가

See also: -가

(see here for the particle and verbal suffix)

가 U+AC00, 가 HANGUL SYLLABLE GA Composition: ㄱ + ㅏ [unassigned: U+ABFA–U+ABFF] ← ꯹ [U+ABF9] Hangul Syllables 각 → [U+AC01]

㈎ U+320E, ㈎ PARENTHESIZED HANGUL KIYEOK A ← ㈍ [U+320D] Enclosed CJK Letters and Months ㈏ → [U+320F]

㉮ U+326E, ㉮ CIRCLED HANGUL KIYEOK A ← ㉭ [U+326D] Enclosed CJK Letters and Months ㉯ → [U+326F]

가각갂갃간갅갆 갇갈갉갊갋갌갍 갎갏감갑값갓갔 강갖갗갘같갚갛
	→ 개

Korean

Etymology 1

ㄱ (g) is the first consonant and ㅏ (a) is the first vowel in the ordering of hangul.

Symbol

가 • (ga)

1. The first syllable in the standard ordering of hangul, the Korean alphabet; often used to mark the first item of a list or sub-list, equivalent to English A and Japanese あ.

Derived terms

• 가갸시절 (gagyasijeol, “childhood; time when you first learn your letters”)(North Korea)

See also

• 갑(甲) (gap)

Etymology 2

First attested in the Yongbi eocheon'ga (龍飛御天歌 / 용비어천가), 1447, as Middle Korean ᄀᆞᇫ〯 (Yale: kǒz).

Pronunciation

• (SK Standard/Seoul) IPA^(key): [ka̠(ː)]

  • Audio:

    (file)

• Phonetic hangul: [가(ː)]
  • Though still prescribed in Standard Korean, most speakers in both Koreas no longer distinguish vowel length.

Romanizations
Revised Romanization?	ga
Revised Romanization (translit.)?	ga
McCune–Reischauer?	ka
Yale Romanization?	kā

Noun

가 • (ga)

1. (especially in compounds) border, edge, end

   Antonyms: 속 (sok), 안 (an)

   강가 ― gangga ― riverside

   냇가 ― naetga ― streamside

   우물가 ― umulga ― well side

2. (with an implied or explicit possessor) around, nearby, beside

   Synonyms: 옆 (yeop), 주변(周邊) (jubyeon)

   그 가에 나는 앉았다. ― Geu ga-e na-neun anjatda. ― I sat beside it.

   부처님 가에 꽃들이 만발했다.

   Bucheonim ga-e kkot-deur-i manbal-haetda.

   The flowers were in full bloom around the Buddha.

3. brim (of a vessel)

   참기름을 따를 때 가에 흘리지 않도록 조심해라.

   Chamgireum-eul ttareul ttae ga-e heulliji an-torok josimhaera.

   Be careful not to spill on the brim when pouring sesame oil.

Usage notes

• In compounds, it takes the genitive ㅅ (-s-).

Derived terms

• 가없다 (ga'eopda, “to be boundless, limitless”)
• 강가 (江—, gangga, “riverside”)
• 길가 (gilga, “roadside”)
• 난롯가 (煖爐—, nallotga, “fireside”)
• 물가 (mulga, “shore”)
• 바닷가 (badatga, “seaside”)
• 입가 (ipga, “lips”)
• 호숫가 (hosutga, “lakeside, lakeshore”)

 

Etymology 3

Sino-Korean word from 家 (“house, family”).

