연조비가사

Korean

Etymology

Sino-Korean word from 燕 (“kingdom of Yan”) + 趙 (“kingdom of Zhao”) + 悲歌 (“sad song”) + 士 (“knight, gentleman, scholar-official”). From the poem 『송동소남서/送董邵南序』, by the eighth- and ninth-century Chinese poet Han Yu:

燕趙古稱多感慨悲歌之士。 [Korean Literary Sinitic, trad.]

From: 送董邵南序

연조고칭다감개비가지사
Yeon Jo goching da gamgae biga ji sa. [Sino-Korean]

It is said of old that in Yan and Zhao, there are many knights who sing elegies of lamentation.

And from the poem 『봉협자/逢俠者』, by the eighth-century Chinese poet Qian Qi:

燕趙悲歌士，相逢 ^劇 ^孟家。寸心言不盡，前路日將斜。 [Korean Literary Sinitic, trad.]

From: 逢俠者

연조비가사 상봉극맹가 촌심언부진 전로일장사
Yeon Jo biga sa, sangbong Geung Maeng sa. Chonsim eon bujin, jeollo il jang sa. [Sino-Korean]

The gentlemen of Yan and Zhao sing many laments; I met Ju Meng in his home. I pour out my heart, but things remain unsaid. On the road ahead, the sun is setting.

Pronunciation

(SK Standard/Seoul) IPA^(key): [ˈjɘ(ː)ɲd͡ʑo̞biɡa̠sʰa̠]
Phonetic hangul: [연(ː)조비가사]
- Though still prescribed in Standard Korean, most speakers in both Koreas no longer distinguish vowel length.

Romanizations
Revised Romanization^?	yeonjobigasa
Revised Romanization (translit.)^?	yeonjobigasa
McCune–Reischauer^?	yŏnjobigasa
Yale Romanization^?	yēn.copikasa

Noun

연조비가사 • (yeonjobigasa) (hanja 燕趙悲歌士)

(four-character idiom from Classical Chinese) intellectuals worrying about the fate of their country
Synonym: 우국지사(憂國之士) (ugukjisa)