ㄱ 구개음화

Korean

Etymology

From ㄱ (g, a velar consonant) +‎ 구개음화 (gugaeeumhwa, “palatalization”).

Noun

ㄱ 구개음화 • (giyeok gugaeeumhwa)

1. (phonology) palatalization of velar consonants to alveolopalatal consonants (e.g. 기름 (gireum) → 지름 (jireum))

   한국어와 중국어에서 ㄱ 구개음화만 일어나지 않았어도 김치의 중국어 명칭에 대해 고민하지 않아도 됐을 것이다.

   Han'gugeo-wa junggugeo-eseo giyeok gugaeeumhwa-man ireonaji anasseodo gimchi-ui junggugeo myeongching-e daehae gominhaji anado dwaesseul geos-ida.

   If velar-to-alveolopalatal palatalization did not occur in Korean and Chinese, (people) would not have to think about a Chinese term for kimchi.