실마리

Korean

Pronunciation

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

Romanizations
Revised Romanization?	silmari
Revised Romanization (translit.)?	silmali
McCune–Reischauer?	silmari
Yale Romanization?	sīl.mali

Noun

실마리 • (silmari)

1. (literally, thread head) beginning of a thread
2. clue, lead

Alternative forms

• (obsolete) 실머리 (silmeori)

Synonyms

• 실끝 (silkkeut): end of a thread
• 열쇠 (yeolsoe): key
• 단서 (端緖, danseo): clue

Antonyms

• 미궁 (迷宮, migung): maze, labyrinth
• 미로 (迷路, miro): maze, labyrinth

Related terms

• 실 (sil): thread
• 마리 (mari): head (obsolete except for "heads" or number of animals, etc.)
• 머리 (meori): head

Related verbs:

• 놓치다 (notchida): to lose
• 잡다 (japda): to catch
• 찾다 (chatda): to find
• 풀다 (pulda): to unravel

See also

• 꾸리 (kkuri): ball of thread
• 꾸리다 (kkurida): To pack, tie up, wrap up, fix up, manage
• 끄르다 (kkeureuda): To unpack, untie, undo