TOPIK · Level 212
15 words
Korean word
극
Pronunciation
Romanizationkeuk
Meaning
- nounpole
Example
지구의 극에는 눈이 많이 내린다.chi gu ui keu ge neun nu ni ma ni nae rin da
A lot of snow falls at the Earth's poles.
More examples
남극에는 펭귄이 산다.nam geu ge neun peng gwi ni san da
Penguins live at the South Pole.
Core concept
A farthest endpoint, extended to mean the highest or strongest degree in compounds.
Common phrases
북극puk kkeuk
North Pole
남극nam geuk
South Pole
극지keuk jji
polar region
Similar words
극단keukttan: A state or position that is far from the middle and unusually extreme.
극한keukan: The furthest limit that a condition or action can reach.
한계hangye: A boundary beyond which a person or situation cannot continue or develop.
Definition in Korean
주로 다른 말 앞에 붙어 정도나 강도를 매우 높이는 접두사적 용법과 북극·남극처럼 지구상의 끝부분이나 최고점을 가리키는 명사적 용법이 있으며, 연극을 가리키는 '극'은 다른 한자에서 온 말이다.chu ro ta reun mal a pe pu teo cheong do na kang do reul mae u no pi neun cheop ttu sa jeok yong beop kkwa puk kkeuk nam geuk cheo reom chi gu sang ui kkeut ppu bu ni na choe go jeo meul ka ri ki neun myeong sa jeok yong beo bi i sseu myeo yeon geu geul ka ri ki neun keuk eun ta reun han ja e seo on ma ri da
Word origin
It comes from the Sino-Korean reading of a character meaning an utmost limit or endpoint, while the word for a theatrical play comes from a separate character.
Usage tips
- In compounds, it often marks an extreme degree rather than a physical location, so context determines which sense is intended.
Other meanings
- playnoun
Opposites
- 적도cheokttoequatornoun
- 중간chungganmiddlenoun
Related words
- 극단keukttanextremenoun
- 극한keukanlimitnoun
- 극점keukjjeompolenoun