박쥐

Korean

Etymology

First attested in the Gugeupganibang eonhae (救急簡易方諺解 / 구급간이방언해), 1489, as Middle Korean ᄇᆞᆰ〯쥐〮 (Yale: pǒlk-cwúy). Shift from earlier 밝쥐 (bakjwi), itself a compound of 밝 (bak-, “bright”, probably implying “bright-eyed”) +‎ 쥐 (jwi, “rat”). In the past, Korean people thought bats had bright eyes because they did not know that they could fly in dark caves using ultrasound.

Pronunciation

• (SK Standard/Seoul) IPA^(key): [ˈpa̠(ː)k̚t͡ɕ͈ɥi] ~ [ˈpa̠(ː)k̚t͡ɕ͈y]
• Phonetic hangul: [박(ː)쮜]
  • Though still prescriptive in Standard Korean, most speakers in both Koreas no longer distinguish vowel length.

Romanizations
Revised Romanization?	bakjwi
Revised Romanization (translit.)?	bagjwi
McCune–Reischauer?	pakchwi
Yale Romanization?	pākcwi

Noun

박쥐 • (bakjwi) (counter 마리)

1. bat

Alternative forms

• (archaic): 밝쥐 (bakjwi, “literally, “bright (eyed) rat””)

Synonyms

• 편복(蝙蝠) (pyeonbok)

Antonyms

• (literally): 두더지 (dudeoji, “mole”)

Derived terms

• 박쥐구실 (bakjwigusil, “opportunism”)
• 박쥐우산(雨傘) (bakjwiusan, “cloth umbrella”)
• 박쥐족(族) (bakjwijok, “nocturnal”)

Related terms

• 밝다 (bakda, “to be bright”)
• 쥐 (jwi, “rat”)

See also

• 날짐승 (naljimseung, “winged animal”)
• 낮잠 (natjam, “nap”)
• 메아리 (meari, “echo”)
• 밤나들이 (bamnadeuri, “night tour”)
• 밤눈 (bamnun, “night vision”)