박쥐

Korean

박쥐

Etymology

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. However, the tones do not match, making the connection somewhat dubious.

Pronunciation

• (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

박쥐 • (bakjwi) (counter 마리)

1. bat

   Synonym: 편복(蝙蝠) (pyeonbok)

   Hypernym: 날짐승 (naljimseung, “winged animal”)

2. (figuratively, often derogatory) an opportunist

Alternative forms

• (archaic): 밝쥐 (bakjwi)

Derived terms

• 박쥐구실 (bakjwigusil, “opportunism”)
• 박쥐우산 (bakjwiusan, “cloth umbrella”)
• 박쥐족 (bakjwijok, “(derogatory) night owl”)

See also

• 낮잠 (natjam, “nap”)
• 메아리 (meari, “echo”)
• 밤나들이 (bamnadeuri, “night tour”)
• 밤눈 (bamnun, “night vision”)