제일

Korean

Etymology 1

Sino-Korean word from 第一, from 第 (“-th”) + 一 (“one”).

Pronunciation

• (SK Standard/Seoul) IPA^(key): [ˈt͡ɕe̞(ː)iɭ]
• Phonetic hangul: [제(ː)일]
  • Though still prescribed in Standard Korean, most speakers in both Koreas no longer distinguish vowel length.

Romanizations
Revised Romanization?	jeil
Revised Romanization (translit.)?	jeil
McCune–Reischauer?	cheil
Yale Romanization?	cēyil

Adverb

제일 • (jeil) (hanja 第一)

1. most, -est; forms superlatives of adjectives

   Synonym: 가장 (gajang)

   그는 팀에서 제일 빠른 선수면서 제일 힘이 센 선수다.

   Geu-neun tim-eseo jeil ppareun seonsu-myeonseo jeil him-i sen seonsu-da.

   He is the fastest and strongest player in [his] team.

   저는 한국어 사전 중에서는 이 사전이 제일 좋습니다.

   Jeo-neun han'gugeo sajeon jung-eseo-neun i sajeon-i jeil joseumnida.

   For Korean, I like this dictionary the most.

Noun

제일 • (jeil) (hanja 第一)

1. number one; the first or primary

   Synonyms: 최고(最高) (choego), 으뜸 (eutteum)

   그는 세계 제일의 축구 선수다. ― Geu-neun segye jeir-ui chukgu seonsu-da. ― He is the number one soccer player in the world.

   • 1992, “내 나라 제일로 좋아 [Nae nara jeillo joa, My country is the best]”, 최준경 (Ch’oe Chun-kyŏng) (lyrics):

     내 사는 내 나라 제일로 좋아!

     nae saneun nae nara jeil-lo joa!

     The country I live in is the best!

     (literally, “I like my country I live in as number one!”)

Usage notes

The most common use of this is in front of an adjective or adjectival phrase, to denote superlativity.

A 2007 decision by the Patent Court of Korea found that while the superlative sense of 제일(第一) (jeil) is not distinctive, the use of 제일(第一) (jeil) in front of a noun is distinctive and can be protected by trademark. [1]

Alternative forms

• 젤 (jel) (contraction)

Derived terms

• 제일(第一)가다 (jeilgada)
• 제일권(第一權) (jeilgwon)
• 제일보(第一步) (jeilbo)
• 제일봉(第一峯) (jeilbong)
• 제일선(第一線) (jeilseon)
• 제일의(第一義) (jeirui)
• 제일인(第一人) (jeirin)
• 제일주의(第一主義) (jeiljuui)
• 제일차(第一次) (jeilcha)

Descendants

• → Mandarin: 賊拉 / 贼拉 (zéilā)
  • ⇒ Mandarin: 賊 / 贼

Etymology 2

Sino-Korean word from 祭日, from 祭 (“ceremony; memorial”) + 日 (“day”).

Pronunciation

• (SK Standard/Seoul) IPA^(key): [ˈt͡ɕe̞(ː)iɭ]
• Phonetic hangul: [제(ː)일]
  • Though still prescribed in Standard Korean, most speakers in both Koreas no longer distinguish vowel length.

Romanizations
Revised Romanization?	jeil
Revised Romanization (translit.)?	jeil
McCune–Reischauer?	cheil
Yale Romanization?	cēyil

Noun

제일 • (jeil) (hanja 祭日)

1. a celebratory or memorial day

Etymology 3

Sino-Korean word from 除日, from 除 (“to remove”) + 日 (“day”), literally "the day that ends [the year]".

Pronunciation

• (SK Standard/Seoul) IPA^(key): [t͡ɕe̞iɭ]
• Phonetic hangul: [제일]

Romanizations
Revised Romanization?	jeil
Revised Romanization (translit.)?	jeil
McCune–Reischauer?	cheil
Yale Romanization?	ceyil

Noun

제일 • (jeil) (hanja 除日)

1. the last day of the lunar year; Lunar New Year's Eve

   Synonym: 섣달그믐 (seotdalgeumeum)