바람
baram
Definition
The natural movement of air outdoors; wind. Also used figuratively to mean a wish or hope.
Example
오늘 바람이 많이 불어서 춥습니다.
Show translation
It is cold today because the wind is blowing a lot.
Etymology
A native Korean word (고유어) with no Chinese character root. It has been used since Old Korean to refer to moving air. Its secondary meaning of "wish" or "hope" likely developed through the metaphor of wind as something intangible and yearned for — something felt but not held.
Cultural note
바람 is a beautifully polysemous word in Korean. Beyond "wind," it carries the meaning of "wish" or "desire" (e.g., 내 바람은… — "My hope is…"). It also appears in the expression 바람을 피우다 ("to cheat on a partner"), and in idioms like 바람을 맞다 ("to be stood up"). Learners should pay close attention to context to distinguish these very different meanings.