가

(see here for the particle and verbal suffix)

Korean

Etymology 1

ㄱ (g) is the first consonant and ㅏ (a) is the first vowel in the ordering of Hangul.

Symbol

가 • (ga)

1. The first syllable in the standard ordering of Hangul, the Korean alphabet. Often used to mark the first item of a list or sub-list, equivalent to English (A).

Derived terms

• 가갸시절 (gagyasijeol, “childhood; time when you first learn your letters”)(North Korea)

See also

• 갑(甲) (gap)

Etymology 2

First attested in the Yongbi eocheon'ga (龍飛御天歌 / 용비어천가), 1447, as Middle Korean ᄀᆞᇫ〯 (Yale: kǒz).

Pronunciation

• (SK Standard/Seoul) IPA^(key):

  • (file)

• Phonetic hangul:
  • Though still prescribed in Standard Korean, most speakers in both Koreas no longer distinguish vowel length.

Noun

가 • (ga)

1. (especially in compounds) border, edge, end

   Antonyms: 속 (sok), 안 (an)

   강가 ― gangga ― riverside

   냇가 ― naetga ― streamside

   우물가 ― umulga ― well side

2. (with an implied or explicit possessor) around, nearby, beside

   Synonyms: 옆 (yeop), 주변(周邊) (jubyeon)

   그 가에 나는 앉았다. ― Geu ga-e na-neun anjatda. ― I sat beside it.

   부처님 가에 꽃들이 만발했다.

   Bucheonim ga-e kkot-deur-i manbal-haetda.

   The flowers were in full bloom around the Buddha.

3. brim (of a vessel)

   참기름을 따를 때 가에 흘리지 않도록 조심해라.

   Chamgireum-eul ttareul ttae ga-e heulliji an-torok josimhaera.

   Be careful not to spill on the brim when pouring sesame oil.

Usage notes

• In compounds, it takes the genitive ㅅ (-s-).

Derived terms

Etymology 3

Sino-Korean word from 家 (“house, family”).

Pronunciation

• (SK Standard/Seoul) IPA^(key):

  • (file)

• Phonetic hangul:

Noun

가 • (ga) (hanja 家)

1. (formal) family, household

   Synonym: 가족(家族) (gajok)

2. (chiefly in compounds) dynasty, lineage, household, House

   합스부르크가 ― hapseubureukeu-ga ― House of Hapsburg

   재벌가 ― jaebeol-ga ― corporate family

Suffix

—가 • (-ga) (hanja 家)

1. -er, -ist

   Synonyms: 자(者) (ja), 수(手) (su)

   ‎건축(建築) (geonchuk, “architecture”) + ‎가(家) (ga) → ‎건축가(建築家) (geonchukga, “architect”)

   ‎전략(戰略) (jeollyak, “strategy”) + ‎가(家) (ga) → ‎전략가(戰略家) (jeollyakga, “strategist”)

   ‎자본(資本) (jabon, “capital”) + ‎가(家) (ga) → ‎자본가(資本家) (jabon'ga, “capitalist”)

   ‎애묘(愛猫) (aemyo, “loving cats”) + ‎가(家) (ga) → ‎애묘가(愛猫家) (aemyoga, “cat-lover”)

Derived terms

• See the hanja entry at 家 for Sino-Korean compounds of 가 (家, ga).

Etymology 4

Sino-Korean word from 可 (“possible”).

Pronunciation

• (SK Standard/Seoul) IPA^(key):

  • (file)

• Phonetic hangul:
  • Though still prescribed in Standard Korean, most speakers in both Koreas no longer distinguish vowel length.

Noun

가 • (ga) (hanja 可)

1. (chiefly suffixal) allowed; permitted

   Antonym: 불가(不可) (bulga)

   15세 관람 가 ― sibose gwallam ga ― those of age 15 permitted to watch

   분할 상환 가 ― bunhal sanghwan ga ― divided reimbursement allowed

2. aye, for (in meetings, etc.)

   Antonym: 부(否) (bu)

   의원 여러분께서는 본 안건에 대해 가인지 부인지를 결정해주시기를 바랍니다.

   Uiwon yeoreobun-kkeseo-neun bon an'geon-e daehae ga-inji bu-inji-reul gyeoljeonghae-jusigi-reul baramnida.

   Members of parliament, please decide whether you are for or against on this agenda.

3. The lowest score in the five-point grading system in South Korean schools, ultimately abolished in 2012; equivalent to E or F in the Roman alphabet grading scheme.

   Coordinate terms: 수(秀) (su), 우(優) (u), 미(美) (mi), 양(良) (yang)

Derived terms

• 가(可)하다 (gahada, “to be permitted”)
• See the hanja entry at 可 for Sino-Korean compounds of 가 (可, ga).

Etymology 5

Sino-Korean word from 價 (“price, value”).

Suffix

—가 • (-ga) (hanja 價)

1. price
2. (physics, after a numeral) valence

Derived terms

• See the hanja entry at 價 for Sino-Korean compounds of 가 (價, ga).

Etymology 6

Sino-Korean word from 街 (“street”).

Suffix

—가 • (-ga) (hanja 街)

1. (in address names) street

   종로3가 ― jongno-sam-ga ― Jongno, third street

Derived terms

• See the hanja entry at 街 for Sino-Korean compounds of 가 (街, ga).

Etymology 7

Sino-Korean word from 假 (“false”).

Pronunciation

• (SK Standard/Seoul) IPA^(key):

  • (file)

• Phonetic hangul:
  • Though still prescribed in Standard Korean, most speakers in both Koreas no longer distinguish vowel length.

Prefix

가— • (ga-) (hanja 假)

1. false
2. temporary

Derived terms

• See the hanja entry at 假 for Sino-Korean compounds of 가 (假, ga).

Related terms

Etymology 8

Sino-Korean word from 加 (“to add”).

Pronunciation

• (SK Standard/Seoul) IPA^(key):

  • (file)

• Phonetic hangul:

Root

가 • (ga) (hanja 加)

1. The template Template:ko-root of does not use the parameter(s):

   t=to add; to exert

   Please see Module:checkparams for help with this warning.Root of 가하다 (gahada). Rarely used alone.

Derived terms

• See the hanja entry at 加 for Sino-Korean compounds of 가 (加, ga).

Etymology 9

From Middle Korean 가〮 (Yale: ká); see the main entry for more.

Pronunciation

• (SK Standard/Seoul) IPA^(key):

  • (file)

• Phonetic hangul:

Verb

가 • (ga)

1. infinitive of 가다 (gada, “to go”): see 가다 (gada), 어 (-eo).
2. informal non-polite non-past indicative of 가다 (gada, “to go”)
3. informal non-polite non-past interrogative of 가다 (gada, “to go”)
4. informal non-polite hortative of 가다 (gada, “to go”)
5. informal non-polite imperative of 가다 (gada, “to go”)
6. formal non-polite cause/reason of 가다 (gada, “to go”)

Etymology 10

Modern Korean reading of various Chinese characters.

Syllable

가 (ga)