수저

Korean

Etymology

From 술 (sul, “spoon”) + 저 (箸, jeo, “chopstick”). First attested in the Worin seokbo (月印釋譜 / 월인석보), 1459, as Middle Korean 수져 (Yale: swucye).

Pronunciation

• (SK Standard/Seoul) IPA^(key): [sʰud͡ʑʌ̹]
• Phonetic hangeul: [수저]

Revised Romanization? sujeo Revised Romanization (translit.)? sujeo McCune–Reischauer? sujŏ Yale Romanization? swuce

Noun

수저 • (sujeo)

1. cutlery; spoon(s) and chopstick(s)

Derived terms

• 금수저 (geumsujeo, “the high upper class, the wealthy and privileged”, literally “gold cutlery”)
• 은수저 (eunsujeo, “the upper middle class or low upper class”, literally “silver cutlery”)
• 동수저 (dongsujeo, “the middle class”, literally “bronze cutlery”)
• 흙수저 (heuksujeo, “the lower class, the poor and unprivileged”, literally “dirt cutlery”)

Related terms

• 숟가락 (sutgarak, “spoon”)
• 젓가락 (jeotgarak, “chopsticks”)