여물다

First attested in the Myobeomnyeonhwagyeong eonhae (妙法蓮華經諺解 / 묘법연화경언해), 1463, as Middle Korean 여믈〮다〮 (Yale: yèmúl-tá). Compare 영글다 (yeonggeulda).

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

여물다 • (yeomulda) (infinitive 여물어, sequential 여무니)

1. (intransitive, of fruits or crops) to ripe, to become ripen, to mature

   Synonym: 영글다 (yeonggeulda)

   알이 잘 여문 옥수수

   ar-i jal yeomun oksusu

   The corn that riped well

2. (intransitive, of light or natural phenomena) to mature; to become stronger

   Synonym: 영글다 (yeonggeulda)

   조각달이 점점 여문다

   jogakdar-i jeomjeom yeomunda

   The crescent moon is getting darker little by little.

   • 1983 September, Jo Jung-rae, The Tae Baek Mountains:

     가을이 감빛으로 여물고 아침저녁으로 첫 추위가 비치기 시작할 때였다.

     Ga'eur-i gambich-euro yeomulgo achimjeonyeog-euro cheot chuwi-ga bichigi sijak-hal ttae-yeotda.

     Autumn colours became orange; it was time for the first cold to shine.

3. (transitive, of work or speech) to finish, to get done; to end

   그는 감격에 겨워 말을 여물지 못했다

   geu-neun gamgyeog-e gyeowo mar-eul yeomulji mothaetda

   It was too emotional for him so he couldn't finish his words.

여물다 • (yeomulda) (infinitive 여물어, sequential 여무니)

1. (of words and actions) (to be) astute, shrewd

   일 처리를 여물게 하다

   il cheori-reul yeomulge hada

   to handle work astutely

2. (of personality) (to be) frugal, thrifty, unwasteful