자주

First attested in the Seokbo sangjeol (釋譜詳節 / 석보상절), 1447, as Middle Korean ᄌᆞ조〮 (Yale: còcwó), originally a derived adverb of Middle Korean ᄌᆞᆽ다〮 (Yale: còc-tá) (whence also 잦다 (jatda)) with adverbial suffix 오 (Yale: -wo), but rarely perceived as such by modern speakers.

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

자주 • (jaju)

1. often, frequently

   너가 너무 자주 아파서 엄마가 걱정돼. ― Neo-ga neomu jaju apaseo eomma-ga geokjeongdwae. ― I am worried because you get sick too often.

• 자주자주 (jajujaju)

• 때때로 (ttaettaero)
• 수시로 (susiro)

Sino-Korean word from 自主, from 自 (“oneself”) + 主 (“to own, to host; master, lord”).

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

자주 • (jaju) (hanja 自主)

1. independence, autonomy

Sino-Korean word from 紫 (“purple”) + 朱 (“cinnabar, vermilion; scarlet, red”).

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

자주 • (jaju) (hanja 紫朱)

1. violet; amethyst

   자주:    

2. purple; claret

   자주:    

• 자색(紫色) (jasaek), 자주색(紫朱色) (jajusaek)

Sino-Korean word from 慈 (“mother”) + 主 (“master, mistress; you”).

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

자주 • (jaju) (hanja 慈主)

1. (archaic Literary Chinese-style Korean) mother

   Synonym: (usual formal word) 어머님 (eomeonim)

Sino-Korean word from 自 (“oneself”) + 註 (“comment, note, annotation”).

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

자주 • (jaju) (hanja 自註)

1. (literary studies) self-footnote, self-annotation, note written on one's own writing
2. (literary studies) act of writing a footnote, annotation, note on one's own writing

Sino-Korean word from 自 (“oneself”) + 做 (“to do; to make”).

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

자주 • (jaju) (hanja 自做)

1. (uncommon) Synonym of 자작(自作) (jajak)