가장

Korean

Etymology 1

First attested in the Seokbo sangjeol (釋譜詳節 / 석보상절), 1447, as Middle Korean ᄀᆞ자ᇰ〮 (Yale: kòcáng). Original meaning: "very, extremely". Superlative meaning ("most") from sixteenth century onward. Displaced previous superlative adverbs 안〮직 (Yale: áncìk), ᄆᆞᆺ〮 (Yale: mós).

Pronunciation

• (SK Standard/Seoul) IPA^(key): [ka̠d͡ʑa̠ŋ]
• Phonetic hangul: [가장]

Romanizations
Revised Romanization?	gajang
Revised Romanization (translit.)?	gajang
McCune–Reischauer?	kajang
Yale Romanization?	kacang

Adverb

가장 • (gajang)

1. most, -est

   Synonym: 제일(第一) (jeil)

   이 사전이 가장 좋아요. (polite, colloquial)

   I sajeon-i gajang joa-yo.

   This dictionary is the best.

   우사인 볼트는 지구상에서 가장 빠른 사람이에요. (polite, colloquial)

   Usain Bolteu-neun jigusan-g'eseo gajang ppareun saram-ie-yo.

   Usain Bolt is the fastest person on Earth.

Etymology 2

Sino-Korean word from 假 (“fake”) + 葬 (“burial”)

Pronunciation

• (SK Standard/Seoul) IPA^(key): [ˈka̠(ː)d͡ʑa̠ŋ]
• Phonetic hangul: [가(ː)장]
  • Though still prescribed in Standard Korean, most speakers in both Koreas no longer distinguish vowel length.

Romanizations
Revised Romanization?	gajang
Revised Romanization (translit.)?	gajang
McCune–Reischauer?	kajang
Yale Romanization?	kācang

Noun

가장 • (gajang) (hanja 假葬)

1. A hurried or temporary burial
2. Burying a child

Etymology 3

Sino-Korean word from 家長, from 家 (“family”) + 長 (“master”)

Pronunciation

• (SK Standard/Seoul) IPA^(key): [ka̠d͡ʑa̠ŋ]
• Phonetic hangul: [가장]

Romanizations
Revised Romanization?	gajang
Revised Romanization (translit.)?	gajang
McCune–Reischauer?	kajang
Yale Romanization?	kacang

Noun

가장 • (gajang) (hanja 家長)

1. the head of a family

References

• Lee, Ju Haeng (이주행) with Lee Kyu Hang (이규항), Kim Sang Jun (김상준) (2004), “가장”, in 한국어 발음사전: Korean Pronouncing Dictionary, Seoul: Jigu Publishing, →ISBN, page 27
• National Institute of the Korean Language (Naver.com mirror) (3 January 2007 (last accessed)), “가장 [gajang]”, in 표준국어대사전 [pyojun'gugeodaesajeon]‎^[1]
• National Institute of the Korean Language (Naver.com mirror) (3 January 2007 (last accessed)), “가장 [gajang]”, in 표준국어대사전 [pyojun'gugeodaesajeon]‎^[2]
• Choe, Jong-du (최종두), ed. (2005), “가장”, in 새국어사전, Seoul: Isangsa, page 8