It is a weird moment because I thought about [1] , [2] , [3] , [4] , [5] , [6] , and [7] .
September, Inwang Mountain 09. 05. 2022
[7]
The only thing I felt was 시원하다, as I felt the wind on top of the mountain. Perhaps it was because it was the day after I quit my first job. It was a decision I had hesitated over for so long, so the
re was no lingering regret left in my mind.
Reaching the summit, the breeze that greeted me was so 시원하다. After spending months confined to the office desk, being able to feel the wind in the open expanse of nature made me so comfortable.
(Si-Won-Hada)
[7]
시원하다 (Si-Won-Hada)
1. to feel relieved or refreshed
2. comfortable and appropriate level of coolness
The direct translation of “Si-Won-Hada” into Korean is “cool,” a term that originally refers to the pleasantness of a breeze and cool temperature. But when used to express emotions, it carries a connotation of refreshment. It signifies a sense of clarity and openness, as if something has been unblocked or released. This concept is in contrast to the emotion “Dap-dap-hada” which is a feeling of being blocked. Just as we drink cool water to quench our thirst or experience a refreshing feeling after finally digesting something, it is used to describe a situation that makes us feel refreshed due to its unobstructed nature.
Interestingly, often causing confusion for non-Koreans, Koreans use “Si-Won-hada” to express their emotions even when consuming very hot soup. This usage aligns with the idea of penetrating a clogged or blocked internal state, much like the warmth of hot soup breaking through internal barriers. Thus, “Si-Won-Hada” captures the nuanced concept of emotional coolness and a refreshing state, whether the source is temperature, a breeze, or even a steaming bowl of hot soup.