거의

Jeju

Etymology

Cognate with Korean 거의 (geoui).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /kəɰi/

Adverb

거의 (geoui)

1. almost, nearly

Korean

Etymology

First attested in the Seokbo sangjeol (釋譜詳節 / 석보상절), 1447, as Middle Korean 거ᅀᅴ (Yale: kezuy).

Pronunciation

• (SK Standard/Seoul) IPA^(key): [kʌ̹ɰi] ~ [kʌ̹i]
• Phonetic hangul: [거의/거이]

Romanizations
Revised Romanization?	geoui
Revised Romanization (translit.)?	geoui
McCune–Reischauer?	kŏŭi
Yale Romanization?	keuy

Adverb

거의 • (geoui)

1. almost, nearly

   거의 여섯시야.

   geoui yeoseotsiya.

   It's almost six o'clock.

   그녀는 지갑에 돈이 거의 남지 않았다.

   geunyeo-neun jigab-e don-i geoui namji anatda.

   She had little money left in her purse.

   에세이에서 백퍼센트(100%)를 얻는다는 것은 거의 불가능하다.

   eseieseo baekpeosenteu(100%)reul eonneundaneun geoseun geoui bulganeunghada.

   It's practically impossible to get 100% on the essay.

Usage notes

When the topic marking particle "-은"(eun) is attached to the original subject, this adverb is mostly used with the subjective particle "-가/이" as if it were a noun. For example:

1. 나무들이 거의 꽃으로 뒤덮여 있다.

   namudeur-i geoui kkoch-euro dwideopyeo itda.

   Trees are almost covered with blossoms.

   나무들은 거의가 꽃으로 뒤덮여 있다.

   namu-deur-eun geouiga kkoch-euro dwideopyeo itda.

   The trees are almost covered with blossoms.

Synonyms

• 거진 (geojin) (dialect)