Dictionary — Entry No. 0591
더워
deowo · adjective
더워
deowo
[duh-WUH]
adjectivebeginner
Meaning
The casual, informal sentence-ending form of 덥다 (deopda), meaning ‘it’s hot’ in reference to weather or ambient temperature. This is the form you hear between close friends and in everyday conversation. Critically, 더워 describes environmental heat — the air, the weather — and not the temperature of an object you can touch.
K-Pop & K-Drama Context
Korean summers are notoriously sweltering and humid, making 더워 one of the most-uttered phrases from June through August. TWICE’s summer bop ‘Dance the Night Away’ perfectly captures the carefree energy of a hot Korean summer night, with the heat becoming part of the fun. In ‘Reply 1997’ (응답하라 1997), the oppressive Busan summer heat is a vivid backdrop, with characters fanning themselves and exclaiming 더워 as part of the show’s rich nostalgic atmosphere.
Example Sentences
오늘 너무 더워!
Oneul neomu deowo!
It’s so hot today! (the go-to summer exclamation in Korea — you’ll hear this constantly from June onward)
더워서 아이스크림 먹고 싶어.
Deowoseo aiseukeurim meokgo sipeo.
I want ice cream because it’s hot. (더워서 = because it’s hot — a causal connector used constantly in summer)
한국 여름은 정말 더워.
Hanguk yeoreumeun jeongmal deowo.
Korean summers are really hot. (a factual statement and relatable warning for international fans planning to visit Korea)
⚠️ Don’t use deowo when…
Don’t confuse 더워 (hot weather or air) with 뜨거워 (tteugeowo, hot to the touch — like a hot drink or a stove). They are not interchangeable. For polite or formal speech, use 더워요 or 덥습니다 instead of 더워.
🎵 Heard In
- K-Drama: Reply 1997 (응답하라 1997) — the sweltering Busan summer is a constant presence, with characters drenched in sweat and 더워 on everyone’s lips as part of the drama’s authentic 1990s atmosphere
- K-Pop: TWICE — Dance the Night Away
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.