Dictionary — Entry No. 0661
봄
bom · noun
봄
bom
[bohm]
nounbeginner
Meaning
Spring, the first of Korea’s four seasons. 봄 symbolizes new beginnings, hope, and the end of hardship — especially poignant after Korea’s bitter winters. It is used both literally and metaphorically to describe a positive turning point in life or love.
K-Pop & K-Drama Context
BTS’s ‘Spring Day’ (봄날, 2017) transformed 봄 into a global symbol of longing and healing for the ARMY fandom, with its music video referencing themes of grief and waiting for warmth to return. IU’s gentle ‘봄 사랑 벚꽃 말고’ captures the season’s quiet romanticism. The K-drama ‘One Spring Night’ (봄밤, 2019) with Jung Hae-in and Han Ji-min uses 봄 as a metaphor for unexpected love that blooms late and changes everything.
Example Sentences
드디어 봄이 왔어!
Deudieo bomi wasseo!
Spring has finally come! (드디어 = finally, at last; implies a long wait — this phrase doubles as a metaphor for relief after hardship)
봄이 되면 벚꽃 보러 가자.
Bomi doemyeon beotkkot boreo gaja.
When spring comes, let’s go see the cherry blossoms. (벚꽃 viewing is a beloved Korean tradition; this sentence is extremely common in March–April)
너한테도 봄이 왔으면 좋겠어.
Neohantedo bomi wasseumyeon jokkesseo.
I hope spring comes for you too. (metaphorical; wishing someone happiness or a fresh start — popular in fan messages to idols going through hard times)
⚠️ Don’t use bom when…
Mistake 1: Confusing 봄 (spring) with 봄 as an informal verb form of 보다 (to see) — ‘나 봄’ can mean ‘I see’ in casual speech, so context is everything. Mistake 2: Assuming 봄 is always cheerful — in Korean art and music, 봄 often carries bittersweet undertones, representing something longed for but not yet arrived.
🎵 Heard In
- K-Drama: One Spring Night (봄밤, 2019) — the title itself uses 봄, and the drama explores how love, like spring, arrives quietly and changes everything before you realize it.
- K-Pop: BTS — Spring Day (봄날)
ℹ️ Editorial Note: The cultural context and example usage are for educational reference only. Artist names, song titles, and drama references are used descriptively to illustrate vocabulary in context. This content is AI-assisted and reviewed for accuracy. For official information, please refer to the respective artists’ or studios’ official channels.