징검다리

Korean

Etymology 1

징검다리 (jinggeomdari, “stepping stones”)

First attested in the Yeogeo yuhae (譯語類解 / 역어유해), 1690, as Early Modern Korean 딩검ᄃᆞ리, compound of 딩검 (tingkem) +‎ ᄃᆞ리 (toli). By surface analysis, 징검 (jinggeom) +‎ 다리 (dari, “bridge”).

Alternative forms

• 독다리 (dokdari) — Gyeongsang, Jeolla dialect, Chungcheong
• 디디겟돌 (didigetdol) — Hamgyong
• 노디 (nodi) — Jeolla dialect
• 뜀다리 (ttwimdari), 즘검다리 (jeumgeomdari), 증검다리 (jeunggeomdari) — misspellings

Pronunciation

• (SK Standard/Seoul) IPA^(key): [t͡ɕiŋɡʌ̹mda̠ɾi]
• Phonetic hangul: [징검다리]

Romanizations
Revised Romanization?	jinggeomdari
Revised Romanization (translit.)?	jinggeomdali
McCune–Reischauer?	chinggŏmdari
Yale Romanization?	cingkemtali

Noun

징검다리 • (jinggeomdari)

1. (petrology) stepping stones across a stream

   Synonyms: 다릿돌 (daritdol), 징검돌 (jinggeomdol)

2. (figurative) bridge, connection, mediator

   그 조직은 경영진과 종업원 사이에 있는 징검다리 역할을 수행한다.

   Geu jojig-eun gyeong'yeongjin-gwa jong'eobwon sai-e inneun jinggeomdari yeokhar-eul suhaenghanda.

   The organization serves as a bridge between the management and the employees.

Etymology 2

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

Pronunciation

• (SK Standard/Seoul) IPA^(key): [t͡ɕiŋɡʌ̹mda̠ɾi]
• Phonetic hangul: [징검다리]

Romanizations
Revised Romanization?	jinggeomdari
Revised Romanization (translit.)?	jinggeomdali
McCune–Reischauer?	chinggŏmdari
Yale Romanization?	cingkemtali

Noun

징검다리 • (jinggeomdari)

1. Chungcheong form of 소금쟁이 (sogeumjaeng'i, “water strider”)