Korean edit

Etymology edit

First attested in the Akhak gwebeom (樂學軌範 / 악학궤범), 1493, as Middle Korean 닛발 (Yale: nispal), apparently (Yale: ni, “tooth”, whence modern (i)) + (Yale: -s, genitive particle) + (Yale: pal, meaning unknown).

Pronunciation edit

Romanizations
Revised Romanization?ippal
Revised Romanization (translit.)?i'ppal
McCune–Reischauer?ippal
Yale Romanization?i.ppal
  • South Gyeongsang (Busan) pitch accent: 이빨의 / 이빨에 / 이빨까지

    Syllables in red take high pitch. This word always takes high pitch on both syllables, and lowers the pitch of subsequent suffixes.

Noun edit

South Korean
Standard Language
이빨 (ippal)
North Korean
Standard Language
이발 (ibal)

이빨 (ippal)

  1. (colloquial) tooth
    Synonym: (chiefly of a human) (i)
    호랑이 이빨 물리면 가능성 거의 없다.
    Horang'i-ui ippar-e mullimyeon sal ganeungseong-i geoui eopda.
    If you get bitten by a tiger, there is little chance of living.
    소원 하나 과거 돌아가 공룡 이빨 얼마나 큰지 으로 확인해 보는 이다.
    Nae sowon jung hana-neun gwageo-ro doraga gongnyong-ui ippar-i eolmana keunji nae nun-euro hwaginhae boneun geos-ida.
    One of my wishes is to go back to the past and see with my own eyes how big a dinosaur's tooth is.