Pronunciation

• (SK Standard/Seoul) IPA^(key): [ka̠]

  • Audio:

    (file)

• Phonetic hangul: [가]

Romanizations
Revised Romanization?	ga
Revised Romanization (translit.)?	ga
McCune–Reischauer?	ka
Yale Romanization?	ka

Noun

가 • (ga) (hanja 家)

1. (formal) family, household

   Synonym: 가족(家族) (gajok)

2. (chiefly in compounds) dynasty, lineage, household, House

   합스부르크가 ― hapseubureukeu-ga ― House of Hapsburg

   재벌가 ― jaebeol-ga ― corporate family

Suffix

—가 • (-ga) (hanja 家)

1. -er, -ist

   Synonyms: 자(者) (ja), 수(手) (su)

   ‎건축(建築) (geonchuk, “architecture”) + ‎가(家) (ga) → ‎건축가(建築家) (geonchukga, “architect”)

   ‎전략(戰略) (jeollyak, “strategy”) + ‎가(家) (ga) → ‎전략가(戰略家) (jeollyakga, “strategist”)

   ‎자본(資本) (jabon, “capital”) + ‎가(家) (ga) → ‎자본가(資本家) (jabon'ga, “capitalist”)

   ‎애묘(愛猫) (aemyo, “loving cats”) + ‎가(家) (ga) → ‎애묘가(愛猫家) (aemyoga, “cat-lover”)

Derived terms

• See the hanja entry at 家 for Sino-Korean compounds of 가 (家, ga).

Etymology 4

Sino-Korean word from 可 (“possible”).

Pronunciation

• (SK Standard/Seoul) IPA^(key): [ka̠(ː)]

  • Audio:

    (file)

• Phonetic hangul: [가(ː)]
  • Though still prescribed in Standard Korean, most speakers in both Koreas no longer distinguish vowel length.

Romanizations
Revised Romanization?	ga
Revised Romanization (translit.)?	ga
McCune–Reischauer?	ka
Yale Romanization?	kā

Noun

가 • (ga) (hanja 可)

1. (chiefly suffixal) allowed; permitted

   Antonym: 불가(不可) (bulga)

   15세 관람 가 ― sibose gwallam ga ― those of age 15 permitted to watch

   분할 상환 가 ― bunhal sanghwan ga ― divided reimbursement allowed

2. aye, for (in meetings, etc.)

   Antonym: 부(否) (bu)

   의원 여러분께서는 본 안건에 대해 가인지 부인지를 결정해주시기를 바랍니다.

   Uiwon yeoreobun-kkeseo-neun bon an'geon-e daehae ga-inji bu-inji-reul gyeoljeonghae-jusigi-reul baramnida.

   Members of parliament, please decide whether you are for or against on this agenda.

3. The lowest score in the five-point grading system in South Korean schools, ultimately abolished in 2012; equivalent to E or F in the Roman alphabet grading scheme.

   Coordinate terms: 수(秀) (su), 우(優) (u), 미(美) (mi), 양(良) (yang)

Derived terms

• 가(可)하다 (gahada, “to be permitted”)
• See the hanja entry at 可 for Sino-Korean compounds of 가 (可, ga).

Etymology 5

Sino-Korean word from 價 (“price, value”).

Suffix

—가 • (-ga) (hanja 價)

1. price
2. (physics, after a numeral) valence

Derived terms

• See the hanja entry at 價 for Sino-Korean compounds of 가 (價, ga).

Etymology 6

Sino-Korean word from 街 (“street”).

Suffix

—가 • (-ga) (hanja 街)

1. (in address names) street

   종로3가 ― jongno-sam-ga ― Jongno, third street

Derived terms

• 다우닝가 (dauningga, “Downing Street”)
• 매디슨가 (maediseun'ga, “Madison Avenue”)
• 월가 (wolga, “Wall Street”)

 

• See the hanja entry at 街 for Sino-Korean compounds of 가 (街, ga).

Etymology 7

Sino-Korean word from 假 (“false”).

Pronunciation

• (SK Standard/Seoul) IPA^(key): [ka̠(ː)]

  • Audio:

    (file)

• Phonetic hangul: [가(ː)]
  • Though still prescribed in Standard Korean, most speakers in both Koreas no longer distinguish vowel length.

Romanizations
Revised Romanization?	ga
Revised Romanization (translit.)?	ga
McCune–Reischauer?	ka
Yale Romanization?	kā

Prefix

가— • (ga-) (hanja 假)

1. false
2. temporary

Derived terms

• See the hanja entry at 假 for Sino-Korean compounds of 가 (假, ga).

