an affair or cheating on a partner. Weather talk makes the meaning clear, because 불다 (to blow) or 세다 (to be strong) points to the wind. 바람 also appears in compounds such as 바람막이, the windbreaker jacket.
How Do You Pronounce 바람?
The romanization is baram, two syllables, ba-ram. The ㄹ is the start of the second syllable 람, so between vowels it is a quick tap of the tongue, close to a soft "r".
Example Sentences with 바람
바람이 불어요.
Barami bureoyo.
The wind is blowing.
The standard weather line. 바람이 pairs with the verb 불어요, the dictionary form 불다 in the polite style.
오늘은 바람이 시원해요.
Oneureun barami siwonhaeyo.
The wind is cool today.
A pleasant-weather comment. 시원해요 says cool and refreshing, and 오늘은 sets the topic to today.
바람이 너무 강해요.
Barami neomu ganghaeyo.
The wind is too strong.
A complaint. 너무 means "too", and 강해요 describes strength. The same idea appears as 바람이 세다 in the list below.
Common Phrases with 바람
Wind has its own verbs in Korean. The key point is that 바람 pairs with 불다, not with a verb of coming.
| Korean | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 바람이 불다 | the wind blows |
| 바람을 쐬다 | to get fresh air |
| 바람이 세다 | the wind is strong |
| 바람막이 | windbreaker |
The Mistake to Avoid
Wrong: 바람이 오다 ("the wind comes").
Correct: 바람이 불다 ("the wind blows"). In Korean, wind does not come; it blows.
바람 Compared with Its Neighbours
Two neighbours need care, one a spelling trap and one a bigger storm.
| Word | Meaning | How it differs |
|---|---|---|
| 바램 | non-standard spelling | The noun 'wish' is 바람; 바램 is a common misspelling. |
| 태풍 | typhoon | A strong storm. |
Where Does 바람 Come From?
바람 is a native Korean noun with no hanja form.
By the River: Changing Plans Because of the Wind
Two friends have planned to walk along the river. After stepping outside, they decide whether to stay outdoors.
Friend A
바람이 많이 불어요.
Barami mani bureoyo.
It is very windy.
Friend B
강 옆은 더 추워요.
Gang yeopeun deo chuwoyo.
It is colder beside the river.
Friend A
그럼 카페에 갈까요?
Geureom kapee galkkayo?
Then shall we go to a cafe?
Friend B
네, 안으로 가요.
Ne, aneuro gayo.
Yes, let us go inside.
바람이 많이 불어요 describes a windy day. 많이 literally means “a lot”, and here it describes how much the wind blows. 더 means “more”, so the second speaker compares the riverside with the place they are standing. The exchange turns a weather observation into a reason to change plans.
What Can You Say about the Wind?
바람이 세요 means “The wind is strong”, using 세다. 바람이 강해요 uses 강하다 for the same basic observation. 바람이 차요 means “The wind is cold”. Strength and temperature are separate: a gentle breeze can feel cold, and a strong wind can feel warm.
시원해요 often describes a pleasant, cooling breeze. It is useful when wind brings relief from heat. 추워요 describes feeling cold or cold conditions, so it usually expresses discomfort in the same outdoor conversation. The existing example 오늘은 바람이 시원해요 praises the refreshing air rather than warning about the temperature.
Fresh Air, an Affair, and Air in a Tyre
바람을 쐬다 literally involves exposing yourself to moving air. As a set phrase it means going outside for fresh air or a change of mood. Someone may suggest it after sitting indoors for hours. It does not require a particularly windy day; the purpose is a break outdoors.
바람을 피우다 means to have an affair. The verb 피우다 is the clue that the scene concerns a relationship rather than weather. In a drama, translating each word separately as a weather report would miss the accusation. The Korean Learners' Dictionary entry for 바람 lists this meaning alongside the fresh-air expression.
바람 also names the air inside something inflatable. 바람을 넣다 can mean putting air into a tyre, ball, or tube. 바람이 빠지다 describes that air escaping or the object going flat. A bicycle repair conversation therefore uses 바람 even when nobody is talking about the weather outside.
Where Will You Hear or See 바람?
Everyday weather conversations use 바람, while a forecast may also use 강풍, “strong wind”. These are related but have different scope: 바람 names wind in general, and 강풍 explicitly identifies strong wind. A forecast containing 강풍 is more specific than a friend simply saying it is breezy.
In a clothing shop, 바람막이 names a windbreaker. 막다 means to block, so the compound points to blocking wind. The word describes the garment's purpose; it does not by itself tell you that the jacket is waterproof or suitable for freezing temperatures. Those are separate features to ask about.
Weather Words That Help You Describe the Scene
| Korean | Meaning | One useful note |
|---|---|---|
| 강풍 | strong wind | More specific than the general word 바람. |
| 미풍 | light breeze | Describes gentle moving air. |
| 찬바람 | cold wind | Combines the temperature with the wind. |
| 비 | rain | Can occur with wind, but uses 오다 in an everyday weather sentence. |
| 기온 | air temperature | Gives temperature rather than wind strength. |
The weather vocabulary lesson puts wind beside rain, snow, and temperature. In a simple report, give each its own description. Rain falling does not tell the listener whether the wind is strong, just as a windy day does not necessarily mean that rain is falling.
Quick Self-Test
- Which verb describes wind blowing: 불다 or 오다?
- Does 바람을 쐬다 require strong wind?
- At a bicycle shop, what might 바람을 넣다 mean?
Show answers
- 불다.
- No. The phrase means getting fresh air or taking a break outdoors.
- Putting air into a tyre.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you say "wind" in Korean?
Say 바람 (baram). It is a neutral, everyday noun.
How do I say "the wind is blowing"?
Say 바람이 불어요, which uses the verb 불다.
Is 바램 correct for "wish"?
No. The standard noun for "wish" is spelled 바람, the same as the wind word. 바램 is a common misspelling.
What does 바람을 쐬다 mean?
It means to get fresh air, a fixed phrase using 바람.
Related Words and What to Learn Next
- Theme list: Weather vocabulary groups 바람 with its neighbours.
- Index: Korean words A to Z.
- Practice: add the word to the vocabulary flashcard decks.
- Related page: Weather in Korean.
- Related page: Typhoon in Korean.