번개

Korean

Etymology

First attested in the Worin seokbo (月印釋譜 / 월인석보), 1459, as Middle Korean 번게 (penkey).

Equivalent to the root 번 (beon, “*bright”) + suffix —게 (ge, “the thing which”). Related to 번득 (beondeuk, “with a flash”), 번쩍거리다 (beonjjeokgeorida, “to glitter”).

Pronunciation

IPA^(key)[pʌ̹nɡe̞]
Phonetic Hangul[번개]

Revised Romanization^?	beon-gae
Revised Romanization (translit.)^?	beongae
McCune–Reischauer^?	pŏn'gae
Yale Romanization^?	penkay

Noun

번개 • (beon-gae)

(flash of) lightning, thunderbolt
번개가 쳤다.
Beon-gaega chyeotda.
There was a flash of lightning.

Synonyms

전 (電, jeon, “lightning”)

Derived terms

번개같다 (beon-gaegatda)
번갯불 (beon-gaetbul)