Korean

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Etymology

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First attested in the Akhak gwebeom (樂學軌範 / 악학궤범), 1493, as Middle Korean 닛발 (Yale: nispal), apparently (Yale: ni, “tooth”, whence modern (i)) + (Yale: -s, genitive particle) + (Yale: pal, meaning unknown).

Pronunciation

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Romanizations
Revised Romanization?ippal
Revised Romanization (translit.)?i'ppal
McCune–Reischauer?ippal
Yale Romanization?i.ppal
  • South Gyeongsang (Busan) pitch accent: 이빨의 / 이빨에 / 이빨까지

    Syllables in red take high pitch. This word always takes high pitch on both syllables, and lowers the pitch of subsequent suffixes.

Noun

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South Korean
Standard Language
이빨 (ippal)
North Korean
Standard Language
이발 (ibal)

이빨 (ippal)

  1. (colloquial) tooth
    Synonym: (chiefly of a human) (i)
    호랑이 이빨 물리면 가능성 거의 없다.
    Horang'i-ui ippar-e mullimyeon sal ganeungseong-i geoui eopda.
    If you get bitten by a tiger, there is little chance of living.
    소원 하나 과거 돌아가 공룡 이빨 얼마나 큰지 으로 확인해 보는 이다.
    Nae sowon jung hana-neun gwageo-ro doraga gongnyong-ui ippar-i eolmana keunji nae nun-euro hwaginhae boneun geos-ida.
    One of my wishes is to go back to the past and see with my own eyes how big a dinosaur's tooth is.