벼룩

Korean

벼룩

Etymology

First attested in the Hunmong jahoe (訓蒙字會 / 훈몽자회), 1527, as Middle Korean 벼록〮 (Yale: pyèlwók).

Perhaps akin to 불룩 (bulluk, “bulge; convex”) and 벼락 (byeorak, “thunder; thunderbolt”).

Pronunciation

• (SK Standard/Seoul) IPA^(key): [pjʌ̹ɾuk̚]
• Phonetic hangul: [벼룩]

Romanizations
Revised Romanization?	byeoruk
Revised Romanization (translit.)?	byeolug
McCune–Reischauer?	pyŏruk
Yale Romanization?	pyelwuk

Noun

벼룩 • (byeoruk)

1. flea

   벼룩의 간을 내어 먹다

   byeorug-ui gan-eul naeeo meokda

   to skin a flea for its hide; literally, to take out and eat the liver of a flea

Derived terms

• 벼룩시장 (—市場, byeoruksijang, “flea market”)

See also

• 이 (i, “louse”)
• 빈대 (bindae, “bedbug”)