문명

Korean

Etymology 1

Sino-Korean word from 文明 (“civilization”).

Pronunciation

• (SK Standard/Seoul) IPA^(key): [munmjʌ̹ŋ]
• Phonetic hangul: [문명]

Romanizations
Revised Romanization?	munmyeong
Revised Romanization (translit.)?	munmyeong
McCune–Reischauer?	munmyŏng
Yale Romanization?	munmyeng

Noun

문명 • (munmyeong) (hanja 文明)

1. civilization

Etymology 2

Sino-Korean word from 文名 (“literary fame”).

Pronunciation

• (SK Standard/Seoul) IPA^(key): [munmjʌ̹ŋ]
• Phonetic hangul: [문명]

Romanizations
Revised Romanization?	munmyeong
Revised Romanization (translit.)?	munmyeong
McCune–Reischauer?	munmyŏng
Yale Romanization?	munmyeng

Noun

문명 • (munmyeong) (hanja 文名)

1. literary fame or recognition

   Coordinate term: 무명(武名) (mumyeong)

   • 작가로서 문명을 떨치다

     jakga-roseo munmyeong-eul tteolchida

     to achieve literary fame as a writer

Etymology 3

Sino-Korean word from 問 (“ask”) + 名 (“name”).

Pronunciation

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

Romanizations
Revised Romanization?	munmyeong
Revised Romanization (translit.)?	munmyeong
McCune–Reischauer?	munmyŏng
Yale Romanization?	mūnmyeng

Noun

문명 • (munmyeong) (hanja 問名)

1. asking for someone's name
2. (Korean folk religion) the practice of asking the name and horoscope of a prospective bride