Category Archives: 単語 Vocab

Vocabulary: Japanese On’yomi & Sino-Korean: no. 1

There are many similarities in pronunciation between Sino-Korean and Japanese on’yomi words because both originate from Chinese characters. It is a lot of fun to compare these two languages.
1. 島
meaning: island
Japanese on’yomi pronunciation: トウ [tō]
Korean pronunciation: 도 [do]
vocabulary:
Peninsula: [J: ハントウ「半島」hantō]  [K: 반도 bando]
2. 平
meaning: flat; equal; peace
Japanese on’yomi pronunciation: ヘイ、ビョウ [hei, byō]
Korean pronunciation: 평 [pyeong]
vocabulary:
Peace: [J: ヘイワ「平和」heiwa]  [K: 평화 pyeonghwa]
Equality/Impartiality: [J: ビョウドウ「平等(な)」byōdō]  [K: 평등 pyeongdeung]
3. 和
meaning: peace; harmony
Japanese on’yomi pronunciation: ワ [wa]
Korean pronunciation: 화 [hwa]
vocabulary:
Neutralize/counteract: [J: チュウワ「中和」chūwa]  [K: 중화 junghwa]
Harmony/balance: [J: チョウワ「調和」chōwa]  [K: 조화 johwa]
Amity/friendly relationship; make peace (with): [J: ワシン「和親」washin]  [K: 화친 hwachin]
Discord/disharmony: [J: フワ「不和」fuwa]  [K: 불화 bulhwa]
thanks to: roman.cs.pusan.ac.kr , nihongo.j-talk.com , jisho.org , dic.naver.com