Korean word

제자리

Pronunciation

Romanizationchejari

Meaning

  • nounoriginal place

Example

책을 제자리에 놓아 주세요.chae geul che ja ri e no a chu se yo

Please put the book in its original place.

Illustration for 제자리 (original place)

More examples

문서가 제자리에 정리되어 있어요.mun seo ga che ja ri e cheong ni doe eo i sseo yo

The document is filed in its original place.

Core concept

The designated position for something, including the place it came from.

Common phrases

  • 제자리를 찾다che ja ri reul chat tta

    find the original place

  • 제자리에 놓여 있다che ja ri e no yeo it tta

    be in the original place

  • 제자리를 잃다che ja ri reul il ta

    lose the original place

Similar words

자리chari: A particular spot is set aside for a person to sit or an object to occupy.
정해진 자리cheonghaejin chari: A designated place is the assigned spot for a person or thing.

Definition in Korean

정해진 자리나 원래 두어야 할 위치를 가리키는 말.cheong hae jin cha ri na wol lae tu eo ya hal wi chi reul ka ri ki neun mal

Word origin

The compound 제자리 (jejari, "one's proper place") joins 제 (je, "one's own") with 자리 (jari, "place") to show where something properly belongs.

Usage tips

  • English speakers can use 제자리 (jejari, "proper place") when an item has an expected place, not simply any location.

Other meanings

  • designated positionnoun
  • spotnoun

Opposites

Related words

  • 제자리걸음chejarigeoreumstagnationnoun

Word lists with this word