See also: -예
U+C608, 예
HANGUL SYLLABLE YE
Composition: +

[U+C607]
Hangul Syllables
[U+C609]




여 ←→ 오

Early Modern Korean edit

Etymology 1 edit

From Middle Korean 이ᅌᅦ (ìngèy).

Pronunciation edit

Pronoun edit

(yey)

  1. here
    Synonym: 여긔 (yeogui)
Descendants edit
  • Korean: (ye)

Etymology 2 edit

From Middle Korean 예〯 (Yěy), from Old Korean 倭理 (*YEri, Japanese). This is among the only native (non-Sino-Korean) Korean terms for ethnic groups that survive in the written record.

Pronunciation edit

Noun edit

(Yey) (occasional hanja form )

  1. Japanese [until 1930s in some dialects]
    Synonym: 왜인(倭人) (Woayin)
Usage notes edit
  • The hanja (yey, literally filthy, obscene) was sometimes assigned to this word, either pejoratively or out of a genuine misunderstanding that this was the origin of the word.

Korean edit

Etymology 1 edit

Not attested in Middle Korean. Probably from the same source as (ne), plausibly *녜 (*nye) (not directly attested).

Pronunciation edit

  • (SK Standard/Seoul) IPA(key): [je̞(ː)]
  • Phonetic hangul: [(ː)]
    • Though still prescribed in Standard Korean, most speakers in both Koreas no longer distinguish vowel length.
Romanizations
Revised Romanization?ye
Revised Romanization (translit.)?ye
McCune–Reischauer?ye
Yale Romanization?yēy

Interjection edit

(ye)

  1. (formal) yes (affirms the truth of the question as stated)
    보셨습니까? — , 있습니다.
    Han beon-eun ga-bosyeotseumnikka? - Ye, ga-bon jeok itseumnida.
    Have you been there at least once? — Yes, I have been there.
    없습니까? — , 없습니다.
    Han beon-do ga-bon jeok eopseumnikka? - Ye, eopseumnida.
    Have you never been there? — No [lit. Yes], never.
Usage notes edit
  • Korean has a number of words for "yes". (ye) is highly polite and formal (appropriate in an interview), (ne) is polite but less formal (appropriate in a conversation with parents), and (eung) and (eo) are plain and non-formal (appropriate in a conversation with friends).
  • As in the example above, Korean "yes" follows the polarity of the question, unlike in English. Hence saying "yes" to a negatively stated question means that the negative is true.
Derived terms edit

Etymology 2 edit

Sino-Korean word from (example), from the Middle Korean reading 례〯 (Yale: lyěy).

Pronunciation edit

  • (SK Standard/Seoul) IPA(key): [je̞(ː)]
  • Phonetic hangul: [(ː)]
    • Though still prescribed in Standard Korean, most speakers in both Koreas no longer distinguish vowel length.
Romanizations
Revised Romanization?ye
Revised Romanization (translit.)?ye
McCune–Reischauer?ye
Yale Romanization?yēy

Noun edit

South Korean
Standard Language
예(例) (ye)
North Korean
Standard Language
례(例) (rye)

(ye) (hanja )

  1. example
    Synonyms: 사례(事例) (sarye), 예시(例示) (yesi), 일례(一例) (illye)
    조리joriyeserving suggestion
    들자, 일주일 5kg 감량하는 현실적이지 않습니다.
    Ye-reul deulja-myeon, ilju'ir-e okillogeuraem-eul gamnyanghaneun geos-eun hyeonsiljeog-iji anseumnida.
    To give an example, losing 5 kilograms in a week is not a realistic goal.
Usage notes edit
  • This is often formatted as "예)" in textbooks and literature.
Derived terms edit
See also edit
  • 본보기 (bonbogi, good example, example for others)

Etymology 3 edit

Sino-Korean word from (ritual, etiquette), from the Middle Korean reading 례〮 (Yale: lyéy), (Yale: nyey).

Pronunciation edit

Romanizations
Revised Romanization?ye
Revised Romanization (translit.)?ye
McCune–Reischauer?ye
Yale Romanization?yey

Noun edit

South Korean
Standard Language
예(禮) (ye)
North Korean
Standard Language
례(禮) (rye)

(ye) (hanja )

  1. (especially Confucianism) decorum, ceremonial (code of decorous behavior that all people ought to follow)
Derived terms edit

Etymology 4 edit

First attested in the Yongbi eocheon'ga (龍飛御天歌 / 용비어천가), 1447, as Middle Korean 녜〯 (Yale: nyěy).

