제일

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Korean

Etymology 1

Sino-Korean word from 第一, from (-th) + (one).

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?jeil
Revised Romanization (translit.)?jeil
McCune–Reischauer?cheil
Yale Romanization?cēyil

Adverb

제일 (jeil) (hanja 第一)

  1. most, -est; forms superlatives of adjectives
    Synonym: 가장 (gajang)
    에서 제일 빠른 선수면서 제일 선수.
    Geu-neun tim-eseo jeil ppareun seonsu-myeonseo jeil him-i sen seonsu-da.
    He is the fastest and strongest player in team.
    한국어 사전 에서 사전 제일 좋습니다.
    Jeo-neun han'gugeo sajeon jung-eseo-neun i sajeon-i jeil joseumnida.
    For Korean, I like this dictionary the most.

Noun

제일 (jeil) (hanja 第一)

  1. number one; the first or primary
    Synonyms: 최고(最高) (choego), 으뜸 (eutteum)
    세계 제일 축구 선수.Geu-neun segye jeir-ui chukgu seonsu-da.He is the number one soccer player in the world.
    • 1992, “내 나라 제일로 좋아 [Nae nara jeillo joa, My country is the best]”, 최준경 (Choe Jun-gyeong) (lyrics):
      사는 나라 제일 좋아!
      Nae saneun nae nara jeil-lo joa!
      The country I live in is the best!
      (literally, “I like my country I live in as number one!”)

Usage notes

The most common use of this is in front of an adjective or adjectival phrase, to denote superlativity.

A 2007 decision by the Patent Court of Korea found that while the superlative sense of 제일(第一) (jeil) is not distinctive, the use of 제일(第一) (jeil) in front of a noun is distinctive and can be protected by trademark.

Alternative forms

  • (jel) (contraction)

Derived terms

Descendants

  • Mandarin: 賊拉贼拉 (zéilā)

Etymology 2

Sino-Korean word from 祭日, from (ceremony; memorial) + (day).

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?jeil
Revised Romanization (translit.)?jeil
McCune–Reischauer?cheil
Yale Romanization?cēyil

Noun

제일 (jeil) (hanja 祭日)

  1. a celebratory or memorial day

Etymology 3

Sino-Korean word from (to remove) + (day), literally "the day that ends ".

Pronunciation

Romanizations
Revised Romanization?jeil
Revised Romanization (translit.)?jeil
McCune–Reischauer?cheil
Yale Romanization?ceyil

Noun

제일 (jeil) (hanja 除日)

  1. the last day of the lunar year; Lunar New Year's Eve
    Synonym: 섣달그믐 (seotdalgeumeum)