Korean word

기원

Pronunciation

Romanizationkiwon

Meaning

  • nounorigin

Example

이 음식의 기원을 알려 주세요.i eum si gui ki wo neul al lyeo chu se yo

Please tell me where this dish came from.

Illustration for 기원 (origin)

More examples

이 유적의 기원은 아직 확실하지 않다.i yu jeo gui ki wo neun a jik hwak ssil ha ji an ta

The origin of this archaeological site is still uncertain.

Core concept

The starting point or source from which something first comes into being.

Common phrases

  • 기원을 밝히다ki wo neul pal ki da

    reveal the origin

  • 기원을 추적하다ki wo neul chu jeo ka da

    trace the origin

Similar words

유래yurae: The story of how something was passed down and came to its present form.
출처chulcheo: The place or person from which information or an item comes.

Definition in Korean

사물이나 관습이 처음 생긴 때나 이유를 가리키며, 동시에 건강이나 행운을 비는 기도를 뜻하기도 하는 말sa mu ri na kwan seu bi cheo eum saeng gin ttae na i yu reul ka ri ki myeo tong si e keon gang i na haeng u neul pi neun ki do reul tteu ta gi do ha neun mal

Word origin

The origin sense is a Sino-Korean formation built from ideas of beginning and source, while the prayer sense comes from a separate homophonous formation.

Usage tips

  • Context helps separate the homophones: food and customs point to beginnings, while formal wishes can point to prayer.

Other meanings

  • prayernoun

Opposites

  • 종말chongmalendnoun
  • 결말kyeolmalconclusionnoun

Related words

Word lists with this word