Pronunciation edit

  • (SK Standard/Seoul) IPA(key): [je̞(ː)]
  • Phonetic hangul: [(ː)]
    • Though still prescribed in Standard Korean, most speakers in both Koreas no longer distinguish vowel length.
Romanizations
Revised Romanization?ye
Revised Romanization (translit.)?ye
McCune–Reischauer?ye
Yale Romanization?yēy

Noun edit

(ye)

  1. (in idiomatic expressions) ancient times, antiquity, old times
    Synonym: (much more common) 옛날 (yennal)
    부터 우리나라 동방예의지국으로 알려져왔다.
    Ye-ro-buteo urinara-neun dongbang'yeuijigug-euro allyeojeo-watda.
    Since ancient times, Korea has been known as the "eastern land of decorum".
Usage notes edit
  • Now used primarily in the following expressions:
Related terms edit
  • (yet, old)

Etymology 5 edit

First attested in the Seokbo sangjeol (釋譜詳節 / 석보상절), 1447, as Middle Korean 이ᅌᅦ (Yale: ìngèy), equivalent to a contraction of modern 여기 (yeogi, here).

Pronunciation edit

Romanizations
Revised Romanization?ye
Revised Romanization (translit.)?ye
McCune–Reischauer?ye
Yale Romanization?yey

Pronoun edit

(ye)

  1. (dated or dialectal) here
    어디라고 감히 찾아와!
    Ye-ga eodi-rago gamhi chaja-wa!
    Where do you think this is, that you dare to show up!

Etymology 6 edit

Sino-Korean word from .

Pronunciation edit

Romanizations
Revised Romanization?ye
Revised Romanization (translit.)?ye
McCune–Reischauer?ye
Yale Romanization?yey

Proper noun edit

(Ye) (hanja )

  1. an ancient tribe living in Korea in the early first millennium
    Hypernym: 예맥(濊貊) (yemaek)
Derived terms edit

Etymology 7 edit

Sino-Korean word from 羿.

Pronunciation edit

Romanizations
Revised Romanization?ye
Revised Romanization (translit.)?ye
McCune–Reischauer?ye
Yale Romanization?yey

Proper noun edit

(Ye) (hanja 羿)

  1. Hou Yi, a legendary archer in Chinese mythology
Derived terms edit

Etymology 8 edit

Modern Korean reading of various Chinese characters, from the Middle Korean reading (Yale: yey).

Syllable edit

(ye)

Extended content
  1. : beforehand
    (eumhun reading: 미리 (miri ye))
    (MC reading: (MC yoH))
  2. : entrust
    (eumhun reading: 맡길 (matgil ye))
    (MC reading: (MC yoH))
  3. : skill
    (eumhun reading: 재주 (jaeju ye))
    (MC reading: (MC ngjiejH))
  4. : praise
    (eumhun reading: 기릴 (giril ye))
    (MC reading: (MC yo|yoH))
  5. : sharp
    (eumhun reading: 날카로울 (nalkaroul ye))
    (MC reading: (MC ywejH|dwajH))
  6. : servant (in e.g. 노예(奴隸) (noye, slave))
    (eumhun reading: (jong ye))
    (MC reading: (MC lejH))
  7. : used as a surname
    (eumhun reading: 성씨 (seongssi ye))
    (MC reading: (MC nywejH))
  8. : attain
    (eumhun reading: 이를 (ireul ye))
    (MC reading: (MC ngejH))
  9. : descendant, heir
    (eumhun reading: 후손 (huson ye))
    (MC reading: (MC yejH))
  10. : cut
    (eumhun reading: (bel ye))
    (MC reading: (MC ngjojH))
  11. : wisdom
    (eumhun reading: 슬기 (seulgi ye))
    (MC reading: (MC ywejH))
  12. : drag
    (eumhun reading: (kkeul ye))
    (MC reading: (MC yejH))
  13. : bright, clever
    (eumhun reading: 밝을 (balgeul ye))
    (MC reading: (MC ywejH))
  14. : child
    (eumhun reading: 어린이 (eorini ye))
    (MC reading: (MC ngej))
  15. : vast and deep
    (eumhun reading: 깊고 넓은 (gipgo neolbeun ye))
    (MC reading: (MC xwajH|'wajH|'jwojH|xwat))
  16. : rainbow
    (eumhun reading: 무지개 (mujigae ye))
    (MC reading: (MC ngej|ngejH|nget))
  17. : lion
    (eumhun reading: 사자 (saja ye))
    (MC reading: (MC ngej))
  18. : stamen
    (eumhun reading: 꽃술 (kkotsul ye))
    (MC reading: (MC nyweX))
  19. : river bend
    (eumhun reading: 물굽이 (mulgubi ye))
    (MC reading: (MC nywejH))
  20. : punish
    (eumhun reading: 징계할 (jinggyehal ye))
    (MC reading: (MC ngjojH))
  21. : filthy
    (eumhun reading: 더러울 (deoreoul ye))
    (MC reading: (MC 'jwojH))
  22. : somniloquy
    (eumhun reading: 잠꼬대 (jamkkodae ye))
    (MC reading: (MC ngjiejH))
  23. : newborn
    (eumhun reading: 갓난아이 (gannanai ye))
    (MC reading: (MC 'ej))
  24. : Alternative form of
    (MC reading: (MC dzrweaj))
  25. : compare
    (eumhun reading: 비길 (bigil ye))
    (MC reading: (MC nrea|ngejX))
  26. : tool handle
    (eumhun reading: 장부 (jangbu ye))
    (MC reading: (MC nywejH))
  27. : an ancient tribe
    (eumhun reading: 민족 이름 (minjok ireum ye))
    (MC reading: (MC 'jwojH))
  28. : look askance
    (eumhun reading: 흘겨볼 (heulgyeobol ye))
    (MC reading: (MC ngejH))
  29. : cataract in the eye
    (eumhun reading: 백태 (baektae kkil ye))
    (MC reading: (MC 'ejH))
  30. : spear handle
    (eumhun reading: 전대 (changjeondae ye))
    (MC reading: (MC 'ej|'ejH))
  31. : cover from the sun, shade
    (eumhun reading: 일산 (ilsan ye))
    (MC reading: (MC 'ej|'ejH))
  32. : Alternative form of
    (MC reading: )
  33. : Alternative form of
    (MC reading: (MC nyweX|nywijX))
  34. : Alternative form of
    (MC reading: )
  35. : coarse
    (eumhun reading: 거칠 (geochil ye))
    (MC reading: (MC 'jwojH))
  36. : black fly
    (eumhun reading: 파리매 (parimae ye))
    (MC reading: )
  37. : Alternative form of
    (MC reading: (MC ngej|nget))
  38. : salamander
    (eumhun reading: 도롱뇽 (dorongnyong ye))
    (MC reading: (MC ngej))
  39. : seagull
    (eumhun reading: 갈매기 (galmaegi ye))
    (MC reading: (MC 'ej))

