박쥐
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Korean
[edit]Etymology
[edit]First attested in the Gugeupganibang eonhae (救急簡易方諺解 / 구급간이방언해), 1489, as Middle Korean ᄇᆞᆰ〯쥐〮 (Yale: pǒlk-cwúy), seemingly a compound of some *ᄇᆞᆰ〯 (*pǒlk) + 쥐〮 (cwúy, “rat”).
The first compound is commonly theorized to be ᄇᆞᆰ (pòlk-, “to be bright”), possibly reflecting a belief (prior to the discovery of echolocation) that bats had bright eyes that allowed them to fly in the dark.[1] However, the tones do not match, making the connection somewhat dubious.
Pronunciation
[edit]- (SK Standard/Seoul) IPA(key): [ˈpa̠(ː)k̚t͡ɕ͈ɥi] ~ [ˈpa̠(ː)k̚t͡ɕ͈y]
- Phonetic hangul: [박(ː)쮜]
- Though still prescribed in Standard Korean, most speakers in both Koreas no longer distinguish vowel length.
Romanizations | |
---|---|
Revised Romanization? | bakjwi |
Revised Romanization (translit.)? | bagjwi |
McCune–Reischauer? | pakchwi |
Yale Romanization? | pākcwi |
Noun
[edit]- bat
- (figuratively, often derogatory) an opportunist
Alternative forms
[edit]- (archaic): 밝쥐 (bakjwi)