Inherited fromMiddle Korean사〯ᄅᆞᆷ(sǎlòm), firstattested in theHunminjeong'eum haerye (訓民正音解例 / 훈민정음해례)[1], 1446.
From earlierOld Korean人音(*SALOm), firstattested in the “Suhui gongdeokga” (隨喜功德歌 / 수희공덕가), before 973. The word is alsoattested asOld Korean人米 in the same source.
The Middle Korean form,사〯ᄅᆞᆷ (Yale:sǎlòm), is analyzed as a derived substantive of살〯다〮 (Yale:sǎl-tá, “tolive”) withᄋᆞᆷ (Yale:-om, nominalizer) (> modern음(eum)), and thus literally meant "one who is alive".[1] It is no longer perceived as a derived noun by modern speakers.Doublet of삶(sam).
Cognate withJeju사름(sareum).
- (SK Standard/Seoul)IPA(key):[ˈsʰa̠(ː)ɾa̠m]
- Phonetic hangul:[사(ː)람]
- Though still prescribed in Standard Korean, most speakers in both Koreas no longer distinguish vowel length.
| Romanizations |
|---|
| Revised Romanization? | saram |
|---|
| Revised Romanization (translit.)? | salam |
|---|
| McCune–Reischauer? | saram |
|---|
| Yale Romanization? | sālam |
|---|
사람• (saram)
- human being,person
- Synonyms:인간(人間)(in'gan,“human being”),(honorific)분(bun),(dated,formal)이(i)
그러면내가어떤사람이되는거겠어?- geureomyeon nae-ga eotteonsaram-i doeneun geo-gess-eo?
- What kind ofperson would I be then?
- 영국사람 ―Yeongguksaram ―A Britishperson
- 미국사람 ―Miguksaram ―An Americanperson
- (law) aperson(encompassing both legal and natural persons)
- Synonym:인(人)(in)
- Hyponyms:법인(法人)(beobin,“legal person”),자연인(自然人)(jayeonin,“natural person”)
- 눈사람(nunsaram,“snowman,snowperson”)
- 뱃사람(baetsaram,“sailor”)
- 생(生)사람(saengsaram,“innocent person,living person”)
- 아랫사람(araetsaram,“one'sjunior,subordinate,underling”)
- 윗사람(witsaram,“one'ssenior,elder,superior”)
- 집사람(jipsaram,“(humble) one'swife”)
- 촌(村)사람(chonsaram,“country person”)
사람• (saram)
- counter for people
- Synonym:명(名)(myeong)
- 학생세사람 ―haksaeng sesaram ―three students
- ^Lee, Ki-Moon, Ramsey, S. Robert (2011)A History of the Korean Language, Cambridge University Press,→ISBN, page176
