비밀번호

Korean

Etymology

Sino-Korean word from 비밀(秘密) (bimil, secret) + 번호(番號) (beonho, number).

Pronunciation

  • (SK Standard/Seoul) IPA(key): [ˈpi(ː)miɭbʌ̹nβo̞]
  • Phonetic hangul: [(ː)]
    • Though still prescribed in Standard Korean, most speakers in both Koreas no longer distinguish vowel length.
Romanizations
Revised Romanization?bimilbeonho
Revised Romanization (translit.)?bimilbeonho
McCune–Reischauer?pimilbŏnho
Yale Romanization?pīmil.pen.ho

Noun

비밀번호 • (bimilbeonho) (hanja 秘密番號)

  1. password
    Synonyms: (colloquial) 비번(秘番) (bibeon), (North Korean) 통과암호(通過暗號) (tonggwaamho)
    비밀번호날짜죽으셔야 해요.
    Bimilbeonho-wa naljja-do jugeusyeoya haeyo.
    You should also write (your) password and the date.

Usage notes

2015 study by the National Institute of the Korean Language
Would you say 비밀번호(秘密番號) (bimilbeonho) or 비번(秘番) (bibeon) for "password"?
Age cohort 16 to 25 26 to 35 36 to 45 46 to 55 56 to 65 65 or above
비밀번호(秘密番號) (bimilbeonho) 27 respondents
(39%)
23 respondents
(40%)
19 respondents
(42%)
39 respondents
(61%)
20 respondents
(87%)
49 respondents
(90%)
비번(秘番) (bibeon) 42 respondents
(61%)
34 respondents
(60%)
14 respondents
(58%)
25 respondents
(39%)
1 respondents
(4%)
3 respondents
(6%)
Other 0 respondents 0 respondents 0 respondents 0 respondent 2 respondents 2 respondents