제우

Jeju

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /t͡ɕe̞u/

Adverb

제우 (je'u)

1. barely

References

• “제우” in Jeju's culture and language, Digital museum.

Korean

Etymology

Cognate with 겨우 (gyeou). Compare dialectal 재우 (jae'u), 제오 (je'o).

Adverb

제우 • (je'u)

1. (Gyeongsang, Gangwon, Jeolla dialect, Chungcheong, Hamgyong) Dialectal form of 겨우 (gyeou, “barely, with difficulty”)

   Synonym: 재우 (jae'u)

   • 2009 February 27, 유재헌 [yujaeheon], “농부 말을 듣고 정치 잘한 이태조 [nongbu mareul deutgo jeongchi jalhan itaejo]”, in 한국구비문학대계 [han'gukgubimunhakdaegye]‎^[1], 강원도 평창군 진부면 [gang'wondo pyeongchanggun jinbumyeon]:

     힘이 제워서 제우 가는 소를, 약하다고 하면 더 듣기 나쁘니, 그러지 말라고.

     Him-i jewoseo je'u ga-neun so-reul, yakhada-go ha-myeon deo deutgi nappeuni, geureoji malla-go.

     If you say that the cow that is overwhelmed and can barely move is weak, it might hear you and take offense so don't say that.