새우

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Korean

Alternative

Etymology

First attested in the Hunminjeong'eum haerye (訓民正音解例 / 훈민정음해례), 1446, as Middle Korean 사ᄫᅵ〮 (Yale: sàWí), from immediately pre-Middle Korean *sàp(o)í. Southern and eastern dialects preserve the medial */p/ as 새비 (saebi, shrimp).

Pronunciation

Romanizations
Revised Romanization?sae'u
Revised Romanization (translit.)?sae'u
McCune–Reischauer?saeu
Yale Romanization?saywu
새우 (sae'u, shrimp)
  • South Gyeongsang (Busan) pitch accent: 우의 / 우에 / 우까지

    Syllables in red take high pitch. This word always takes high pitch only on the first syllable, and lowers the pitch of subsequent suffixes.

Noun

새우 (sae'u)

  1. shrimp, prawn (in general)
  2. (Chungcheong) specifically, larger shrimp

Synonyms

Historical and regional synonyms of 새우 (sae'u, shrimp; prawn)
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GroupRegionLocationWords
Standardised formsSouth Korean Standard Language새우 (sae'u) (general), 생이 (saeng'i) (small freshwater), 새뱅이 (saebaeng'i) (small freshwater), 토하 (toha) (small freshwater), 징거미 (jinggeomi) (large freshwater), 대하 (daeha) (large marine)
North Korean Cultured Language새우 (sae'u) (general)
Historical formsMiddle Korean사ᄫᅵ〮 (sàWí)
Early Modern Seoul Korean새요 (saeyo), 새오 (sae'o), 새우 (sae'u) (from 19th c.)
Central KoreanGyeonggiModern colloquial Seoul새우 (se'u) (general), 생이 (seng'i) (small freshwater), 새뱅이 (sebeng'i) (small freshwater), 토하 (toha) (small freshwater), 징거미 (jinggeomi) (large freshwater), 대하 (deha) (large marine)
Traditional Seoul새우 (sae'u) (large), 생이 (saeng'i) (small)
Kaesong새우 (sae'u) (large), 생이 (saeng'i) (small)
Changpung새우 (sae'u) (large), 생이 (saeng'i) (small)
Yeoncheon새우 (sae'u) (large), 생이 (saeng'i) (small)
Paju새우 (sae'u), 대하 (daeha) (large marine)
Pocheon새우 (sae'u), 새뱅이 (saebaeng'i) (small freshwater)
Ganghwa새우 (sae'u), 대와 (daewa) (large marine)
Yangpyeong새오 (sae'o) (small freshwater), 생오 (saeng'o) (small marine), 징게미 (jing:gemi) (large)
Hwaseong새우 (sae'u), 새갱이 (saegaeng'i) (freshwater), 대화 (daehwa) (large marine)
Yongin새우 (sae'u), 새뱅이 (saebaeng'i)
Icheon새우 (sae'u) (esp. marine), 새뱅이 (saebaeng'i) (esp. freshwater)
YeongseoChuncheon새우 (sae'u)
Wonju새우 (sae'u), 생이 (saeng'i), 징게미 (jing:gemi) (large freshwater)
Kosan새우 (sae'u)
Pyonggang새우 (sae'u)
Cheorwon새우 (sae'u)
Inje새우 (sae'u), 징게미 (jing:gemi) (large freshwater)
Hongcheon새우 (sae'u) (general), 징게미 (jing:gemi) (large marine)
Hoengseong새우 (sae'u)
YeongdongGangneung생오 (sáengò)
Wonsan새비 (saebi)
