복병

Korean

Etymology 1

Sino-Korean word from 伏兵, from 伏 (“ambush”) + 兵 (“soldier”).

Pronunciation

• (SK Standard/Seoul) IPA^(key): [po̞k̚p͈jʌ̹ŋ]
• Phonetic hangul: [복뼝]

Romanizations
Revised Romanization?	bokbyeong
Revised Romanization (translit.)?	bogbyeong
McCune–Reischauer?	pokpyŏng
Yale Romanization?	pokpyeng

Noun

복병 • (bokbyeong) (hanja 伏兵)

1. a hidden army lying in ambush

   저 산 뒤에 복병을 두도록 해라.

   jeo san dwi-e bokbyeong-eul dudorok haera.

   Have a hidden army sent behind that mountain.

2. an unwelcome surprise

   시험 때마다 수학이 항상 복병이야.

   siheom ttaemada suhag-i hangsang bokbyeong-iya.

   In every exam, math is always the unwelcome surprise.

   • 2020 February, “그때 그 시절 디즈니 덕후들에게 [geuttae geu sijeol dijeuni deokhudeurege, To the Disney otakus of that time and age]”, in 월간샘터 [wolgansaemteo], page 87:

     어렵게 복원을 마치자 또 다른 복병이 나타났다. 월트디즈니사와의 저작권 문제가 불거진 것이었다.

     Eoryeopge bogwon-eul machija tto dareun bokbyeong-i natanatda. Wolteudijeunisawa-ui jeojakgwon munje-ga bulgeojin geos-ieotda.

     Once the reconstruction had been finished with difficulty, there was another unwelcome surprise. A copyright dispute had erupted with the Walt Disney Company.

   • 2020 November 8, “국정심판론속 코로나 복병에 무너진 트럼프…정반대로 간 바이든 [gukjeongsimpallonsok korona bokbyeong'e muneojin teureompeu…jeongbandaero gan baideun]”, in 소방뉴스 [sobangnyuseu]‎^[1], Republic of Korea National Fire Agency:

     탄탄한 경제지표에 힘입어 재선 가능성이 상당하다는 평가를 받았다. 그러나 코로나19가 복병이었다.

     Tantanhan gyeongjejipyo-e himibeo jaeseon ganeungseong-i sangdanghadaneun pyeongga-reul badatda. Geureona korona19-ga bokbyeong-ieotda.

     Bolstered by solid economic indicators, [Donald Trump's] chances at reelection were judged as considerable. But COVID-19 was the unwelcome surprise.

Related terms

• 매복 (埋伏, maebok, “ambush”)

Etymology 2

Sino-Korean word from 腹柄.

Pronunciation

• (SK Standard/Seoul) IPA^(key): [po̞k̚p͈jʌ̹ŋ]
• Phonetic hangul: [복뼝]

Romanizations
Revised Romanization?	bokbyeong
Revised Romanization (translit.)?	bogbyeong
McCune–Reischauer?	pokpyŏng
Yale Romanization?	pokpyeng

Noun

복병 • (bokbyeong) (hanja 腹柄)

1. (entomology) Synonym of 배자루마디 (baejarumadi, “petiole of a bee or ant”)