하면

Korean

Etymology 1

Sino-Korean word from 下面, from 下 (“lower”) + 面 (“surface”).

Pronunciation

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

Romanizations
Revised Romanization?	hamyeon
Revised Romanization (translit.)?	hamyeon
McCune–Reischauer?	hamyŏn
Yale Romanization?	hāmyen

Noun

하면 • (hamyeon) (hanja 下面)

1. bottom surface

   Antonym: 상면(上面) (sangmyeon)

Etymology 2

Of native Korean origin. From 하 (ha-, “to say”) +‎ 면 (-myeon, “if”): "if one speaks [about]..."

Pronunciation

• (SK Standard/Seoul) IPA^(key): [ha̠mjʌ̹n]
• Phonetic hangul: [하면]

Romanizations
Revised Romanization?	hamyeon
Revised Romanization (translit.)?	hamyeon
McCune–Reischauer?	hamyŏn
Yale Romanization?	hamyen

Verb

하면 • (hamyeon)

1. conditional of 하다 (hada): see 하다 (hada), 으면 (-eumyeon).

Particle

하면 • (hamyeon)

1. Attaches to a noun to introduce an exemplar, most desirable example, or closely associated fact about said noun.

   생선 하면 고등어지. ― Saengseon hamyeon godeung'eo-ji. ― As for fish, mackerel is best.

   영국 하면 해리포터지. ― Yeongguk hamyeon Haeri-poteo-ji. ― When I think of the United Kingdom, Harry Potter comes to mind.

   친구 하면 민지가 제일 먼저 떠오른다.

   Chin'gu hamyeon Minji-ga jeil meonjeo tteooreunda.

   When I think of friends, Minji is the first to come to mind.

   • 2023, Kim Sung-su, 12.12: The Day, episode 7, spoken by Chun Doo-gwang (Hwang Jung-min):

     이 정도 각오도 안 했습니까? 실패하면 반역, 성공하면 혁명 아입니까!

     i jeongdo gago-do an haetseumnikka? silpaehamyeon banyeok, seonggonghamyeon hyeongmyeong aimnikka!

     How come you are not determined to this extent? If it fails, it's treason; if it succeeds, it's revolution, isn't it?

Usage notes

• In prescriptive Korean orthography, this is considered a conjugation of the verb 하다 (hada), not a particle, and is hence written with an orthographic space.