Kumya새비 (saebi)
Kowon새비 (saebi)
Munchon새비 (saebi)
Anbyeon새비 (saebi)
Tongchon새비 (saebi)
Kosong새비 (saebi), 새우 (sae'u)
Yangyang새우 (sae'u)
Samcheok생오 (séngò)
Pyeongchang새우 (sae'u), 생우 (saeng'u) (marine)
Yeongwol새우 (sáeù)
Jeongseon새우 (sae'u)
North ChungcheongCheongju새우 (sae'u) (large), 새뱅이 (saebaeng'i) (small), 징개미 (jing:gaemi) (large freshwater)
Jincheon새우 (sae'u) (large), 새뱅이 (saebaeng'i) (small)
Chungju새우 (sae'u) (large), 새뱅이 (saebaeng'i) (small)
Jecheon새우 (sae'u) (large), 새배이 (saebaei) (small freshwater), 태화 (taehwa) (large marine), 징개미 (jinggaemi) (large freshwater)
Danyang새우 (sae'u) (freshwater or small marine), 태화 (taehwa) (large marine), 징기미 (jinggimi) (large marine)
Goesan새우 (sae'u) (large), 새뱅이 (saebaeng'i) (small), 징개미 (jinggaemi) (large freshwater)
Boeun새우 (sae'u) (large), 새부랭이 (saeburaeng'i) (small), 징기미 (jing:gimi) (large freshwater), 새오 (sae'o), 대하 (daeha) (large marine)
Okcheon새우 (sae'u), 사뱅이 (sabaeng'i), 징개미 (jing:gaemi) (large)
Yeongdong새우 (sae'u) (large), 새뱅이 (saebaeng'i) (small), 징기미 (jing:gimi) (large freshwater), 대하 (daeha) (large marine)
South ChungcheongDaejeon새우 (sae'u), 새뱅이 (saebaeng'i) (small), 징게미 (jinggemi) (large freshwater)
Seosan새우 (sae'u) (large), 새오 (sae'o), 대와 (daewa) (large marine)
Cheonan새우 (sae'u) (large), 새뱅이 (saebaeng'i) (small), 징게미 (jinggemi) (large freshwater), 대하 (daeha) (large marine)
Yesan새우 (sae'u), 새오 (sae'o), 대화 (daehwa) (large marine)
Hongseong새우 (sae'u) (large), 새뱅이 (saebaeng'i) (small)
Cheongyang새우 (sae'u) (large), 새오 (sae'o)
Gongju새우 (sae'u) (large), 새뱅이 (saebaeng'i) (small), 징게미 (jinggemi) (large)
Yeongi새우 (sae'u) (large)
Boryeong새오 (sae'o)
Buyeo새우 (sae'u) (large)
Seocheon새우 (sae'u) (large), 새웅개 (sae'unggae) (small), 대와 (daewa) (large marine), 중와 (jung'wa) (small marine)
Nonsan새우 (sae'u), 새웅개 (sae'unggae) (small), 대하 (daeha) (large marine)
Geumsan새우 (sae'u) (large), 징개미 (jinggaemi) (large), 새붕개 (saebunggae), 새비 (saebi) (small)
South HwanghaeHaeju새우 (sae'u)
Ongjin새우 (sae'u)
Yonan새우 (sae'u)
Taetan새우 (sae'u)
Chaeryong새우 (sae'u)
Changyon새우 (sae'u)
Anak새우 (sae'u)
Unnyul새우 (sae'u)
North HwanghaeHwangju새우 (sae'u)
Sohung새우 (sae'u)
Kumchon새우 (sae'u)
Singye새우 (sae'u)
Suan새우 (sae'u)
Koksan새우 (sae'u)
Gyeongsang KoreanNorth GyeongsangDaegu쇄비 (swaebi)
Yeongju새우 (sae'u)
Bonghwa새우 (sae'u)
Uljin생오 (saeng'o)
Mungyeong새우 (sae'u)
Yecheon새우 (sae'u) (marine), 새파우 (saepau), 징거마지 (jinggeomaji) (freshwater)
Andong새우 (sae'u) (marine), 징거미 (jinggeomi) (freshwater)
