개성

Korean

Etymology 1

Sino-Korean word from 改成, from 改 (“improving”) + 成 (“forming”)

Pronunciation

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

Romanizations
Revised Romanization?	gaeseong
Revised Romanization (translit.)?	gaeseong
McCune–Reischauer?	kaesŏng
Yale Romanization?	kāyseng

Noun

개성 • (gaeseong) (hanja 改成)

1. reform, improvement in quality

Etymology 2

Sino-Korean word from 個性, from 個 (“individual”) + 性 (“quality”)

Pronunciation

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

Romanizations
Revised Romanization?	gaeseong
Revised Romanization (translit.)?	gaeseong
McCune–Reischauer?	kaesŏng
Yale Romanization?	kāyseng

Noun

개성 • (gaeseong) (hanja 個性)

1. individuality, distinction

Synonyms

• 개인성 (個人性, gaeinseong, “individuality”)

Etymology 3

Sino-Korean word from 開城, from 開 (“opening”) + 城 (“castle”)

Pronunciation

• (SK Standard/Seoul) IPA^(key): [kɛsʰʌ̹ŋ] ~ [ke̞sʰʌ̹ŋ]
• Phonetic hangul: [개성/게성]

Romanizations
Revised Romanization?	gaeseong
Revised Romanization (translit.)?	gaeseong
McCune–Reischauer?	kaesŏng
Yale Romanization?	kayseng

Noun

개성 • (gaeseong) (hanja 開城)

1. Opening the gates of a fortress
2. surrender

Etymology 4

Sino-Korean word from 開城

Pronunciation

• (SK Standard/Seoul) IPA^(key): [kɛsʰʌ̹ŋ] ~ [ke̞sʰʌ̹ŋ]
• Phonetic hangul: [개성/게성]

Romanizations
Revised Romanization?	Gaeseong
Revised Romanization (translit.)?	Gaeseong
McCune–Reischauer?	Kaesŏng
Yale Romanization?	kayseng

Proper noun

개성 • (Gaeseong) (hanja 開城)

1. Kaesong, Gaeseong (a city in North Korea)

Descendants

• English: Gaeseong, Kaesong