개미

Korean

개미 (gaemi, “ants”).

Etymology

First attested in the Seokbo sangjeol (釋譜詳節 / 석보상절), 1447, as Middle Korean 개야미 (Yale: kayyami).

Pronunciation

• (SK Standard/Seoul) IPA^(key): [ˈkɛ(ː)mi] ~ [ˈke̞(ː)mi]
• Phonetic hangul: [개(ː)미/게(ː)미]
  • Though still prescribed in Standard Korean, most speakers in both Koreas no longer distinguish vowel length.

Romanizations
Revised Romanization?	gaemi
Revised Romanization (translit.)?	gaemi
McCune–Reischauer?	kaemi
Yale Romanization?	kāymi

Noun

개미 • (gaemi) (counter 마리)

1. ant

   개미처럼 부지런하다

   gaemicheoreom bujireonhada

   (metaphorical) as hardworking as an ant