제일
Korean
Etymology 1
Sino-Korean word from 第一, from 第 (第, “-th”) + 一 (一, “one”).
Pronunciation
- (SK Standard/Seoul) IPA(key): [ˈt͡ɕe̞(ː)iɭ]
- Phonetic hangul: [제(ː)일]
- Though still prescribed in Standard Korean, most speakers in both Koreas no longer distinguish vowel length.
Romanizations | |
---|---|
Revised Romanization? | jeil |
Revised Romanization (translit.)? | jeil |
McCune–Reischauer? | cheil |
Yale Romanization? | cēyil |
Adverb
제일 • (jeil) (hanja 第一)
- most, -est; forms superlatives of adjectives
- Synonym: 가장 (gajang)
- 그는 팀에서 제일 빠른 선수면서 제일 힘이 센 선수다.
- geu-neun tim-eseo jeil ppareun seonsu-myeonseo jeil him-i sen seonsu-da.
- He is the fastest and strongest player in [his] team.
- 저는 한국어 사전 중에서는 이 사전이 제일 좋습니다.
- jeo-neun han'gugeo sajeon jung-eseo-neun i sajeon-i jeil joseumnida.
- For Korean, I like this dictionary the most.
Noun
제일 • (jeil) (hanja 第一)
- number one; the first or primary
- Synonyms: 최고(最高) (choego), 으뜸 (eutteum)
- 그는 세계 제일의 축구 선수다. ― geu-neun segye jeil-ui chukgu seonsu-da. ― He is the number one soccer player in the world.
- 1992, 최준경 (Choe Jun-gyeong) [Choi Joon Kyong] (lyrics), “내 나라 제일로 좋아 (Nae nara jeillo joa) [My country is the best]”:
- 내 사는 내 나라 제일로 좋아! ― nae saneun nae nara jeil-ro joa! ― The country I live in is the best! (literally, “I like my country I live in as number one!”)
Usage notes
The most common use of this is in front of an adjective or adjectival phrase, to denote superlativity.
A 2007 decision by the Patent Court of Korea found that while the superlative sense of 제일(第一) (jeil) is not distinctive, the use of 제일(第一) (jeil) in front of a noun is distinctive and can be protected by trademark.
Alternative forms
- 젤 (jel) (contraction)
Derived terms
- 제일(第一)가다 (jeilgada)
- 제일권(第一權) (jeilgwon)
- 제일보(第一步) (jeilbo)
- 제일봉(第一峯) (jeilbong)
- 제일선(第一線) (jeilseon)
- 제일의(第一義) (jeirui)
- 제일인(第一人) (jeirin)
- 제일주의(第一主義) (jeiljuui)
- 제일차(第一次) (jeilcha)
Descendants
- → Mandarin: 賊拉
- ⇒ Mandarin: 賊
Etymology 2
Sino-Korean word from 祭日, from 祭 (祭, “ceremony; memorial”) + 日 (日, “day”).
Pronunciation
- (SK Standard/Seoul) IPA(key): [ˈt͡ɕe̞(ː)iɭ]
- Phonetic hangul: [제(ː)일]
- Though still prescribed in Standard Korean, most speakers in both Koreas no longer distinguish vowel length.
Romanizations | |
---|---|
Revised Romanization? | jeil |
Revised Romanization (translit.)? | jeil |
McCune–Reischauer? | cheil |
Yale Romanization? | cēyil |
Noun
제일 • (jeil) (hanja 祭日)
- a celebratory or memorial day
Etymology 3
Sino-Korean word from 除 (除, “to remove”) + 日 (日, “day”), literally "the day that ends [the year]".
Pronunciation
- (SK Standard/Seoul) IPA(key): [t͡ɕe̞iɭ]
- Phonetic hangul: [제일]
Romanizations | |
---|---|
Revised Romanization? | jeil |
Revised Romanization (translit.)? | jeil |
McCune–Reischauer? | cheil |
Yale Romanization? | ceyil |
Noun
제일 • (jeil) (hanja 除日)
- the last day of the lunar year; Lunar New Year's Eve
- Synonym: 섣달그믐 (seotdalgeumeum)