짬

짬 U+C9EC, 짬 HANGUL SYLLABLE JJAM Composition: ㅉ + ㅏ + ㅁ ← 짫 [U+C9EB] Hangul Syllables 짭 → [U+C9ED]

짜짝짞짟짠짡짢 짣짤짥짦짧짨짩 짪짫짬짭짮짯짰 짱짲짳짴짵짶짷
지 ←	→ 째

Korean

Etymology 1

Clipping of 짬밥 (jjambap, “army rations”), referring to the amount of army rations one has eaten.

Pronunciation

• (SK Standard/Seoul) IPA^(key): [t͡ɕ͈a̠m]
• Phonetic hangul: [짬]

Romanizations
Revised Romanization?	jjam
Revised Romanization (translit.)?	jjam
McCune–Reischauer?	tcham
Yale Romanization?	ccam

Noun

짬 • (jjam)

1. Clipping of 짬밥 (jjambap, “(military slang) army rations”).
2. (military slang) the relative ranking or seniority of an army conscript, determined by how long he has served

   짬이 차니까 군 생활이 나아지기는 한다.

   jjam-i chanikka gun saenghwar-i naajigi-neun handa.

   It's true that army life is getting better because I've been rising in the ranks.

3. (slang, by extension) seniority in any organization or institution

Derived terms

• 짬 때리다 (jjam ttaerida)
• 짬찌 (jjamjji)
• 짬타이거 (jjamtaigeo)

 

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): [t͡ɕ͈a̠m]
• Phonetic hangul: [짬]

Romanizations
Revised Romanization?	jjam
Revised Romanization (translit.)?	jjam
McCune–Reischauer?	tcham
Yale Romanization?	ccam

Noun

짬 • (jjam)

1. spare time
2. (rare) a physical gap