눈

Korean

Etymology 1

First attested in the Jīlín lèishì (鷄林類事 / 계림유사), 1103, as Late Old Korean 嫩.

In the Hangul script, first attested in the Seokbo sangjeol (釋譜詳節 / 석보상절), 1447, as Middle Korean 눈〮 (Yale: nwún).

Pronunciation

• (SK Standard/Seoul) IPA^(key):

  • (file)

• Phonetic hangul:

• South Gyeongsang (Busan) pitch accent: 눈의 / 눈에 / 눈까지

  Syllables in red take high pitch. This word always takes high pitch and also heightens the next suffixed syllable, unless it is 에.

Noun

눈 • (nun)

1. eye (organ allowing animals to see)

   눈에는 눈, 이에는 이 ― nun-e-neun nun, ie-neun i ― an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth

2. appreciative eye (for), discerning eye (for)

   Synonym: 안목(眼目) (anmok)

   보는 눈이 있다 ― boneun nun-i itda ― to have a eye for...

3. vision (the ability to see), eyesight

   Synonym: 시력(視力) (siryeok)

   눈이 좋다 ― nun-i jota ― to have good eyesight

4. eyes, gaze; attention

   눈을 의식하다 ― nun-eul uisikhada ― to be self-conscious (literally, “to be aware of others' eyes”)

   눈을 끌다 ― nun-eul kkeulda ― to catch someone's attention

   눈을 피하다 ― nun-eul pihada ― to escape public gaze; to avoid eye contact

5. point of view, viewpoint

Derived terms

See also

• 眼 (an), 目 (mok), hanja for eye

Etymology 2

First attested in the Jīlín lèishì (鷄林類事 / 계림유사), 1103, as Late Old Korean 嫩.

In the Hangul script, first attested in the Yongbi eocheon'ga (龍飛御天歌 / 용비어천가), 1447, as Middle Korean 눈〯 (Yale: nwǔn).

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.

• South Gyeongsang (Busan) pitch accent: 눈의 / 눈에 / 눈까지

  Syllables in red take high pitch. This word always takes low pitch, and heightens the pitch of two subsequent suffixed syllables.

Noun

눈 • (nun)

1. snow

   눈이 내린다.

   Nun-i naerinda.

   Snow is falling.

   눈이 온다.

   Nun-i onda.

   Snow is falling.

   눈을 쓸다.

   Nun-eul sseulda.

   to sweep snow

   눈이 쌓인다.

   Nun-i ssainda.

   Snow is piling up.

Derived terms

See also

• 雪 (seol), the hanja for snow

Etymology 3

First attested in the Beonyeok nogeoldae (飜譯老乞大 / 번역노걸대), 1517, as Middle Korean 눈〮 (Yale: nwún).

Pronunciation

• (SK Standard/Seoul) IPA^(key):

  • (file)

• Phonetic hangul:

Noun

눈 • (nun)

1. (less common) scale, graduation (on a measuring device)

   Synonym: (more common) 눈금 (nun'geum)

Derived terms

Etymology 4

Of native Korean origin.

Pronunciation

• (SK Standard/Seoul) IPA^(key):

  • (file)

• Phonetic hangul:

Noun

눈 • (nun)

1. bud, shoot, sprout

   Synonyms: 싹 (ssak), 움 (um)

Derived terms

Etymology 5

Korean reading of various Chinese characters.

Syllable

눈 (nun)

Middle Korean

Etymology 1

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /nún/

Noun

눈〮 (nwún) (locative 누네〮 (nwùn-éy))

1. eye

Descendants

• Korean: 눈 (nun)

Etymology 2

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /nǔn/

Noun

눈〯 (nwǔn) (locative 누〯네〮 (nwǔn-éy))

1. snow

Descendants

• Korean: 눈 (nun)