씨

씨 U+C528, 씨 HANGUL SYLLABLE SSI Composition: ㅆ + ㅣ ← 씧 [U+C527] Hangul Syllables 씩 → [U+C529]

씨씩씪씫씬씭씮 씯씰씱씲씳씴씵 씶씷씸씹씺씻씼 씽씾씿앀앁앂앃
씌 ←	→ 아

Korean

Etymology 1

First attested in the Worin seokbo (月印釋譜 / 월인석보), 1459, as Middle Korean ᄡᅵ〮 (Yale: psí).

Alternative forms

• ᄡᅵ (ssi) — Early Modern

Pronunciation

• (SK Standard/Seoul) IPA^(key): [ɕ͈i]
• Phonetic hangul: [씨]

Romanizations
Revised Romanization?	ssi
Revised Romanization (translit.)?	ssi
McCune–Reischauer?	ssi
Yale Romanization?	ssi

South Gyeongsang (Busan) pitch accent: 씨의 / 씨에 / 씨까지

Syllables in red take high pitch. This word always takes high pitch and also heightens the next suffixed syllable, unless it is 에.

Noun

씨 • (ssi)

1. seed, kernel

   Synonyms: 씨앗 (ssiat), 종자(種子) (jongja)

2. semen
3. woof, weft
4. (rare) part of speech
5. (North Korea, mathematics) prime

   씨수 ― ssisu ― prime number

   씨인수분해 ― ssiinsubunhae ― prime factorization

Derived terms

Derived terms

• 씨날 (ssinal, “woof and warp”)
• 씨내리 (ssinaeri, “surrogate father”)
• 씨눈 (ssinun, “embryo”)
• 씨말 (ssimal, “stallion”)
• 씨받이 (ssibaji, “surrogate mother or womb”)
• 씨아 (ssia, “cotton gin”)
• 씨암탉 (ssiamtak, “breeder hen”)
• 씨앗 (ssiat, “seed, grain”)
• 씨줄 (ssijul, “latitude”)

Etymology 2

Sino-Korean word from 氏.

Pronunciation

• (SK Standard/Seoul) IPA^(key): [ɕ͈i]
• Phonetic hangul: [씨]

Romanizations
Revised Romanization?	ssi
Revised Romanization (translit.)?	ssi
McCune–Reischauer?	ssi
Yale Romanization?	ssi

Noun

씨 • (ssi) (hanja 氏)

1. sir or madam, Mr. or Ms.

   안녕하십니까, 찬호씨?

   Annyeonghasimnikka, Chanhossi?

   How are you, Mr. Chanho?

2. lineage; surname

Usage notes

Applying this honorific directly to a surname is considered rude or a way of indicting that the addressee is a social inferior. As a mark of respect, it should follow either the full name or just the given name.

In an organization, using 씨 (ssi) means the referent has no job title, and it is not appropriate even when the title is minor.

	Higher	Equal or lower
		With a title	Without a title	Familiar
Family name	홍 과장님 Manager Hong	홍 과장 Manager Hong	—	—
Full name	홍길동 과장님 Manager Hong Gildong	홍길동 과장 Manager Hong Gildong	홍길동 씨 Mr. Hong Gildong	—
Given name	—	길동 과장 Manager Gildong	길동 씨 Gildong	길동이 Gildong
No name	과장님 Manager	—	—	—

Etymology 3

Short for 씨발 (ssibal) and 씨팔 (ssipal).

Pronunciation

• (SK Standard/Seoul) IPA^(key): [ɕ͈i]
• Phonetic hangul: [씨]

Romanizations
Revised Romanization?	ssi
Revised Romanization (translit.)?	ssi
McCune–Reischauer?	ssi
Yale Romanization?	ssi

Interjection

씨 • (ssi)

1. shit

   아 추워 씨! ― A chuwo ssi! ― Oh shit, it's cold!

Usage notes

Added at the end of a sentence.