예

See also: -예

예 U+C608, 예 HANGUL SYLLABLE YE Composition: ㅇ + ㅖ ← 옇 [U+C607] Hangul Syllables 옉 → [U+C609]

예옉옊옋옌옍옎 옏옐옑옒옓옔옕 옖옗옘옙옚옛옜 옝옞옟옠옡옢옣
여 ←	→ 오

Early Modern Korean

Etymology 1

From Middle Korean 이ᅌᅦ (ìngèy).

Pronunciation

• (c. 1750) IPA^(key): [jəj]

Pronoun

예 (yey)

1. here

   Synonym: 여긔 (yeogui)

   • after 1795, 李洙 (I Su) [Lee Soo] et al., chapter 111, in 重刊老乞大諺解 (Junggan Nogeoldae Eonhae) [Reprinted Nogeoldae, with Korean Interpretation]‎^{Ogura Coll. Asami Coll.}, volume 2:

     예 이셔 두어 ᄃᆞᆯ […]

     yey isye twue tol […]

     being here for several months […]

Descendants

• Korean: 예 (ye)

Etymology 2

From Middle Korean 예〯 (Yěy), from Old Korean 倭理 (*YEri, “Japanese”). This is among the only native (non-Sino-Korean) Korean terms for ethnic groups that survive in the written record.

Pronunciation

• (c. 1750) IPA^(key): [jəːj]

Noun

예 (Yey) (occasional hanja form 穢)

1. Japanese [until 1930s in some dialects]

   Synonym: 왜인(倭人) (Wayin)

Usage notes

• The hanja 穢(예) (ye, literally “filthy, obscene”) was sometimes assigned to this word, either pejoratively or out of a genuine misunderstanding that this was the origin of the word.

Korean

Etymology 1

Not attested in Middle Korean. Probably from the same source as 네 (ne), plausibly *녜 (*nye) (not directly attested).

Pronunciation

• (SK Standard/Seoul) IPA^(key): [je̞(ː)]
• Phonetic hangul: [예(ː)]
  • Though still prescribed in Standard Korean, most speakers in both Koreas no longer distinguish vowel length.

Romanizations
Revised Romanization?	ye
Revised Romanization (translit.)?	ye
McCune–Reischauer?	ye
Yale Romanization?	yēy

Interjection

예 • (ye)

1. (formal) yes (affirms the truth of the question as stated)

   한 번은 가보셨습니까? — 예, 가본 적 있습니다.

   Han beon-eun ga-bosyeotseumnikka? - ye, ga-bon jeok itseumnida.

   Have you been there at least once? — Yes, I have been there.

   한 번도 가본 적 없습니까? — 예, 없습니다.

   Han beon-do ga-bon jeok eopseumnikka? - ye, eopseumnida.

   Have you never been there? — No [lit. Yes], never.

   • late 19th c., 열여춘향슈졀가 上 [Song of the Virtuous Girl Chunhyang Preserving her Chastity]:

     통인아 예 져 건네 화류 즁의 오락가락 힛ᄯᅳᆨ힛ᄯᅳᆨ 얼는얼는 ᄒᆞ는 겨 무어신지 자셔이 보와라

     Tong'ina ye jeo geonne hwaryu jung-ui orakgarak hittteukhittteuk eolleuneolleun haneun gyeo mueosinji jasyeoi bowara

     "Hey, Tong-in!" "Yes, sir." "Go look carefully at what that thing over there, amid the flowers and willows, might be: the thing that is hurrying back and forth in flashes of white."

Usage notes

• Korean has a number of words for "yes". 예 (ye) is highly polite and formal (appropriate in an interview), 네 (ne) is polite but less formal (appropriate in a conversation with parents), and 응 (eung) and 어 (eo) are plain and non-formal (appropriate in a conversation with friends).
• As in the example above, Korean "yes" follows the polarity of the question, unlike in English. Hence saying "yes" to a negatively stated question means that the negative is true.

Derived terms

• 예예 (yeye)

Etymology 2

Sino-Korean word from 例 (“example”), from the Middle Korean reading 례〯 (Yale: lyěy).

Pronunciation

• (SK Standard/Seoul) IPA^(key): [je̞(ː)]
• Phonetic hangul: [예(ː)]
  • Though still prescribed in Standard Korean, most speakers in both Koreas no longer distinguish vowel length.

