구멍

구멍

Korean

Etymology

First attested in the Bullyu dugongbu si eonhae (分類杜工部詩諺解 / 분류두공부시언해), 1481, as Middle Korean 구무 (kwumwu).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key)[kumʌ̹ŋ]
• Phonetic Hangul[구멍]

Revised Romanization? gumeong Revised Romanization (translit.)? gumeong McCune–Reischauer? kumŏng Yale Romanization? kwumeng

Noun

구멍 • (gumeong)

1. hole, aperture, opening

   벽에 구멍을 뚫다 ― byeoge gumeong-eul ttulta ― to drill a hole in a wall

   바지에 구멍이 났다.

   Bajie gumeong-i natda.

   [I’ve] got a hole in my trousers. [lit. "A hole appeared in my trousers."]

2. (figuratively) defect, loophole, blind point
3. (figuratively) loss, deficit

Derived terms

• 오존 구멍 (ojon gumeong, “ozone hole”)
• 검은 구멍 (geomeun gumeong, “black hole”)
• 구멍 가게 (gumeong gage, “small store”)

Related terms

• 구덩이 (gudeong-i, “pit, cavity, depression”)
• 구렁 (gureong, “hollow, cavity, pit”)
• 골 (gol, “cave, hollow”)