빌다

First attested in the Seokbo sangjeol (釋譜詳節 / 석보상절), 1447, as Middle Korean 빌〯다〮 (Yale: pǐl-tá).

• (SK Standard/Seoul) IPA^(key):
• Phonetic hangul:
  • Though still prescribed in Standard Korean, most speakers in both Koreas no longer distinguish vowel length.

빌다 • (bilda) (infinitive 빌어, sequential 비니) (transitive or intransitive)

1. to wish, to pray for something

   삼가 고인의 명복을 빕니다

   samga goinui myeongbogeul bimnida

   rest in peace

   (literally, “I reverently wish for the happiness of the deceased in the next world”)

2. to beg for, to ask for
   • 2017, “경두 [gyeongdu]”, in 첫사랑 [cheotsarang], 문학동네 [munhakdongne], →ISBN, page 83:

     조는 척하고 있었지만 네가 그 자리에 있는 것처럼 가슴이 뛰었다. 그 고동 소리를 듣고 청년이 내게로 온다면 나는 나도 모르게 잘못했다고 빌 것 같았다.

     Joneun cheok-hago isseotjiman ne-ga geu jari-e inneun geot-cheoreom gaseum-i ttwieotda. Geu godong sori-reul deutgo cheongnyeon-i nae-ge-ro onda-myeon na-neun na-do moreuge jalmot-haetda-go bil geot gatatda.

     I was pretending to doze off, but my heart was beating as if you were there. If the young man came to me, having heard the sound of that pounding of my heart, I would have begged for forgiveness in spite of myself.