화두

Korean

Etymology 1

Sino-Korean word from 話頭 (“subject under discussion”).

Pronunciation

• (SK Standard/Seoul) IPA^(key): [ɸwa̠du]
• Phonetic hangul: [화두]

Romanizations
Revised Romanization?	hwadu
Revised Romanization (translit.)?	hwadu
McCune–Reischauer?	hwadu
Yale Romanization?	hwatwu

Noun

화두 • (hwadu) (hanja 話頭)

1. topic of discussion

   전기자동차가 세간의 화두로 떠오르고 있다.

   Jeon'gi-jadongcha-ga segan-ui hwadu-ro tteooreugo itda.

   Electric cars are emerging as a society-wide topic of discussion.

2. (Zen Buddhism) koan

   Synonym: (less common) 공안(公案) (gong'an)

   • 2011, “비행기 잘못 타서 한국 왔다가 비구니로… 서구 수행자도 '이뭣고' 화두 좋아하데요 [bihaenggi jalmot taseo han'guk watdaga biguniro… seogu suhaengjado imwotgo hwadu joahadeyo]”, in Chosun Ilbo‎^[1]:

     처음 내게 이뭣고 화두를, 그 뒤엔 조주 스님의 '무(無)'자 화두를 주셨다.

     Cheo'eum naege i-mwotgo hwadu-reul, geu dwi-en Joju seunim-ui mu ja hwadu-reul jusyeotda.

     He first gave me the koan of "What is 'this'?", and after that, the koan of Mu by Master Zhaozhou.

Etymology 2

Sino-Korean word from 火頭, from 火 (“fire”) + 頭 (“head”).

Pronunciation

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

Romanizations
Revised Romanization?	hwadu
Revised Romanization (translit.)?	hwadu
McCune–Reischauer?	hwadu
Yale Romanization?	hwātwu

Noun

화두 • (hwadu) (hanja 火頭)

1. head of a wildfire (the direction it is spreading the fastest in)
   • 2009, 이병두 [ibyeongdu], 구교상 [gugyosang], 이명보 [imyeongbo], “사례 조사를 통한 산불 방향 및 확산 특성 [sarye josareul tonghan sanbul banghyang mit hwaksan teukseong, Forest Fire Direction and Spread Characteristics by Field Investigations]”, in Fire and Science engineering‎^[2], volume 23, number 5, page 96:

     화두 방향에서는 시간당 약 0.13km 속도로, 산불의 측면에서는 시간당 약 0.05km 속도로 확산되었다.

     Hwadu banghyang-eseo-neun sigan-dang yak 0.13-killomiteo sokdo-ro, sanbur-ui cheungmyeon-eseo-neun sigan-dang yak 0.05-killomiteo sokdo-ro hwaksan-doeeotda.

     It spread at a rate of approximately 0.13km per hour towards the head, and approximately 0.05km per hour on the flanks.

Etymology 3

Sino-Korean word from 火斗.

Pronunciation

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

Romanizations
Revised Romanization?	hwadu
Revised Romanization (translit.)?	hwadu
McCune–Reischauer?	hwadu
Yale Romanization?	hwātwu

Noun

화두 • (hwadu) (hanja 火斗)

1. (uncommon) Synonym of 다리미 (darimi, “clothing iron”).