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On the Etymological Meaning of the Korean Word ‘gomabda’

  • Korean Semantics
  • 2002, 11(), pp.1-12
  • Publisher : The Society Of Korean Semantics
  • Research Area : Humanities > Korean Language and Literature

최창렬 1 Choi Eun Jeong 2

1전북대학교
2계명대학교

ABSTRACT

Choe Chang-YeolChoe Eun-Jeong. 2002. On the Etymological Meaning of the Korean Word ‘gomabda’. Korean Semantics, 11. This study aims at illuminating the etymological meaning of Korean word ‘gomabda’. It is based on the three steps of argumentation. First of all, the myth of national foundation says that Dangun, the founding father of the Korean nation, was born of Ungnyeo. A question can be posed here as to whether the Korean people are the descendants from a bear. The answer is negative. ‘gom’ is derived from its original word ‘’, whose meaning is ‘God, King, or Majesty.’Secondly, s history book suggests that the Korean word ‘imgeum’ is originated in ‘닛’ with the meaning that the man with many teeth is wise. This is just the folk etymology and wrong. ‘닛’ is analysed as the man who can be the king in succession.Thirdly, it is accepted that ‘gamsahada’ is more polite than ‘gomabda’. From the etymological view, this is exactly the opposite. As shown in the examples like ‘goma(admire)’ and ‘goma(respect)’, The stem ‘’ of ‘gomabda’ means ‘God’ or ‘the King’. Hence, the word ‘gomabda’ can be phrased as ‘I am fully thankful to serve you as God.’

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