가마

Korean

Etymology 1

First attested in the Seokbo sangjeol (釋譜詳節 / 석보상절), 1447, as Middle Korean 가마〮 (Yale: kàmá). Possibly cognate with Japanese 窯 (kama, “kiln; oven; cauldron”). Compare also 감— (gam-, “to be black”).

Pronunciation

• (SK Standard/Seoul) IPA^(key): [ka̠ma̠]
• Phonetic hangul: [가마]

Romanizations
Revised Romanization?	gama
Revised Romanization (translit.)?	gama
McCune–Reischauer?	kama
Yale Romanization?	kama

Noun

가마 • (gama)

1. kiln; oven

   벽돌을 가마에 굽다

   byeokdoreul gamae gupda

   to bake bricks in a kiln

2. cauldron

   가마 밑이 노구솥 밑을 검다 한다.

   gama michi nogusot miteul geomda handa.

   The pot calls the kettle black.

Derived terms

• 가마솥 (gamasot, “cauldron”)

Etymology 2

First attested in the Hunmong jahoe (訓蒙字會 / 훈몽자회), 1527, as Middle Korean 가마〮. Possibly related to 감〯다〮 (kǎmtá, “to wind around”).

Pronunciation

• (SK Standard/Seoul) IPA^(key): [ka̠ma̠]
• Phonetic hangul: [가마]

Romanizations
Revised Romanization?	gama
Revised Romanization (translit.)?	gama
McCune–Reischauer?	kama
Yale Romanization?	kama

Noun

가마

가마 • (gama)

1. whorl of hair, vortex of hair (on the vertex of the head)

   내 머리에 가마가 하나니 둘이니?

   nae meorie gamaga hanani durini?

   Do I have one or two hair whorls?

Derived terms

• 쌍가마 (ssanggama, “double vortexes of hair”)

Etymology 3

From Japanese 叺 (kamasu, “straw bag”), itself originally a compound of 蒲 (kama, “reed, straw, rushes”) + 簀 (su, “woven mat”). Cognate with 가마니 (gamani, “sack made of straw”).

Pronunciation

• (SK Standard/Seoul) IPA^(key): [ka̠ma̠]
• Phonetic hangul: [가마]

Romanizations
Revised Romanization?	gama
Revised Romanization (translit.)?	gama
McCune–Reischauer?	kama
Yale Romanization?	kama

Noun

가마 • (gama)

1. sack made of straw
2. (measure word) bag, sack

   쌀 한 가마에 십만 원 간다.

   ssal han gamae simman won ganda.

   The market price of rice is 100,000 won a bag.

Derived terms

• 쌀가마 (ssalgama, “sack of rice”)

Etymology 4

Of native Korean origin.

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium. Particularly: “First attestation?”)

Pronunciation

• (SK Standard/Seoul) IPA^(key): [ˈka̠(ː)ma̠]
• Phonetic hangul: [가(ː)마]
  • Though still prescribed in Standard Korean, most speakers in both Koreas no longer distinguish vowel length.

Romanizations
Revised Romanization?	gama
Revised Romanization (translit.)?	gama
McCune–Reischauer?	kama
Yale Romanization?	kāma

Noun

가마 • (gama)

1. palanquin

   가마를 타고 가다

   gamareul tago gada

   to go by palanquin

   가마를 메다

   gamareul meda

   to carry a palanquin on the shoulder

Derived terms

• 가마꾼 (gamakkun, “palanquin bearer”)