눈곱

Korean

Alternative forms

• 눈꼽 (nunkkop) (non-standard)

Etymology

First attested in the Hunmong jahoe (訓蒙字會 / 훈몽자회), 1527, as Middle Korean 누ᇇ곱〮 (Yale: nwùn-s-kwóp). Equivalent to 눈 (nun, “eye”) +‎ 곱 (gop, “mucous discharge”).

Pronunciation

• (SK Standard/Seoul) IPA^(key): [nunk͈o̞p̚]
• Phonetic hangul: [눈꼽]

Romanizations
Revised Romanization?	nun'gop
Revised Romanization (translit.)?	nungob
McCune–Reischauer?	nunkop
Yale Romanization?	nwunqkop

Noun

눈곱 • (nun'gop)

1. rheum, sleep, eye mucus (the substance in the eyes after waking up)

   나는 아침에 일어나면 눈곱이 낀다.

   Na-neun achim-e ireonamyeon nun'gob-i kkinda.

   I have sleep in my eyes when I wake up in the morning.

2. (figurative) a bit, a whit (a small amount)

   그의 말에는 눈곱만큼의 진실도 없었다.

   Geu-ui mar-e-neun nun'gommankeum-ui jinsil-do eopseotda.

   There was not a bit of truth in his speech.