부모

Early Modern Korean

Etymology

Sino-Korean word from 父母.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [pu.mo]

Noun

부모 (pwumwo) (hanja 父母)

1. parents
2. (figurative) the king, as “parent" of the people
   • 1762, King Yeongjo of Korea, 御製警民音 / 어제경민음 [Royal Words in Advice to the People (Against Alcoholism)]:

     내 너의 부모 되얀 지 그 몃 ᄒᆡ뇨? 이제 삼십팔년이로되 덕ᄐᆡᆨ이 능히 ᄇᆡᆨ셩의게 밋지 못ᄒᆞ고 […]

     Na-y neuy pwumwo twoyyan ci ku myes hay-nywo? Icey samsip-pal-nyen-ilwotwoy tekthoyk-i nunghi poyksyeng-uykey misci mos-hokwo […]

     How many years has it been since I became your parent? It has now been thirty-eight years, yet virtue still does not reach the people […]

Korean

Etymology

Sino-Korean word from 父母, largely displacing native 어버이 (eobeoi).

Pronunciation

• (SK Standard/Seoul) IPA^(key): [pumo̞]
• Phonetic hangul: [부모]

Romanizations
Revised Romanization?	bumo
Revised Romanization (translit.)?	bumo
McCune–Reischauer?	pumo
Yale Romanization?	pumo

Noun

부모 • (bumo) (hanja 父母)

1. parents

   Synonyms: 부모님 (bumonim, honorific), 어버이 (eobeoi, native equivalent)

   부모님은 어디 계세요?

   bumonim-eun eodi gyeseyo?

   Where are your parents?

Usage notes

• In non-formal contexts, usually accompanied by the honorific suffix 님 (nim) as 부모님 (bumonim). The lack of the suffix may be taken as demeaning.

Derived terms

• 부모님 (bumonim, honorific)