구렁

Of native Korean origin. From Middle Korean 굴허ᇰ〮 (Yale: kwùlhéng, “pit; gully; alley”)

• (SK Standard/Seoul) IPA^(key): [kuɾʌ̹ŋ]
• Phonetic hangul: [구렁]

구렁 • (gureong)

1. hole, pit, hollow, cavity (depression in the ground)

   Synonym: 구학(溝壑) (guhak)

   구렁에 빠지다 ― gureong-e ppajida ― to fall into a pit

2. (figurative) abyss, nadir, depths
   • 1939, 현진건／玄鎭健<t:Hyun Jin-geon>, 無(무)影(영)塔(탑), page 15:

     아사달이 기쁨의 절정에 올랐다면 낙망의 구렁에 천길 만길 떨어지기는 묻지 않아도 팽개이리라.

     Asadar-i gippeum-ui jeoljeong-e ollat-damyeon nangmang-ui gureong-e cheon'gil man'gil tteoreojigi-neun mut-ji an-ado Paenggae-i-rira.

     Just when Asadal, [having taken Asanyeo as his wife], rose to great heights of joy, [the person who] abysmally fell to unfathomable depths of despair was, without question, Paenggae.

• 구렁텅 (gureongteong)

• 壑 (hak), hanja with which the word is traditionally glossed