Sangju새비 (saebi) (large marine), 새우 (sae'u) (marine), 사비 (sabi) (marine), 사우 (sau) (small marine), 징'검'사우 (jing geom sau) (freshwater), 미꼬레~이 (mikkorẽi)
Uiseong쌔비 (ssaebi), 쇄비 (swaebi), 징기미 (jinggimi) (large freshwater), 대화 (daehwa) (large marine)
Cheongsong새우 (sae'u), 징기미 (jinggimi) (freshwater)
Yeongdeok새비 (saebi) (marine), 쇄비 (swaebi) (marine), 새우 (sae'u) (freshwater), '쇄 ( swae)
Gimcheon쌔비 (ssaebi)
Pohang새비 (saebi), 쇄비 (swaebi), '쇄 ( swae)
Yeongcheon새비 (saebi)
Goryeong새비 (saebi) (small or general), 치~이까재 (chĩikkajae) (large)
Cheongdo새애비 (saeaebi), 대아 (daea) (large marine)
Gyeongju새우 (sae'u), 쇄비 (swaebi), '쇄 ( swae), 대하 (daeha) (large marine)
Ulleung쇄비 (swaebi)
South GyeongsangBusan새비 (saebi), '새 ( sae), 징기미 (jinggimi) (large freshwater), 찡기미 (jjinggimi) (large freshwater)
Ulsan새애비 (saeaebi), 쇄비 (swaebi), 새우 (sae'u), 징기미 (jinggimi) (large)
Changwon새비 (saebi), 쌔비 (ssaebi), 쌔애비 (ssaeaebi), 쌔우 (ssae'u)
Geochang새비 (saebi), 새우 (sae'u), 쌔우 (ssae'u)
Hapcheon새비 (saebi)
Changnyeong새비 (saebi), 새뱅이 (saebaeng'i), 새애비 (saeaebi), 새우 (sae'u)
Miryang새비 (saebi), 쌔비 (ssaebi), 새우 (sae'u), 찡기미 (jjinggimi) (large freshwater)
Hamyang새비 (saebi) (small), 징기미 (jinggimi) (large)
Sancheong새비 (saebi), 새우 (sae'u), 말찡기미 (maljjinggimi) (large freshwater)
Uiryeong새비 (saebi), 새우 (sae'u), 징게미 (jinggemi) (large freshwater)
Hadong새비 (saebi), 쌔비 (ssaebi), 셰비 (syebi), 징게미 (jinggemi) (large freshwater), '대'하 ( dae ha) (large marine)
Jinju새비 (saebi) (small), 새오 (sae'o), 징기미 (jinggimi) (large)
Haman새우 (sae'u)
Gimhae새비 (saebi), '새 ( sae), 시애비 (siaebi), 시애 (siae), 새우 (sae'u)
Yangsan새애비 (saeaebi), '새 ( sae), 징게미 (jinggemi) (large freshwater)
Sacheon새비 (saebi) (general), 징게미 (jinggemi) (large freshwater), 멀찡기미 (meoljjinggimi) (large freshwater)
Goseong새비 (saebi), 쌔비 (ssaebi), 새우 (sae'u)
Namhae새비 (saebi), 새배 (saebae), 대하 (daeha) (large marine), 홍대 (hongdae) (large marine)
Tongyeong새비 (saebi), 새우 (sae'u)
Geoje새비 (saebi), 쌔비 (ssaebi), 쌔애비 (ssaeaebi), 새배 (saebae)
DiasporaYanbian (in general)새우 (sae'u), 징기미 (jinggimi) (large freshwater), 대와 (daewa) (large marine)
Jeolla KoreanNorth JeollaJeonju새웅개 (sae'unggae)
Gunsan새비 (saebi) (small freshwater), 새웅개 (sae'unggae) ( small freshwater), 새우 (sae'u)
Wanju새비 (saebi) (small), 새웅개 (sae'unggae), 질렁구 (jilleonggu) (large freshwater), 대와 (daewa) (large marine)
Jinan새비 (saebi)
Muju새비 (saebi), 새붕개 (saebunggae), 새우 (sae'u), 징개미 (jinggaemi) (large)
Gimje새비 (saebi), 새붕개 (saebunggae), 새웅개 (sae'unggae)
Jeongeup새비 (saebi), 새붕개 (saebunggae), 새웅개 (sae'unggae)
Imsil새비 (saebi), 새우 (sae'u), 징게미 (jinggemi) (large freshwater)
Jangsu새비 (saebi)
Gochang새비 (sebi)
