어르신

Korean

Etymology

First attested in the Beonyeok Bak Tongsa (飜譯朴通事 / 번역박통사), before 1517, as Middle Korean 얼우신 (Yale: elGwusin), honorific form with 시 (-si-) of 얼〯운〮 (Yale: ělGwún, “adult”), modern 어른 (eoreun). Note that this is possible because the noun is derived from a verb.

Pronunciation

• (SK Standard/Seoul) IPA^(key): [ˈɘ(ː)ɾɯɕʰin]
• Phonetic hangul: [어(ː)르신]
  • Though still prescribed in Standard Korean, most speakers in both Koreas no longer distinguish vowel length.

Romanizations
Revised Romanization?	eoreusin
Revised Romanization (translit.)?	eoleusin
McCune–Reischauer?	ŏrŭsin
Yale Romanization?	ēlusin

Noun

어르신 • (eoreusin)

1. (polite) elder; the elderly

   어르신을 위한 보험 ― eoreusin-eul wihan boheom ― an insurance for the elderly

Related terms

• 어른 (eoreun, “adult”)