가장

Korean

Etymology 1

First attested in the Seokbo sangjeol (釋譜詳節 / 석보상절), 1447, as Middle Korean ᄀᆞ자ᇰ〮 (Yale: kòcáng). Original meaning: "very, extremely". Superlative meaning ("most") from sixteenth century onward. Displaced previous superlative adverbs 안〮직 (Yale: áncìk), ᄆᆞᆺ〮 (Yale: mós).

Pronunciation

(SK Standard/Seoul) IPA^(key): [ka̠d͡ʑa̠ŋ]
Phonetic hangul: [가장]

Romanizations
Revised Romanization^?	gajang
Revised Romanization (translit.)^?	gajang
McCune–Reischauer^?	kajang
Yale Romanization^?	kacang

Adverb

가장 • (gajang)

most, -est
Synonym: 제일(第一) (jeil)
이 사전이 가장 좋아요.
I sajeon-i gajang joa-yo.
This dictionary is the best.
우사인 볼트는 지구상에서 가장 빠른 사람이에요.
Usain Bolteu-neun jigusang-eseo gajang ppareun saram-ie-yo.
Usain Bolt is the fastest person on Earth.

Etymology 2

Sino-Korean word from 假 (“fake”) + 葬 (“burial”)

Pronunciation

(SK Standard/Seoul) IPA^(key): [ˈka̠(ː)d͡ʑa̠ŋ]
Phonetic hangul: [가(ː)장]
- Though still prescriptive in Standard Korean, most speakers in both Koreas no longer distinguish vowel length.

Romanizations
Revised Romanization^?	gajang
Revised Romanization (translit.)^?	gajang
McCune–Reischauer^?	kajang
Yale Romanization^?	kācang

Noun

가장 • (gajang) (hanja 假葬)

A hurried or temporary burial
Burying a child

Etymology 3

Sino-Korean word from 家長, from 家 (“family”) + 長 (“master”)

Pronunciation

(SK Standard/Seoul) IPA^(key): [ka̠d͡ʑa̠ŋ]
Phonetic hangul: [가장]

Romanizations
Revised Romanization^?	gajang
Revised Romanization (translit.)^?	gajang
McCune–Reischauer^?	kajang
Yale Romanization^?	kacang

Noun

가장 • (gajang) (hanja 家長)

the head of a family

References

Lee, Ju Haeng (이주행); Lee Kyu Hang (이규항), Kim Sang Jun (김상준) (2004), “가장”, in 한국어 발음사전: Korean Pronouncing Dictionary, Seoul: Jigu Publishing, →ISBN, page 27
National Institute of the Korean Language (Naver.com mirror) (accessed 2007-01-03), “가장”, in 표준국어대사전‎
National Institute of the Korean Language (Naver.com mirror) (accessed 2007-01-03), “가장”, in 표준국어대사전‎
Choe, Jong-du (최종두), ed. (2005), “가장”, in 새국어사전, Seoul: Isangsa, page 8