Hello, you have come here looking for the meaning of the word
무당. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
무당, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
무당 in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
무당 you have here. The definition of the word
무당 will help you to be more precise and correct when speaking or writing your texts. Knowing the definition of
무당, as well as those of other words, enriches your vocabulary and provides you with more and better linguistic resources.
Korean
Etymology
Sino-Korean word from 巫堂, from 巫 (“shaman”) + 堂 (“hall”). First attested in the Eoje naehun, (御製內訓 / 어제내훈), 1475 , as Middle Korean 무〯다ᇰ〮 (Yale: mwǔtáng).
Pronunciation
- (SK Standard/Seoul) IPA(key):
- Phonetic hangul:
- Though still prescribed in Standard Korean, most speakers in both Koreas no longer distinguish vowel length.
| Romanizations |
|---|
| Revised Romanization? | mudang |
|---|
| Revised Romanization (translit.)? | mudang |
|---|
| McCune–Reischauer? | mudang |
|---|
| Yale Romanization? | mūtang |
|---|
Noun
무당 • (mudang) (hanja 巫堂)
- shaman; priest of Korean shamanism, the indigenous religion of the country
- Synonyms: 무속인(巫俗人) (musogin), 만신(萬神) (mansin); see also Thesaurus:무속인
- (specifically) female shaman
- Coordinate term: 박수 (baksu)
Usage notes
- 무당 (mudang) is common in conversation but has mildly derogatory connotations. It is not used in formal or polite situations such as academia or television, where 무속인 (巫俗人, musogin) is preferred, nor by priests themselves. It should not be used in direct address to a priest; see the linked thesaurus entry above for the preferred honorific terms. Priests representing regional traditions will often prefer regional terms, e.g. 심방 (simbang) or 법사 (法師, beopsa).
Derived terms
- 무당벌레 (mudangbeolle, “ladybug”)
- 무당개구리 (mudanggaeguri, “fire-bellied toad”)
See also