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어른. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
어른, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
어른 in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
어른 you have here. The definition of the word
어른 will help you to be more precise and correct when speaking or writing your texts. Knowing the definition of
어른, as well as those of other words, enriches your vocabulary and provides you with more and better linguistic resources.
Korean
Etymology
First attested in the Seokbo sangjeol (釋譜詳節 / 석보상절), 1447, as Middle Korean 얼〯운〮 (Yale: ělGwún).
Etymologically from the verb root 얼ㅇ (Yale: èlG-, “to have sex; to copulate; to marry”) and the gerundive suffix 운 (Yale: -wún): "one who is married/has sex" (Lee and Ramsey 2011, p. 233). Alternatively from the related 얼우 (Yale: elGwu-, “to marry (off)”) and the same suffix: "one who is married". No longer perceived as such by modern speakers, as the source verbs are obsolete.
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 |
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| Revised Romanization? | eoreun |
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| Revised Romanization (translit.)? | eoleun |
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| McCune–Reischauer? | ŏrŭn |
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| Yale Romanization? | ēlun |
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Noun
어른 • (eoreun)
- grownup, adult, elder, senior
- Synonyms: (both formal) 성인(成人) (seong'in), 대인(大人) (daein)
- Antonyms: 애 (ae), 아이 (ai), (polite) 어린이 (eorini)
- 어른들이 이야기한단다. ― Eoreun-deur-i iyagihandanda. ― The adults are talking.
Related terms
- 어르신 (eoreusin, “senior, elderly”)
Middle Korean
Pronunciation
Adverb
어른 (èlùn)
- quickly, at once
1459, 月印釋譜 / 월인석보 [Worin seokbo], page Preface 2b:瞥은〮 누네〮 어른 디〯날 ᄊᆞᅀᅵ〮오〮- PYÉLQ-ún nwùn-éy èlùn tǐnàl.s-sòzí-wó
- 瞥 (piē) means, "the interval of something passing quickly before the eyes."
Descendants