Romanizations
Revised Romanization?	ye
Revised Romanization (translit.)?	ye
McCune–Reischauer?	ye
Yale Romanization?	yēy

Noun

South Korean Standard Language	예(例) (ye)
North Korean Standard Language	례(例) (rye)

예 • (ye) (hanja 例)

1. example

   Synonyms: 사례(事例) (sarye), 예시(例示) (yesi), 일례(一例) (illye)

   조리예 ― joriye ― serving suggestion

   예를 들자면, 일주일에 5kg을 감량하는 것은 현실적이지 않습니다.

   Ye-reul deulja-myeon, ilju'ir-e okillogeuraem-eul gamnyanghaneun geos-eun hyeonsiljeog-iji anseumnida.

   To give an example, losing 5 kilograms in a week is not a realistic goal.

   • 2014, B.I, Ju-ne, Bobby (lyrics and music), “Rhythm Ta”, in Welcome Back (full album):

     우린 가리는 거 없어 예를 들면 때와 장소

     urin garineun geo eopseo ye-reul deulmyeon ttae-wa jangso

     we ain't fussy, for example with things like a time and place

Usage notes

• This is often formatted as "예)" in textbooks and literature.

Derived terms

• See the hanja entry at 例 for Sino-Korean compounds of 예 (例, ye).

See also

• 본보기 (bonbogi, “good example, example for others”)

Etymology 3

Sino-Korean word from 禮 (“ritual, etiquette”), from the Middle Korean reading 례〮 (Yale: lyéy), 녜 (Yale: nyey).

Pronunciation

• (SK Standard/Seoul) IPA^(key): [je̞]
• Phonetic hangul: [예]

Romanizations
Revised Romanization?	ye
Revised Romanization (translit.)?	ye
McCune–Reischauer?	ye
Yale Romanization?	yey

Noun

South Korean Standard Language	예(禮) (ye)
North Korean Standard Language	례(禮) (rye)

예 • (ye) (hanja 禮)

1. (especially Confucianism) decorum, ceremonial (code of decorous behavior that all people ought to follow)

Derived terms

• See the hanja entry at 禮 for Sino-Korean compounds of 예 (禮, ye).

Etymology 4

First attested in the Yongbi eocheon'ga (龍飛御天歌 / 용비어천가), 1447, as Middle Korean 녜〯 (Yale: nyěy).

Pronunciation

• (SK Standard/Seoul) IPA^(key): [je̞(ː)]
• Phonetic hangul: [예(ː)]
  • Though still prescribed in Standard Korean, most speakers in both Koreas no longer distinguish vowel length.

Romanizations
Revised Romanization?	ye
Revised Romanization (translit.)?	ye
McCune–Reischauer?	ye
Yale Romanization?	yēy

Noun

예 • (ye)

1. (in idiomatic expressions) ancient times, antiquity, old times

   Synonym: (much more common) 옛날 (yennal)

   예로부터 우리나라는 동방예의지국으로 알려져왔다.

   Ye-ro-buteo urinara-neun dongbang'yeuijigug-euro allyeojeo-watda.

   Since ancient times, Korea has been known as the "eastern land of decorum".

Usage notes

• Now used primarily in the following expressions:
  • 예나 지금이나 ― ye-na jigeum-ina ― whether in old times or nowadays
  • 예로부터 ― ye-ro-buteo ― since ancient times

Related terms

• 옛 (yet, “old”)

Etymology 5

First attested in the Seokbo sangjeol (釋譜詳節 / 석보상절), 1447, as Middle Korean 이ᅌᅦ (Yale: ìngèy), equivalent to a contraction of modern 여기 (yeogi, “here”).

Pronunciation

• (SK Standard/Seoul) IPA^(key): [je̞]
• Phonetic hangul: [예]

Romanizations
Revised Romanization?	ye
Revised Romanization (translit.)?	ye
McCune–Reischauer?	ye
Yale Romanization?	yey

Pronoun

예 • (ye)

1. (dated or dialectal) here

   Coordinate terms: (distal) 제 (je, “there”), (mesial) 게 (ge, “there”)

   예가 어디라고 감히 찾아와!

   ye-ga eodi-rago gamhi chaja-wa!

   Where do you think this is, that you dare to show up!

Etymology 6

Sino-Korean word from 濊.

Pronunciation

• (SK Standard/Seoul) IPA^(key): [je̞]
• Phonetic hangul: [예]

Romanizations
Revised Romanization?	ye
Revised Romanization (translit.)?	ye
McCune–Reischauer?	ye
Yale Romanization?	yey

Proper noun

예 • (Ye) (hanja 濊)

1. an ancient tribe living in Korea in the early first millennium

   Hypernym: 예맥(濊貊) (yemaek)

Derived terms

• See the hanja entry at 濊 for Sino-Korean compounds of 예 (濊, ye).

