아으

Korean

Etymology

Mimetic. Probably not related to Middle Korean 아으 (Yale: au).

Pronunciation

• (SK Standard/Seoul) IPA^(key): [a̠ɯ]
• Phonetic hangul: [아으]

Romanizations
Revised Romanization?	a'eu
Revised Romanization (translit.)?	a'eu
McCune–Reischauer?	aŭ
Yale Romanization?	au

Interjection

아으 • (a'eu)

1. ugh; used to convey frustration or annoyance.

Middle Korean

Etymology

Mimetic.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /aɨ/

Interjection

아으 (au)

1. (poetic) ah, o, alas; the most common exclamation or interjection in native Korean songs and poetry.
   • 1493 [14th century?], “동동/動動 [Dongdong]”, in 樂學軌範/악학궤범 [Akhak gwebeom]‎^[1]:

     二(ᅀᅵ)月(월)ㅅ 보로매 아으 노피 현 燈(드ᇰ)ㅅ블 다호라 萬(만)人(ᅀᅵᆫ) 비취실 즈ᅀᅵ샷다

     ZI.WEL-s pwolwom-ay au nwophi hyen TUNG-s pul tahwola MAN.ZIN pichwuysil cuz-isyasta

     By the full moon of the second month, oh, [you] are like a lamplight lit on high! Your appearance is one to illuminate a myriad men.

   • 1493, “處容歌/처용가 [Cheoyong-ga]”, in 樂學軌範/악학궤범 [Akhak gwebeom]:

     아으 壽(슈)命(며ᇰ)長(댜ᇰ)願(원)ᄒᆞ샤 넙거신 니마해
     山(산)象(샤ᇰ) 이슷 기ᇫ어신 눈닙에
     愛(ᄋᆡ)人(ᅀᅵᆫ)相(샤ᇰ)見(견)ᄒᆞ샤 오ᄋᆞᆯ어신 누네

     au SYU.MYENG.TYANG.WON-hosya nepkesin nimah-ay
     SAN.SYANG isus kizGesin nwunnip^[sic]-ey
     OY.ZIN.SYANG.KYEN-hosya woolesin nwun-ey

     O by his brows, wide by his longevity;
     By his eyebrows, lush like the mountains;
     By his eyes, made complete from seeing his beloved

Usage notes

• It is apparently not found in prose, or in poetry translated from Chinese.