Related terms

• 가짜 (gajja, “fake”)

 

Etymology 8

Sino-Korean word from 加 (“to add”).

Pronunciation

• (SK Standard/Seoul) IPA^(key): [ka̠]

  • Audio:

    (file)

• Phonetic hangul: [가]

Romanizations
Revised Romanization?	ga
Revised Romanization (translit.)?	ga
McCune–Reischauer?	ka
Yale Romanization?	ka

Root

가 • (ga) (hanja 加)

1. Root of 가하다 (gahada). Rarely used alone.

Derived terms

• See the hanja entry at 加 for Sino-Korean compounds of 가 (加, ga).

Etymology 9

From Middle Korean 가〮 (Yale: ká); see the main entry for more.

Pronunciation

• (SK Standard/Seoul) IPA^(key): [ka̠]

  • Audio:

    (file)

• Phonetic hangul: [가]

Romanizations
Revised Romanization?	ga
Revised Romanization (translit.)?	ga
McCune–Reischauer?	ka
Yale Romanization?	ka

Verb

가 • (ga)

1. infinitive of 가다 (gada, “to go”): see 가다 (gada), 어 (-eo).
2. informal non-polite non-past indicative of 가다 (gada, “to go”)
3. informal non-polite non-past interrogative of 가다 (gada, “to go”)
4. informal non-polite hortative of 가다 (gada, “to go”)
5. informal non-polite imperative of 가다 (gada, “to go”)
6. formal non-polite cause/reason of 가다 (gada, “to go”)

Etymology 10

Modern Korean reading of various Chinese characters.

Syllable

가 (ga)

More information

1. 仮: lie

   (eumhun reading: 거짓 가 (geojit ga))
   (MC reading: 仮)

2. 伽: temple

   (eumhun reading: 절 가 (jeol ga))
   (MC reading: 伽 (MC gja))

3. 佳: beautiful

   (eumhun reading: 아름다울 가 (areumdaul ga))
   (MC reading: 佳 (MC kea))

4. 假: lie

   (eumhun reading: 거짓 가 (geojit ga))
   (MC reading: 假 (MC kaeX|kaeH))

5. 傢: furniture

   (eumhun reading: 가구 가 (gagu ga))
   (MC reading: 傢)

6. 價: price

   (eumhun reading: 값 가 (gap ga))
   (MC reading: 價 (MC kaeH))

7. 加: to add

   (eumhun reading: 더할 가 (deohal ga))
   (MC reading: 加 (MC kae))

8. 可: right; able

   (eumhun reading: 옳을 가 (oreul ga))
   (MC reading: 可 (MC khaX))

9. 呵: to scold

   (eumhun reading: 꾸짖을 가 (kkujijeul ga))
   (MC reading: 呵 (MC xa|xaH))

10. 咖: coffee

    (eumhun reading: 커피 가 (keopi ga))
    (MC reading: 咖)

11. 哥: a surname

    (eumhun reading: 성씨 가 (seongssi ga))
    (MC reading: 哥 (MC ka))

12. 哿: right, good

    (eumhun reading: 옳을 가 (oreul ga))
    (MC reading: 哿 (MC kaX))

13. 嘉: beautiful, joyous; happy

    (eumhun reading: 아름다울 가 (areumdaul ga))
    (MC reading: 嘉 (MC kae))

14. 坷: uneven; unlevel

    (eumhun reading: 평탄하지 않을 가 (pyeongtanhaji aneul ga))
    (MC reading: 坷 (MC khaX|khaH))

15. 嫁: get married (of women)

    (eumhun reading: 시집갈 가 (sijipgal ga))
    (MC reading: 嫁 (MC kaeH))

16. 宊: house

    (eumhun reading: 집 가 (jip ga))
    (MC reading: 宊 (MC thwot))

17. 家: house

    (eumhun reading: 집 가 (jip ga))
    (MC reading: 家 (MC kae))