Etymology 9 edit

South Korean reading of various Chinese characters in isolation or as the first element of a compound, and also the reading in most dialects in 1945, excluding Pyongan and Yukjin, where they are pronounced in this position as (ne) in Pyongan or as (nye) in Yukjin.

From Middle Korean (Yale: lyey). When preceded by another character in a compound, they retain the original (rye) form.

In the North Korean standard, they are always read as (rye), but this is an artificial imposition intended to standardize Sino-Korean readings, which did not reflect any major dialect's pronunciation in 1945.

Syllable edit

(ye)

Extended content
  1. : law, example
    (eumhun reading: 법식 (beopsik ye))
    (MC reading: (MC ljejH))
  2. : etiquette, decorum
    (eumhun reading: 예절 (yejeol ye))
    (MC reading: (MC lejX))
  3. : servant
    (eumhun reading: (jong ye))
    (MC reading: (MC lejH))
  4. : rice drink
    (eumhun reading: 단술 (dansul ye))
    (MC reading: (MC lejX))
  5. : name of a Chinese river
    (eumhun reading: 이름 (gang ireum ye))
    (MC reading: (MC lejX))
  6. : servant
    (eumhun reading: (jong ye))
    (MC reading: (MC lejH))
  7. : snakehead
    (eumhun reading: 가물치 (gamulchi ye))
    (MC reading: (MC lejX))

Middle Korean edit

Etymology edit

From Old Korean 倭理 (*YEri, Japanese), today replaced by Sino-Korean terms in all modern dialects.

Pronunciation edit

Noun edit

예〯 (Yěy)

  1. the Japanese
    • 1447, “Stanza 52”, in 龍飛御天歌 / 용비어천가 [Yongbi eocheon'ga]:
      (쳐ᇰ)으〮로〮 온 예〯와〮 싸호〮샤〮 투〮구〮 아니〮 밧기〮시면〮 나랏〮 ()()을〮 사ᄅᆞ시〮리〮ᅌᅵᆺ가〮
      CHYENG-úlwó wòn Yěy-Gwoá ssàhwósyá thwúkwú àní pàskísìmyén nàlá-s SYWO.MIN-úl sàlòsílíngìská
      If [he] had not been called to combat the hundreds of Japanese and not removed the helmet [of the Japanese general], would he have saved the poor people [of Korea]?

Descendants edit

  • Early Modern Korean: (Yey, Japanese)

See also edit