화두

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Korean

Etymology 1

Sino-Korean word from 話頭 (“subject under discussion”).

Pronunciation

Romanizations
Revised Romanization?hwadu
Revised Romanization (translit.)?hwadu
McCune–Reischauer?hwadu
Yale Romanization?hwatwu

Noun

화두 • (hwadu) (hanja 話頭)

  1. topic of discussion
    전기자동차가 세간의 화두로 떠오르고 있다.
    Jeon'gi-jadongcha-ga segan-ui hwadu-ro tteooreugo itda.
    Electric cars are emerging as a society-wide topic of discussion.
  2. (Zen Buddhism) koan
    Synonym: (less common) 공안(公案) (gong'an)
    • 2011, “비행기 잘못 타서 한국 왔다가 비구니로… 서구 수행자도 '이뭣고' 화두 좋아하데요 [bihaenggi jalmot taseo han'guk watdaga biguniro… seogu suhaengjado imwotgo hwadu joahadeyo]”, in Chosun Ilbo‎:
      처음 내게 이뭣고 화두를, 그 뒤엔 조주 스님의 '무(無)'자 화두를 주셨다.
      Cheo'eum naege i-mwotgo hwadu-reul, geu dwi-en Joju seunim-ui mu ja hwadu-reul jusyeotda.
      He first gave me the koan of "What is 'this'?", and after that, the koan of Mu by Master Zhaozhou.

Etymology 2

Sino-Korean word from 火頭, from 火 (“fire”) + 頭 (“head”).

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?hwadu
Revised Romanization (translit.)?hwadu
McCune–Reischauer?hwadu
Yale Romanization?hwātwu

Noun

화두 • (hwadu) (hanja 火頭)

  1. head of a wildfire (the direction it is spreading the fastest in)
    • 2009, 이병두 [ibyeongdu], 구교상 [gugyosang], 이명보 [imyeongbo], “사례 조사를 통한 산불 방향 및 확산 특성 [sarye josareul tonghan sanbul banghyang mit hwaksan teukseong, Forest Fire Direction and Spread Characteristics by Field Investigations]”, in Fire and Science engineering‎, volume 23, number 5, page 96:
      화두 방향에서는 시간당 약 0.13km 속도로, 산불의 측면에서는 시간당 약 0.05km 속도로 확산되었다.
      Hwadu banghyang-eseo-neun sigan-dang yak 0.13-killomiteo sokdo-ro, sanbur-ui cheungmyeon-eseo-neun sigan-dang yak 0.05-killomiteo sokdo-ro hwaksan-doeeotda.
      It spread at a rate of approximately 0.13km per hour towards the head, and approximately 0.05km per hour on the flanks.

Etymology 3

Sino-Korean word from 火斗.

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?hwadu
Revised Romanization (translit.)?hwadu
McCune–Reischauer?hwadu
Yale Romanization?hwātwu

Noun

화두 • (hwadu) (hanja 火斗)

  1. (uncommon) Synonym of 다리미 (darimi, “clothing iron”).
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