고단수

Korean

Etymology

Sino-Korean word from 高段數 (“high-ranking number”). Probably coined relatively recently in Korea; it is first attested in the 1960s in mainstream South Korean media sources.

Pronunciation

• (SK Standard/Seoul) IPA^(key): [ko̞da̠nsʰu]
• Phonetic hangul: [고단수]

Romanizations
Revised Romanization?	godansu
Revised Romanization (translit.)?	godansu
McCune–Reischauer?	kodansu
Yale Romanization?	kotanswu

Noun

고단수 • (godansu) (hanja 高段數)

1. quick-witted, cunning person

   Synonym: 고수(高手) (gosu)

   연애 고단수 ― yeonae godansu ― master of romance

   • 2007 October 23, “'바둑외교'로 국왕 잃은 백제 다시'바둑'으로 국운 걸다 [badugoegyo ro gugwang ireun baekje dasi baduk euro gugun geolda]”, in Daejeon Ilbo‎^[1]:

     장수왕이 파견한 바둑 고단수 도림의 꼬임에 빠져 대규모 토목 공사를 일으킴으로써 국력을 낭비하고 고구려의 공격으로 비참한 최후를 맞는다.

     Jangsuwang-i pagyeonhan baduk godansu Dorim-ui kkoim-e ppajeo daegyumo tomok gongsa-reul ireukimeurosseo gungnyeog-eul nangbihago Goguryeo-ui gonggyeog-euro bichamhan choehu-reul manneunda.

     Convinced by the ruses of the go expert Dorim, who King Jangsu [of Goguryeo] had dispatched [to weaken the enemy kingdom], he [the king] exhausted the realm's resources through major monumental projects and met a dismal end with the Goguryeo invasion.

2. cunning artifice

   Synonyms: 꾀 (kkoe), 술수(術數) (sulsu)