왼손

Korean

Etymology

First attested in the Seokbo sangjeol (釋譜詳節 / 석보상절), 1447, as Middle Korean 왼〯손〮 (Yale: wǒyn-swón), equivalent to 왼 (oen, “left-side”) +‎ 손 (son, “hand”).

Pronunciation

• (SK Standard/Seoul) IPA^(key): [ˈwe̞(ː)nsʰo̞n] ~ [ˈø̞(ː)nsʰo̞n]
• Phonetic hangul: [웬(ː)손/왼(ː)손]
  • Though still prescribed in Standard Korean, most speakers in both Koreas no longer distinguish vowel length.

Romanizations
Revised Romanization?	oenson
Revised Romanization (translit.)?	oenson
McCune–Reischauer?	oenson
Yale Romanization?	ōynson

Noun

왼손 • (oenson)

1. left hand

   Antonym: 오른손 (oreunson)

Derived terms

• 왼손잡이 (oensonjabi, “left-handed person”)