자장가

Korean

FWOTD – 7 December 2014

Etymology

From an unanalysable root *자장 (*jajang, “putting to sleep”) +‎ 가(歌) (ga, “song”). The former possibly came from 자- (ja-, “to sleep”) +‎ -자 (-ja, “let's ...”) +‎ -ㅇ (nominalisation suffix). Compare 자장노래 (jajangnorae), 자장자장 (jajangjajang), 자장그네 (jajanggeune), 자장타령 (jajangtaryeong).

Pronunciation

• (SK Standard/Seoul) IPA^(key): [t͡ɕa̠d͡ʑa̠ŋɡa̠]
• Phonetic hangul: [자장가]

Romanizations
Revised Romanization?	jajangga
Revised Romanization (translit.)?	jajangga
McCune–Reischauer?	chajangga
Yale Romanization?	cacangka

Noun

자장가 • (jajangga)

1. lullaby (a soothing song to lull children to sleep)
   • 2014, 엄마가 당신에게 말하지 않은 10가지

     엄마는 자장가를 부르면서도 눈꺼풀은 자꾸 감겼다.

     Eommaneun jajanggareul bureumyeonseodo nunkkeopureun jakku gamgyeotda.

     When mum was singing the lullaby, her eyes were falling shut.

Synonyms

• 자장노래 (jajangnorae)