뒷간

Korean

Etymology

First attested in the Worin seokbo (月印釋譜 / 월인석보), 1459, as Middle Korean 뒷〯간 (Yale: twǔy-s-kàn).

뒤 (dwi, “back”) +‎ ㅅ (-s-) +‎ 간(間) (gan, “room”).

Pronunciation

• (SK Standard/Seoul) IPA^(key): [ˈtɥi(ː)t̚k͈a̠n] ~ [ˈtɥi(ː)k͈a̠n] ~ [ˈty(ː)t̚k͈a̠n] ~ [ˈty(ː)k͈a̠n]
• Phonetic hangul: [뒫(ː)깐/뒤(ː)깐]
  • Though still prescribed in Standard Korean, most speakers in both Koreas no longer distinguish vowel length.

Romanizations
Revised Romanization?	dwitgan
Revised Romanization (translit.)?	dwisgan
McCune–Reischauer?	twitkan
Yale Romanization?	twīskan

Noun

뒷간 • (dwitgan)

1. toilet

   Synonym: 변소(便所) (byeonso)

   뒷간에 갈 적 마음 다르고 올 적 마음 다르다.

   Dwitgan-e gal jeok ma'eum dareugo ol jeok ma'eum dareuda.

   (Korean saying) Danger past, God forgotten.