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 hangeul: [박(ː)쮜]
  • Though still prescriptive in Standard Korean, the great majority of speakers (in both Koreas) no longer distinguish vowel length.

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

Noun

박쥐 • (bakjwi) (counter 마리)

1. bat

Alternative forms

• 밝쥐 (bakjwi) (archaic; literally "bright (eyed) rat")

Synonyms

• 편복 (蝙蝠, pyeonbok)

Antonyms

• 두더지 (dudeoji, “mole”)

Derived terms

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

Related terms

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

See also

• 날짐승 (naljimseung): winged animal, literally "flying animal"
• 낮잠 (natjam): nap, literally, "daytime sleep"
• 메아리 (meari): echo
• 밤나들이 (bamnadeuri): night tour, literally, "night going out and coming in"
• 밤눈 (bamnun): night vision, literally, "night eye"