Etymology 7

Sino-Korean word from 羿.

Pronunciation

• (SK Standard/Seoul) IPA^(key): [je̞]
• Phonetic hangul: [예]

Romanizations
Revised Romanization?	ye
Revised Romanization (translit.)?	ye
McCune–Reischauer?	ye
Yale Romanization?	yey

Proper noun

예 • (Ye) (hanja 羿)

1. Hou Yi, a legendary archer in Chinese mythology

Derived terms

• See the hanja entry at 羿 for Sino-Korean compounds of 예 (羿, ye).

Etymology 8

Modern Korean reading of various Chinese characters, from the Middle Korean reading 예 (Yale: yey).

Syllable

예 • (ye)

More information

1. 豫: beforehand

   (eumhun reading: 미리 예 (miri ye))
   (MC reading: 豫 (MC yoH))

2. 預: entrust

   (eumhun reading: 맡길 예 (matgil ye))
   (MC reading: 預 (MC yoH))

3. 藝: skill

   (eumhun reading: 재주 예 (jaeju ye))
   (MC reading: 藝 (MC ngjiejH))

4. 譽: praise

   (eumhun reading: 기릴 예 (giril ye))
   (MC reading: 譽 (MC yo|yoH))

5. 銳: sharp

   (eumhun reading: 날카로울 예 (nalkaroul ye))
   (MC reading: 銳 (MC ywejH|dwajH))

6. 隸: servant (in e.g. 노예(奴隸) (noye, “slave”))

   (eumhun reading: 종 예 (jong ye))
   (MC reading: 隸 (MC lejH))

7. 芮: used as a surname

   (eumhun reading: 성씨 예 (seongssi ye))
   (MC reading: 芮 (MC nywejH))

8. 詣: attain

   (eumhun reading: 이를 예 (ireul ye))
   (MC reading: 詣 (MC ngejH))

9. 裔: descendant, heir

   (eumhun reading: 후손 예 (huson ye))
   (MC reading: 裔 (MC yejH))

10. 刈: cut

    (eumhun reading: 벨 예 (bel ye))
    (MC reading: 刈 (MC ngjojH))

11. 睿: wisdom

    (eumhun reading: 슬기 예 (seulgi ye))
    (MC reading: 睿 (MC ywejH))

12. 曳: drag

    (eumhun reading: 끌 예 (kkeul ye))
    (MC reading: 曳 (MC yejH))

13. 叡: bright, clever

    (eumhun reading: 밝을 예 (balgeul ye))
    (MC reading: 叡 (MC ywejH))

14. 倪: child

    (eumhun reading: 어린이 예 (eorini ye))
    (MC reading: 倪 (MC ngej))

15. 濊: vast and deep

    (eumhun reading: 깊고 넓은 예 (gipgo neolbeun ye))
    (MC reading: 濊 (MC xwajH|'wajH|'jwojH|xwat))

16. 霓: rainbow

    (eumhun reading: 무지개 예 (mujigae ye))
    (MC reading: 霓 (MC ngej|ngejH|nget))

17. 猊: lion

    (eumhun reading: 사자 예 (saja ye))
    (MC reading: 猊 (MC ngej))

18. 蘂: stamen

    (eumhun reading: 꽃술 예 (kkotsul ye))
    (MC reading: 蘂 (MC nyweX))

19. 汭: river bend

    (eumhun reading: 물굽이 예 (mulgubi ye))
    (MC reading: 汭 (MC nywejH))

20. 乂: punish

    (eumhun reading: 징계할 예 (jinggyehal ye))
    (MC reading: 乂 (MC ngjojH))

21. 穢: filthy

    (eumhun reading: 더러울 예 (deoreoul ye))
    (MC reading: 穢 (MC 'jwojH))

22. 囈: somniloquy

    (eumhun reading: 잠꼬대 예 (jamkkodae ye))
    (MC reading: 囈 (MC ngjiejH))

23. 嫛: newborn

    (eumhun reading: 갓난아이 예 (gannanai ye))
    (MC reading: 嫛 (MC 'ej))

24. 拽: Alternative form of 曳

    (MC reading: 拽 (MC dzrweaj))

25. 掜: compare

    (eumhun reading: 비길 예 (bigil ye))
    (MC reading: 掜 (MC nrea|ngejX))

