박쥐

Korean

Etymology

Of native Korean origin. 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. Another possible theory is that 박쥐 might have come from 븕(red)+쥐(rat). This is because 븕 has two different meanings: one is bright and the other is red.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key)[pa̠k̚t͡ɕ͈ɥi] ~ [pa̠k̚t͡ɕ͈y]
• Phonetic Hangul[박쮜]

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

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"