Korean

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Etymology

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First attested in the late nineteenth century. Speculatively compare 주춤 (juchum, hesitant), Yukjin Korean 엉거리 (eonggeori, buttocks).

Pronunciation

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Romanizations
Revised Romanization?eonggeojuchum
Revised Romanization (translit.)?eonggeojuchum
McCune–Reischauer?ŏnggŏjuch'um
Yale Romanization?engkecwu.chwum

Ideophone

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Ablaut/harmonic pair
Yin-form 엉거주춤 (eonggeojuchum)
Yang-form 앙가조촘 (anggajochom)

엉거주춤 (eonggeojuchum)

  1. squatting, stooping (often hesitantly)
    아이 엉거주춤 있었다.
    Ai-deur-i mun dwi-e eonggeojuchum seo isseotda.
    The children were standing, almost squatting, behind the door.
  2. hesitant, indecisive
    엉거주춤 결정 내리고 있을 기회 지나갔다.
    Eonggeojuchum gyeoljeong-eul mot naerigo isseul ttae gihoe-neun jinagatda.
    The opportunity passed by while he was hesitant, unable to decide.

Derived terms

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