26. 枘: tool handle

    (eumhun reading: 장부 예 (jangbu ye))
    (MC reading: 枘 (MC nywejH))

27. 獩: an ancient tribe

    (eumhun reading: 민족 이름 예 (minjok ireum ye))
    (MC reading: 獩 (MC 'jwojH))

28. 睨: look askance

    (eumhun reading: 흘겨볼 예 (heulgyeobol ye))
    (MC reading: 睨 (MC ngejH))

29. 瞖: cataract in the eye

    (eumhun reading: 백태 낄 예 (baektae kkil ye))
    (MC reading: 瞖 (MC 'ejH))

30. 繄: spear handle

    (eumhun reading: 창전대 예 (changjeondae ye))
    (MC reading: 繄 (MC 'ej|'ejH))

31. 翳: cover from the sun, shade

    (eumhun reading: 일산 예 (ilsan ye))
    (MC reading: 翳 (MC 'ej|'ejH))

32. 苅: Alternative form of 刈

    (MC reading: 苅)

33. 蕊: Alternative form of 蘂

    (MC reading: 蕊 (MC nyweX|nywijX))

34. 蕋: Alternative form of 蘂

    (MC reading: 蕋)

35. 薉: coarse

    (eumhun reading: 거칠 예 (geochil ye))
    (MC reading: 薉 (MC 'jwojH))

36. 蚋: black fly

    (eumhun reading: 파리매 예 (parimae ye))
    (MC reading: 蚋)

37. 蜺: Alternative form of 霓

    (MC reading: 蜺 (MC ngej|nget))

38. 鯢: salamander

    (eumhun reading: 도롱뇽 예 (dorongnyong ye))
    (MC reading: 鯢 (MC ngej))

39. 鷖: seagull

    (eumhun reading: 갈매기 예 (galmaegi ye))
    (MC reading: 鷖 (MC 'ej))

Etymology 9

South Korean reading of various Chinese characters in isolation or as the first element of a compound, and also the reading in most dialects in 1945, excluding Pyongan and Yukjin, where they are pronounced in this position as 네 (ne) in Pyongan or as 녜 (nye) in Yukjin.

From Middle Korean 례 (Yale: lyey). When preceded by another character in a compound, they retain the original 례 (rye) form.

In the North Korean standard, they are always read as 례 (rye), but this is an artificial imposition intended to standardize Sino-Korean readings, which did not reflect any major dialect's pronunciation in 1945.

Syllable

예 • (ye)

More information

1. 例: law, example

   (eumhun reading: 법식 예 (beopsik ye))
   (MC reading: 例 (MC ljejH))

2. 禮: etiquette, decorum

   (eumhun reading: 예절 예 (yejeol ye))
   (MC reading: 禮 (MC lejX))

3. 隷: servant

   (eumhun reading: 종 예 (jong ye))
   (MC reading: 隷 (MC lejH))

4. 醴: rice drink

   (eumhun reading: 단술 예 (dansul ye))
   (MC reading: 醴 (MC lejX))

5. 澧: name of a Chinese river

   (eumhun reading: 강 이름 예 (gang ireum ye))
   (MC reading: 澧 (MC lejX))

6. 隸: servant

   (eumhun reading: 종 예 (jong ye))
   (MC reading: 隸 (MC lejH))

7. 鱧: snakehead

   (eumhun reading: 가물치 예 (gamulchi ye))
   (MC reading: 鱧 (MC lejX))

Middle Korean

Etymology

From Old Korean 倭理 (*YEri, “Japanese”), today replaced by Sino-Korean terms in all modern dialects.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /jə̌j/

Noun

예〯 (Yěy)

1. the Japanese
   • 1447, “Stanza 52”, in 龍飛御天歌 / 용비어천가 [Yongbi eocheon'ga]:

     請(쳐ᇰ)으〮로〮 온 예〯와〮 싸호〮샤〮 투〮구〮 아니〮 밧기〮시면〮 나랏〮 小(쇼)民(민)을〮 사ᄅᆞ시〮리〮ᅌᅵᆺ가〮

     CHYENG-úlwó wòn Yěy-Gwoá ssàhwósyá thwúkwú àní pàskísìmyén nàlá-s SYWO.MIN-úl sàlòsílíngìská

     If [he] had not been called to combat the hundreds of Japanese and not removed the helmet [of the Japanese general], would he have saved the poor people [of Korea]?

Descendants

• Early Modern Korean: 예 (Yey, “Japanese”)

See also

• 되〯 (twǒy, “Jurchen”)