염통

First attested in the Gugeupganibang eonhae (救急簡易方諺解 / 구급간이방언해), 1489, as Middle Korean 렴토ᇰ (Yale: lyemthwong).

Perhaps the first syllable is related to Manchu ᠨᡳᠶᠠᠮᠠᠨ (niyaman, “heart”) and Jurchen 捏麻 (nie-ma /⁠niama⁠/, “heart”). The second element is —통 (-tong, body part suffix), also found in other words, such as 목통 (moktong, “throat”).^[1][2]

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

염통 • (yeomtong)

1. heart (as meat)

   소 염통 구이

   so yeomtong gu'i

   roasted beef heart

2. (less common, not academic) heart (in general)

   Synonym: 심장(心臟) (simjang)

   • 2012, 신해영 [sinhaeyeong], 이모네 집에 갔는데 이모는 없고 [imone jibe ganneunde imoneun eopgo]‎, →ISBN:

     우리 이모는 아마 염통이 까만색일 거다. 털로 뒤덮여서.

     Uri imo-neun ama yeomtong'i kkamansaegil geoda. Teol-lo dwideopyeoseo.

     My aunt's heart is probably black. Because it must be covered in hair.

   • 2015, 방은선 [bang'eunseon], 상냥하게 안아줘 上(상)‎, →ISBN:

     막 뛰던 염통은 잠잠해진 대신 이제 지끈거렸다.

     Mak ttwideon yeomtong-eun jamjamhaejin daesin ije jikkeun'georyeotda.

     While the heart that had been beating wildly had quieted now, it ached instead.

   • 2019, Urabi, 간택 3권 [gantaek 3gwon]‎, →ISBN:

     사람 염통을 조여 오는 그 사내의 성정

     saram yeomtong-eul joyeo oneun geu sanae-ui seongjeong

     that man's temperament, which strains people's hearts