이상

Korean

Etymology 1

Sino-Korean word from 以上, from 以 (“as”) + 上 (“above”).

Pronunciation

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

Romanizations
Revised Romanization?	isang
Revised Romanization (translit.)?	isang
McCune–Reischauer?	isang
Yale Romanization?	īsang

Noun

이상 • (isang) (hanja 以上)

1. an amount more than
2. an amount greater than or equal to
3. the aforementioned

Antonyms

• 이하(以下) (iha, “amount less than”)
• 미만(未滿) (miman)

Etymology 2

Sino-Korean word from 異常, from 異 (“different, unusual, strange”) + 常 (“common, normal, frequent, regular”).

Pronunciation

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

Romanizations
Revised Romanization?	isang
Revised Romanization (translit.)?	isang
McCune–Reischauer?	isang
Yale Romanization?	īsang

Adjective

이상 • (isang) (hanja 異常)

1. strange, abnormal, odd, weird, bizarre

   다른건 다 맞는데 이거 하나만 맞지 않아서 뭔가 이상하다.

   dareun'geon da manneunde igeo hanaman matji anaseo mwon'ga isanghada.

   This is strange because everything else is right except for this one.

   몸이 이상하다. 오늘은 좀 쉬어야겠다.

   momi isanghada. oneureun jom swieoyagetda.

   I feel strange. I'm going to have to take a break today.

Derived terms

• 이상(異常)하다 (isanghada, “(to be) strange, bizarre, weird”)

Etymology 3

Sino-Korean word from 理想, from 理 (“logic”) + 想 (“think”)

Pronunciation

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

Romanizations
Revised Romanization?	isang
Revised Romanization (translit.)?	isang
McCune–Reischauer?	isang
Yale Romanization?	īsang

South Korean Standard Language	이상 (isang)
North Korean Standard Language	리상 (risang)

Noun

이상 • (isang) (hanja 理想)

1. ideal

   이상과 현실은 다르다. ― Isanggwa hyeonsireun dareuda. ― Reality is different from ideals.

Derived terms

• 이상적(理想的) (isangjeok, “ideal; perfect”)