-이시여

Korean

Etymology

First attested in the early twentieth century.[1]

From a reanalysis of 이여 (-iyeo, “O”, exclamatory vocative particle) as being a suffixed form of the copula 이 (-i-), which was then made honorific with the suffix 시 (-si-).

Pronunciation
Romanizations
Revised Romanization?isiyeo
Revised Romanization (translit.)?isiyeo
McCune–Reischauer?isiyŏ
Yale Romanization?isiye

Particle

이시여 • (-isiyeo)

  1. (honorific) O honored... (vocative particle showing extreme respect.)
    영명하신 신령이시여, 살려주소서.
    Yeongmyeong-hasin sillyeong-isiyeo, sallyeo-jusoseo.
    O august divinity, save me.
    임금이시여, 나라를 버리시나이까?
    Imgeum-isiyeo, nara-reul beorisinaikka?
    O king, shall you abandon the nation?

Usage notes
  • Usually used only when addressing deities and (in historical contexts) monarchs. In North Korea, it is used for the Supreme Leader.
  • When the particle is used, the honorific suffix 님 (-nim) tends to be deleted.

References
  1. 이성우 [iseong'u] (2016) “'이여'와 '이시여'의 문법적 지위와 차이 [iyeo wa isiyeo ui munbeopjeok jiwiwa chai, The grammatical status and differences of -iye and -isiye]”, in Gugeohak, volume 77, pages 167—197
This article is issued from Wiktionary. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.