18. 苛: severe; harsh

    (eumhun reading: 가혹할 가 (gahokhal ga))
    (MC reading: 苛 (MC ha))

19. 茄: lotus root, aubergine

    (eumhun reading: 연줄기, 가지 가 (yeonjulgi, gaji ga))
    (MC reading: 茄 (MC gja|kae))

20. 葭: reed

    (eumhun reading: 갈대 가 (galdae ga))
    (MC reading: 葭 (MC kae))

21. 斝: drinking-cup

    (eumhun reading: 술잔 가 (suljan ga))
    (MC reading: 斝 (MC kaeX))

22. 暇: spare time

    (eumhun reading: 틈, 겨를 가 (teum, gyeoreul ga))
    (MC reading: 暇 (MC haeH))

23. 架: rack

    (eumhun reading: 시렁 가 (sireong ga))
    (MC reading: 架 (MC kaeH))

24. 枷: knife; flail

    (eumhun reading: 칼 가 (kal ga))
    (MC reading: 枷 (MC gja|kae))

25. 柯: branch

    (eumhun reading: 가지 가 (gaji ga))
    (MC reading: 柯 (MC ka))

26. 榎: catalpa

    (eumhun reading: 개오동나무 가 (gae'odongnamu ga))
    (MC reading: 榎 (MC kaeX))

27. 檟: catalpa

    (eumhun reading: 개오동나무 가 (gae'odongnamu ga))
    (MC reading: 檟 (MC kaeX))

28. 歌: music; song

    (eumhun reading: 노래 가 (norae ga))
    (MC reading: 歌 (MC ka))

29. 珂: agate

    (eumhun reading: 마노 가 (mano ga))
    (MC reading: 珂 (MC kha))

30. 珈: hair ornament

    (eumhun reading: 머리꾸미개 가 (meorikkumigae ga))
    (MC reading: 珈 (MC kae))

31. 迦: used in transliterating Sanskrit

    (eumhun reading: 부처 이름 가 (bucheo ireum ga))
    (MC reading: 迦 (MC kja|kae))

32. 痂: scab

    (eumhun reading: 딱지 가 (ttakji ga))
    (MC reading: 痂 (MC kae))

33. 稼: to plant

    (eumhun reading: 심을 가 (simeul ga))
    (MC reading: 稼 (MC kaeH))

34. 笳: a reed pipe

    (eumhun reading: 호드기 가 (hodeugi ga))
    (MC reading: 笳 (MC kae))

35. 耞: flail

    (eumhun reading: 도리깨 가 (dorikkae ga))
    (MC reading: 耞)

36. 舸: boat; ship

    (eumhun reading: 배 가 (bae ga))
    (MC reading: 舸 (MC kaX))

37. 街: street

    (eumhun reading: 거리 가 (geori ga))
    (MC reading: 街 (MC kea|keaj))

38. 袈: the robes of fully ordained Buddhist monks and nuns

    (eumhun reading: 가사 가 (gasa ga))
    (MC reading: 袈 (MC kae))

39. 訶: to scold

    (eumhun reading: 꾸짖을 가 (kkujijeul ga))
    (MC reading: 訶 (MC xa))

40. 謌: music; song

    (eumhun reading: 노래 가 (norae ga))
    (MC reading: 謌 (MC ka))

41. 賈: price, value

    (eumhun reading: 값 가 (gap ga))
    (MC reading: 賈 (MC kuX|kaeX|kaeH))

42. 跏: to do a lotus position

    (eumhun reading: 책상다리할 가 (chaeksangdarihal ga))
    (MC reading: 跏 (MC kae))

43. 軻: handcart, a surname

    (eumhun reading: 수레, 사람 이름 가 (sure, saram ireum ga))
    (MC reading: 軻 (MC kha|khaX|khaH))

44. 駕: yoke

    (eumhun reading: 멍에 가 (meong'e ga))
    (MC reading: 駕 (MC kaeH))