Meaning and Usage
"얼음" means "ice" in Korean. It refers to frozen water and is commonly used in everyday conversation, especially related to weather, drinks, and safety.
Common Contexts
You will often hear "얼음" when talking about cold weather conditions, such as icy roads, or when ordering drinks with ice cubes. It can also appear in expressions about freezing or chilling.
Collocations and Patterns
- 얼음이 얼다: ice freezes (used to describe water or surfaces becoming frozen)
- 얼음이 녹다: ice melts
- 얼음이 들다: to have ice in a drink
- 얼음을 깨다: to break ice (literally, breaking ice cubes)
Register and Politeness
"얼음" is a neutral noun and can be used in both formal and informal contexts without change.
Common Mistakes
Learners sometimes confuse "얼음" with "아이스" (a loanword from English "ice") which is often used in casual speech or brand names. "얼음" is the native Korean word and is more appropriate in formal or written contexts.