Korean word

이른바

Pronunciation

Romanizationireunba

Meaning

  • adverbso-called

Example

그는 이른바 천재로 불린다.keu neun i reun ba cheon jae ro pul lin da

He is what is commonly called a genius.

Illustration for 이른바 (so-called)

More examples

이른바라는 말은 때로 경멸적인 뉘앙스를 담기도 한다.i reun ba ra neun ma reun ttae ro kyeong myeol jeo gin nwi ang seu reul tam kki do han da

The expression so-called may sometimes carry a contemptuous nuance.

Core concept

A known public label is brought into focus as the name by which people commonly refer to something.

Common phrases

  • 이른바 '명문대' 출신i reun ba myeong mun dae chul sin

    graduate of what is called a prestigious university

  • 이른바 '갑질'i reun ba kap jjil

    so-called abuse of power

Similar words

소위sowi: Presents a name or reputation commonly attributed to a person or thing in a formal tone.
일명ilmyeong: Introduces an alternate name used to identify a person or thing.

Definition in Korean

널리 알려진 명칭이나 통칭을 소개하거나 정리할 때 앞에 쓰는 부사.neol li al lyeo jin myeong ching i na tong ching eul so gae ha geo na cheong ni hal ttae a pe sseu neun pu sa

Word origin

이른바 (ireunba, "so-called") is traditionally explained through the components 이른 (ireun, "said or called") and 바 (ba, "matter or fact").

Usage tips

  • Placed before a name or label, it can create useful distance between the speaker and the description being reported.

Opposites

  • 말 그대로mal keudaeroliterallyadverb

Related words

Word lists with this word