씨

씨	U+C528, 씨 HANGUL SYLLABLE SSI

Composition:

ㅆ + ㅣ

← 씧
[U+C527]

Hangul Syllables

씩 →
[U+C529]

씌 ←	→ 아
씨씩씪씫씬씭씮 씯씰씱씲씳씴씵 씶씷씸 씹씺씻씼 씽씾씿앀앁앂앃

Korean

Etymology 1

First attested in the Worin seokbo (月印釋譜 / 월인석보), 1459, as Middle Korean ᄡᅵ〮 (Yale: psí). compare to 씨앗 (ssiat).

Alternative forms

ᄡᅵ (ssi) — Early Modern

Pronunciation

(SK Standard/Seoul) IPA^(key): [ɕ͈i]
Phonetic hangul: [씨]

Romanizations
Revised Romanization^?	ssi
Revised Romanization (translit.)^?	ssi
McCune–Reischauer^?	ssi
Yale Romanization^?	ssi

South Gyeongsang (Busan) pitch accent: 씨의 / 씨에 / 씨까지

Syllables in red take high pitch. This word always takes high pitch and also heightens the next suffixed syllable, unless it is 에.

Noun

씨 • (ssi)

seed, kernel
Synonyms: 씨앗 (ssiat), 종자(種子) (jongja)
semen
woof, weft
(rare) part of speech
(North Korea, mathematics) prime
씨수 ― ssisu ― prime number

씨인수분해 ― ssiinsubunhae ― prime factorization

Derived terms

씨날 (ssinal, “woof and warp”)
씨내리 (ssinaeri, “surrogate father”)
씨눈 (ssinun, “embryo”)
씨말 (ssimal, “stallion”)
씨받이 (ssibaji, “surrogate mother or womb”)
씨발 (ssibal, “fuck”)
씨아 (ssia, “cotton gin”)
씨암탉 (ssiamtak, “breeder hen”)
씨앗 (ssiat, “seed, grain”)
씨줄 (ssijul, “latitude”)

Etymology 2

Sino-Korean word from 氏.

Pronunciation

(SK Standard/Seoul) IPA^(key): [ɕ͈i]
Phonetic hangul: [씨]

Romanizations
Revised Romanization^?	ssi
Revised Romanization (translit.)^?	ssi
McCune–Reischauer^?	ssi
Yale Romanization^?	ssi

Noun

씨 • (ssi) (hanja 氏)

sir or madam; Mr. or Ms.
안녕하십니까, 찬호 씨?
annyeonghasimnikka, Chanho ssi?
How are you, Mr. Chanho?
lineage; surname

Usage notes

Applying this honorific directly to a surname is considered rude or a way of indicating that the addressee is a social inferior. As a mark of respect, it should follow either the full name or just the given name.

In an organization, using 씨 (ssi) means the referent has no job title, and it is not appropriate even when the title is minor.

	Higher	Equal or lower
	Higher	With a title	Without a title	Familiar
Family name	홍 과장님 Manager Hong	홍 과장 Manager Hong	—	—
Full name	홍길동 과장님 Manager Hong Gildong	홍길동 과장 Manager Hong Gildong	홍길동 씨 Mr. Hong Gildong	—
Given name	—	길동 과장 Manager Gildong	길동 씨 Gildong	길동이 Gildong
No name	과장님 Manager	—	—	—

Etymology 3

Borrowed from English cee.

Pronunciation

(SK Standard/Seoul) IPA^(key): [ɕ͈i]
Phonetic hangul: [씨]

Romanizations
Revised Romanization^?	ssi
Revised Romanization (translit.)^?	ssi
McCune–Reischauer^?	ssi
Yale Romanization^?	ssi

Noun

씨 • (ssi)

The name of the Latin-script letter C/c.

Coordinate terms

Latin script letter names: 에이 (ei) · 비 (bi) · (ssi) · 디 (di) · 이 (i) · 에프 (epeu) · 쥐 (jwi) · 에이치 (eichi) · 아이 (ai) · 제이 (jei) · 케이 (kei) · 엘 (el) · 엠 (em) · 엔 (en) · 오 (o) · 피 (pi) · 큐 (kyu) · 알 (al) · 에스 (eseu) · 티 (ti) · 유 (yu) · 브이 (beu'i) · 더블유 (deobeuryu) · 엑스 (ekseu) · 와이 (wai) · 제드 (jedeu)/지 (ji)^[edit]

Etymology 4

Short for 씨발 (ssibal) and 씨팔 (ssipal).

Pronunciation

(SK Standard/Seoul) IPA^(key): [ɕ͈i]
Phonetic hangul: [씨]

Romanizations
Revised Romanization^?	ssi
Revised Romanization (translit.)^?	ssi
McCune–Reischauer^?	ssi
Yale Romanization^?	ssi

Interjection

씨 • (ssi)

shit
아 추워 씨! ― a chuwo ssi! ― Oh shit, it's cold!

Usage notes

Added at the end of a sentence.