목숨

Korean

Etymology

First attested in the Yongbi eocheon'ga (龍飛御天歌 / 용비어천가), 1447, as Middle Korean 목숨 (Yale: mwokswum). Possibly from 목 (mok, “neck”) + 숨 (sum, “breath”).

Pronunciation

• (SK Standard/Seoul) IPA^(key): [mo̞ks͈um]
• Phonetic hangul: [목쑴]

Romanizations
Revised Romanization?	moksum
Revised Romanization (translit.)?	mogsum
McCune–Reischauer?	moksum
Yale Romanization?	mok.swum

Noun

목숨 • (moksum)

1. life

   탈출 계획을 준비한 선견지명 덕분에 그들은 목숨을 구할 수 있었던 것일지도 모른다.

   talchul gyehoegeul junbihan seon'gyeonjimyeong deokbune geudeureun moksumeul guhal su isseotdeon geosiljido moreunda.

   Having the foresight to prepare an evacuation plan may have saved their lives.