Sunchang새비 (saebi)
Namwon새비 (saebi), 새우 (sae'u), 대와 (daewa) (large marine)
South JeollaGwangju새비 (sebi)
Yeonggwang새우 (se'u), 찡거미 (jjinggeomi) (large freshwater), 물거리 (mulgeori) (large freshwater)
Jangseong새비 (sebi)
Damyang새비 (sebi)
Gokseong새비 (sebi), 찡게미 (jjinggemi) (large freshwater), 홍게 (hong:ge) (small freshwater)
Gurye새비 (saebi)
Hampyeong새비 (sebi)
Sinan새비 (sebi), 토하 (toha) (freshwater), 대야 (de:ya) (large marine), 호야 (hoya) (small marine)
Mokpo새비 (sebi)
Naju새비 (sebi)
Hwasun새비 (sebi)
Suncheon새비 (sebi)
Gwangyang새비 (saebi), 쌔비 (ssaebi), 징게미 (jinggemi) (large freshwater), 대수리 (daesuri) (large marine)
Yeongam새비 (sebi)
Jindo새비 (sebi), 태와 (tewa) (small freshwater)
Haenam새비 (sebi)
Gangjin새비 (sebi)
Jangheung새비 (sebi)
Boseong새비 (saebi), 징게미 (jinggemi) (large freshwater)
Goheung새비 (saebi)
Yeosu새비 (sebi)
Pyongan KoreanSouth PyonganPyongyang생우 (saeng'u)
Chunghwa생우 (saeng'u)
Sunchon생우지 (saeng'uji)
Sukchon새웅지 (sae'ungji)
Anju새웅지 (sae'ungji)
North PyonganUiju생우지 (saeng'uji)
Pakchon새우 (sae'u)
Chongju새우 (sae'u)
Sonchon새우지 (sae'uji)
Ryongchon생우지 (saeng'uji)
Nyongbyon새우 (sae'u)
Kusong새우 (sae'u)
Huichon새우 (sae'u)
Kanggye새우 (sae'u)
Chasong새우 (sae'u)
Hamgyong KoreanSouth HamgyongHamhung새비 (saebi)
Chongpyong새비 (saebi)
Yonggwang새비 (saebi)
Sinhung새비 (saebi)
Hongwon새비 (saebi)
Pukchong새비 (saebi)
Riwon새비 (saebi)
Tanchon새비 (saebi)
North HamgyongChongjin새비 (saebi)
Kimchaek새비 (saebi)
Kilju새비 (saebi)
Myongchon새비 (saebi)
Puryong새비 (saebi)
Musan새비 (saebi)
Hyesan새비 (saebi)
Kapsan새비 (saebi)
Pungso새비 (saebi)
Kimhyongjik새우 (sae'u)
Yukjin KoreanYukjinKyonghung새비 (sàebí)
Hoeryong새비 (sàebí)
Onsong새비 (sàebí)
Kyongwon새비 (sàebí)
DiasporaHunchun새비 (sàebí)
JejuJeju City새위 (saewi), 사위 (sawi), 새우 (sae'u)
Daejeong새위 (saewi), 사위 (sawi)
Gujwa새위 (saewi), 사위 (sawi), 새비 (saebi)
Seogwipo새위 (saewi)
Many Korean dialects traditionally had a four-way division in words for shrimp (freshwater/marine, large/small). Some surveys are inexact on this matter.
This table is an amalgamation of surveys of speakers mostly born before 1950 and may not reflect the language of younger speakers, which has lexically converged towards the standard Seoul dialect in both North and South Koreas.

Derived terms

Proverbs
  • 고래 싸움에 새우 등 터진다 (gorae ssaume sae'u deung teojinda, the weak suffer in a fight between the strong, literally the back of the shrimp bursts in the fight between whales)
  • 새우로 잉어를 낚는다 (sae'uro ing'eoreul nangneunda, to profit greatly from a small investment, literally to fish a carp with a shrimp)
Nouns

See also