Sino-Korean vocabulary or Hanja-eo (Hangul: ???; Hanja: ???) refers to Korean words of Chinese origin. Sino-Korean vocabulary includes words borrowed directly from Chinese, new Korean words created from Chinese characters, and words borrowed from Sino-Japanese vocabulary. About 60 percent of Korean words are of Chinese origin.
Video Sino-Korean vocabulary
History
The use of Chinese and Chinese characters in Korea dates back to at least 194 BCE. While Sino-Korean words were widely used during the Three Kingdoms period, they became even more popular during the Silla period. During this time, male aristocrats changed their given names to Sino-Korean names. Additionally, the government changed all official titles and place names in the country to Sino-Korean.
Sino-Korean words remained popular during the Goryeo and Joseon periods. Ultimately, the majority of Sino-Korean words were introduced before 1945, including Sino-Japanese words that were introduced to Korea during the Japanese occupation. However, Sino-Korean vocabulary has continued to grow in South Korea, where the meanings of Chinese characters are used to produce new words in Korean that do not exist in Chinese. By contrast, North Korean policy has called for many Sino-Korean words to be replaced by native Korean terms.
Maps Sino-Korean vocabulary
Usage
Sino-Korean words constitute about 60 percent of South Korean vocabulary, the remainder being native Korean words and loanwords from other languages, mostly English. Sino-Korean words are typically used in formal or literary contexts, and to express abstract or complex ideas. Almost all Korean surnames and most Korean given names are Sino-Korean. Additionally, Korean numerals can be expressed with Sino-Korean and native Korean words, though each set of numerals has different purposes.
Sino-Korean words may be written either in the Korean alphabet, known as Hangul, or in Chinese characters, known as Hanja.
Examples
Words borrowed from Chinese
Sino-Korean words borrowed directly from Chinese come mainly from Chinese classics, literature, and colloquial Chinese.
Words created from Chinese
These Chinese words below are created in Korea. They are not used in China or Japan or Vietnam.
Words borrowed from Sino-Japanese
Sino-Korean words borrowed from Sino-Japanese are used only in Korean and Japanese, not in Chinese.
See also
- Korean language
- Hanja
- Korean mixed script
- Sino-Japanese vocabulary
References
Source of article : Wikipedia
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