호구

Korean

Pronunciation

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

Romanizations
Revised Romanization?	hogu
Revised Romanization (translit.)?	hogu
McCune–Reischauer?	hogu
Yale Romanization?	hōkwu

Etymology 1

Sino-Korean word from 虎口, from 虎 (“tiger”) + 口 (“mouth”). The "pushover" sense derives from the game of Go sense, implying someone submissive enough to be willing to place their stone in such a position.

Black has set a 호구 (hogu) position at 7B to the upper left.

Noun

호구 • (hogu) (hanja 虎口)

1. the jaws of death; a very dangerous situation
2. (go) position surrounded by three enemy stones; if a player places their stone here, they will be immediately taken by the enemy in the next move
3. (colloquial) overly naive and submissive person; pushover, doormat, sucker

Etymology 2

Sino-Korean word from 戶口, from 戶 (“house”) + 口 (“counter for people”)

Noun

호구 • (hogu) (hanja 戶口)

1. (formal) number of households
2. (in Chinese contexts) hukou