괜히

Korean

Etymology

괜 (gwaen, root) +‎ 히 (-hi, adverbial suffix).

Pronunciation

• (SK Standard/Seoul) IPA^(key): [ˈkwɛ(ː)nʝi] ~ [ˈkwe̞(ː)nʝi]
• Phonetic hangul: [괜(ː)히/궨(ː)히]
  • Though still prescribed in Standard Korean, most speakers in both Koreas no longer distinguish vowel length.

Romanizations
Revised Romanization?	gwaenhi
Revised Romanization (translit.)?	gwaenhi
McCune–Reischauer?	kwaenhi
Yale Romanization?	kwāyn.hi

Adverb

괜히 • (gwaenhi)

1. for nothing