대

(see above for the verbal suffix)

Sino-Korean word from 大 (“big, great”), from the Middle Korean reading 대 (Yale: tay).

• (SK Standard/Seoul) IPA^(key): ~
• Phonetic hangul:
  • Though still prescribed in Standard Korean, most speakers in both Koreas no longer distinguish vowel length.

대 • (dae) (hanja 大)

1. something large; something great

   Antonym: 소(小) (so)

2. (in particular) large (out of a set of two or three things, e.g. portion sizes at a restaurant)

   Synonym: 대(大)짜 (daejja)

   Coordinate terms: 중(中) (jung, “medium”), 소(小) (so, “small”)

3. (only in university names) Short for 대학교(大學校) (daehakgyo, “university”).

   Coordinate terms: 고(高) (go, “high school”), 중(中) (jung, “middle school”), 초(初) (cho, “elementary school”)

   서울대 ― seouldae ― Seoul National University

• Often written in hanja (especially in restaurant menus, news headlines referring to universities, etc.), even in a contemporary text otherwise devoid of Chinese characters.

대— • (dae-) (hanja 大)

1. great, mega-

   Antonym: 소(小) (so)

• Often written in hanja.

—대 • (-dae) (hanja 大)

1. Attached to Sino-Korean numerals to denote a grouping of that number which is best in quality, importance, or gravity.

   세계 7대 불가사의 ― segye 7-dae bulgasaui ― Seven Wonders of the World

   중국 4대 미녀 ― jungguk 4-dae minyeo ― Four Beauties of China

   3대 문제점 ― 3dae munjejeom ― three major problems

• See the hanja entry at 大 for Sino-Korean compounds of 대 (大, dae).

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

• (SK Standard/Seoul) IPA^(key): ~
• Phonetic hangul:

대 • (dae)

1. stalk (of herbaceous plants; especially of tall grasses like maize or sugarcane)

   Synonym: 줄기 (julgi)

2. pole; long stick
3. (idiomatic) resolve, determination

   대가 곧다 ― dae-ga gotda ― to have resolve (literally, “the stalk is straight”)

   대가 세다 ― dae-ga seda ― to be stubborn (literally, “the stalk is strong”)

대 • (dae)

1. Used to count long, stick-like objects, such as arrows, rib bones, and cigarettes.
2. Used to count the number of times one has been hit, whipped, or stabbed.

   Synonym: (for punches) 방 (bang)

3. Used to count the number of times one has had a medical injection.

   Synonym: 방 (bang)

Sino-Korean word from 代 (“to replace; generation”), from the Middle Korean reading ᄃᆡ〯 (Yale: tǒy).

• (SK Standard/Seoul) IPA^(key): ~
• Phonetic hangul:
  • Though still prescribed in Standard Korean, most speakers in both Koreas no longer distinguish vowel length.

대 • (dae) (hanja 代)

1. generation (in a family, a dynasty, a descent group)

   증손자 대 ― jeungsonja dae ― great-grandchildren's generation

   대를 이어 내려온 전통 ― dae-reul ieo naeryeo-on jeontong ― a tradition which has passed down the generations

2. (after an attributing monarch or period) reign, period, era

   조선 대 ― Joseon dae ― Joseon era

   태종 대 ― Taejong dae ― the reign of Taejong

3. (geology) era

대— • (dae-) (hanja 代)

1. replacement

   ‎대 (dae) + ‎딸 (ttal, “jerking off, masturbation”) → ‎대딸 (daettal, “handjob”)

—대 • (-dae) (hanja 代)

1. (after a Sino-Korean multiple of ten) people in their...

   20대 ― isip-dae ― people in their twenties

   5·60대 ― oryuksip-dae ― people in their fifties and sixties

2. (after a Sino-Korean number) -th; of ancestors or political leaders

   4대를 봉사하다 ― sa-dae-reul bongsahada ― to perform rites for the ancestors up to the fourth generation

   제10대 대통령 ― je-sip-dae daetongnyeong ― the tenth president

• See the hanja entry at 代 for Sino-Korean compounds of 대 (代, dae).

Sino-Korean word from 對, from the Middle Korean reading ᄃᆡ〯 (Yale: tǒy).

• (SK Standard/Seoul) IPA^(key): ~
• Phonetic hangul:
  • Though still prescribed in Standard Korean, most speakers in both Koreas no longer distinguish vowel length.

대 • (dae) (hanja 對)

1. pair
2. contrasting pair

   음과 양은 대를 이룬다. ― Eum-gwa yang-eun dae-reul irunda. ― Yin and yang form a contrasting pair.

3. (between two nouns) versus, V.S.

   남한 대 북한 ― namhan dae bukhan ― South Korea versus North Korea

   남자 대 여자 ― namja dae yeoja ― men versus women

대 • (dae) (hanja 對)

1. Root of 대하다 (daehada, “to face; to be about”). Rarely used alone.

대— • (dae-) (hanja 對)

1. to, towards

   대국민 사과 ― dae-gungmin sagwa ― apology to the nation

2. against, opposing

   미국의 대이란 정책 ― Migug-ui dae-iran jeongchaek ― the Iranian policy of the United States

   중국의 대미 전략 ― Junggug-ui dae-mi jeollyak ― China's American strategy

• See the hanja entry at 對 for Sino-Korean compounds of 대 (對, dae).

Sino-Korean word from 臺.

• (SK Standard/Seoul) IPA^(key): ~
• Phonetic hangul:

대 • (dae) (hanja 臺)

1. platform

대 • (dae) (hanja 臺)

1. Used to count machinery, including automobiles.

—대 • (-dae) (hanja 臺)

1. (after a number) in the... s

   수십억대 ― susib-eok-dae ― in the billions

• See the hanja entry at 臺 for Sino-Korean compounds of 대 (臺, dae).

First attested in the Jīlín lèishì (鷄林類事 / 계림유사), 1103, as Late Old Korean 帶 (Yale: *tay).

In the hangul script, first attested in the Seokbo sangjeol (釋譜詳節 / 석보상절), 1447, as Middle Korean 대〮 (Yale: táy).

Usually connected to Proto-Japonic *takay (“bamboo”), whence Japanese 竹(たけ) (take).

• (SK Standard/Seoul) IPA^(key): ~
• Phonetic hangul:

대 • (dae)

1. (uncommon in isolation) bamboo

   Synonym: (much more common) 대나무 (daenamu)

Sino-Korean word from 隊 (“group; army unit”).

• (SK Standard/Seoul) IPA^(key): ~
• Phonetic hangul:
  • Though still prescribed in Standard Korean, most speakers in both Koreas no longer distinguish vowel length.

대 • (dae) (hanja 隊)

1. (military) army unit (of smaller size, from squad to regiment)

• See the hanja entry at 隊 for Sino-Korean compounds of 대 (隊, dae).

Modern Korean reading of various Chinese characters.

대 (dae)