무당
Korean edit
Etymology edit
Sino-Korean word from 巫堂, from 巫 (“shaman”) + 堂 (“hall”). First attested in the Eoje naehun, (御製內訓 / 어제내훈), 1475 , as Middle Korean 무〯다ᇰ〮 (Yale: mwǔtáng).
Pronunciation edit
- (SK Standard/Seoul) IPA(key): [ˈmu(ː)da̠ŋ]
- Phonetic hangul: [무(ː)당]
- Though still prescribed in Standard Korean, most speakers in both Koreas no longer distinguish vowel length.
| Romanizations | |
|---|---|
| Revised Romanization? | mudang |
| Revised Romanization (translit.)? | mudang |
| McCune–Reischauer? | mudang |
| Yale Romanization? | mūtang |
Noun edit
- shaman; priest of Korean shamanism, the indigenous religion of the country
- Synonyms: 무속인(巫俗人) (musogin), 만신(萬神) (mansin); see also Thesaurus:무속인
- (specifically) female shaman
- Coordinate term: 박수 (baksu)
Usage notes edit
- 무당 (mudang) is common in conversation but has mildly derogatory connotations. It is not used in formal or polite situations such as academia or television, where 무속인 (巫俗人, musogin) is preferred, nor by priests themselves. It should not be used in direct address to a priest; see the linked thesaurus entry above for the preferred honorific terms. Priests representing regional traditions will often prefer regional terms, e.g. 심방 (simbang) or 법사 (法師, beopsa).