개미

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Korean

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개미 (gaemi, “ants”).

Etymology

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First attested in the Seokbo sangjeol (釋譜詳節 / 석보상절), 1447, as Middle Korean 개야미〮 (Yale: kàyyàmí).

Pronunciation

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  • (SK Standard/Seoul) IPA(key): [ˈkɛ(ː)mi] ~ [ˈke̞(ː)mi]
  • Phonetic hangul: [(ː)/(ː)]
    • Though still prescribed in Standard Korean, most speakers in both Koreas no longer distinguish vowel length.
Romanizations
Revised Romanization?gaemi
Revised Romanization (translit.)?gaemi
McCune–Reischauer?kaemi
Yale Romanization?kāymi
  • South Gyeongsang (Busan) pitch accent: 미의 / 미에 / 미까지

    Syllables in red take high pitch. This word always takes high pitch only on the first syllable, and lowers the pitch of subsequent suffixes.

Noun

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개미 (gaemi) (counter 마리)

  1. ant
    개미처럼 부지런하다
    gaemicheoreom bujireonhada
    (metaphorical) as hardworking as an ant
  2. retail investor in the stock market