백지

Korean

Pronunciation

• (SK Standard/Seoul) IPA^(key): [pɛk̚t͡ɕ͈i] ~ [pe̞k̚t͡ɕ͈i]
• Phonetic hangul: [백찌/벡찌]

Romanizations
Revised Romanization?	baekji
Revised Romanization (translit.)?	baegji
McCune–Reischauer?	paekchi
Yale Romanization?	paykci

Etymology 1

Sino-Korean word from 白紙, from 白 (“white”) + 紙 (“paper”)

Noun

백지 • (baekji) (hanja 白紙)

1. white paper, paper of white color
2. blank sheet of paper
3. (figuratively) square one

   Synonym: 백지상태(白紙狀態) (baekjisangtae)

4. (figuratively) blank slate, tabula rasa

   Synonym: 백지상태(白紙狀態) (baekjisangtae)

See also

• 백서(白書) (baekseo, “white paper (government document)”)

Etymology 2

Sino-Korean word from 白地 (“uncultivated land”).

Noun

백지 • (baekji) (hanja 白地)

1. (dated) uncultivated land
2. (dated, figuratively) unevidenced state

Etymology 3

According to the Standard Korean Language Dictionary, a Sino-Korean word from 白地, same as "uncultivated land; unevidenced state". Given the rather unnatural semantics, speculatively compare Mandarin 白白地 (báibái de) with the Mandarin adverbalizing sense of 地 (de), not usual in Sino-Korean.

According to Gyeongnam Bangeon Sajeon, nativisation of the Sino-Korean term 백주 (白晝, baekju, “daytime”), contracted from 백주(白晝)에 (baekjue, “blatantly forcing [that which would not naturally happen]”, literally “in broad daylight”)

Noun

백지 • (baekji) (hanja 白地)

1. Only used in 백지(白地)로 (baekjiro, “(dialectal) in vain, to no avail, pointlessly”).

Adverb

백지 • (baekji) (hanja 白地)

1. (now usually dialectal) in vain, to no avail, pointlessly

   백지 갔다 아이가. (Gyeongsang dialect, Changwon) ― Baekji gatda aiga. ― Us going was pointless, wasn't it?

Etymology 4

Sino-Korean word from 白芷 (“Angelica dahurica”).

Noun

백지 • (baekji) (hanja 白芷)

1. Angelica dahurica (a herb used in medicine), or the root thereof

Further reading

• 경남 방언 사전 [gyeongnam bang'eon sajeon, Dictionary of southern Gyeongsang varieties], volume I, South Gyeongsang Provincial Government, 2017, page 360