거문고

Korean

Etymology

First attested in the Bullyu dugongbu si eonhae (分類杜工部詩諺解 / 분류두공부시언해), 1481, as Middle Korean 거믄〮고〮 (Yale: kèmún-kwó).

Pronunciation

• (SK Standard/Seoul) IPA^(key): [kʌ̹munɡo̞]
• Phonetic hangul: [거문고]

Romanizations
Revised Romanization?	geomun'go
Revised Romanization (translit.)?	geomungo
McCune–Reischauer?	kŏmun'go
Yale Romanization?	kemunko

Noun

거문고 • (geomun'go)

1. (music) geomungo (a Korean stringed instrument, made of wood from the Korean paulownia, with six strings which are plucked or flicked to make music)

   Synonyms: 현금(玄琴) (hyeon'geum), 현학금(玄鶴琴) (hyeonhakgeum), 자기금(子期琴) (jagigeum), 초미금(焦尾琴) (chomigeum), 사동(絲桐) (sadong)

   황진이는 시조와 거문고 작품으로도 유명하다.

   Hwangjini-neun sijo-wa geomun'go jakpum-euro-do yumyeonghada.

   Hwang Jini is renowned for her sijo and geomungo works.

2. (astronomy) Lyra

   Synonym: 거문고자리 (Geomun'gojari)

Derived terms

• 큰거문고새 (keun'geomun'gosae, “superb lyrebird”)
• 거문고자리 (geomun'gojari, “Lyra, the Lyre”)
• 거문고바다표범 (geomun'gobadapyobeom, “harp seal”)