언제

Korean

Etymology

First attested in the Seokbo sangjeol (釋譜詳節 / 석보상절), 1447, as Middle Korean 언제 (Yale: encey). From 어느 (enu, “what”) + 적 (cek, “time”) + 의 (-uy, “at”), literally "at what time".

In Middle Korean the word was strictly a question word; the indefinite meaning developed in the eighteenth century.

Pronunciation
  • (SK Standard/Seoul) IPA(key): [ˈɘ(ː)ɲd͡ʑe̞]
  • Phonetic hangul: [언(ː)제]
    • Though still prescribed in Standard Korean, most speakers in both Koreas no longer distinguish vowel length.
Romanizations
Revised Romanization?eonje
Revised Romanization (translit.)?eonje
McCune–Reischauer?ŏnje
Yale Romanization?ēn.cey

Pronoun

언제 • (eonje)

  1. when
    언제가 네 생일이니?
    Eonje-ga ne saeng'iri-ni?
    When is your birthday?

Derived terms
  • 언제쯤 (eonjejjeum, “about when”)

Adverb

언제 • (eonje)

  1. when
  2. sometime, any time
    언제 한번 만나 소주 한 잔 합시다.
    Eonje hanbeon manna soju han jan hapsida.
    Let's get together and have a glass of soju some time.
    할머니 댁은 언제 가도 마음이 편하다.
    Halmeoni daeg-eun eonje gado ma'eum-i pyeonhada.
    Any time (whenever) I go to my grandmother's I feel comfortable.
This article is issued from Wiktionary. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.