임자

Korean

Etymology 1

First attested in the Worin seokbo (月印釋譜 / 월인석보), 1459, as Middle Korean 님〯잫 (Yale: nǐmcàh). Probably related to (nim, lord).

Pronunciation

  • (SK Standard/Seoul) IPA(key): [ˈi(ː)md͡ʑa̠]
  • Phonetic hangul: [(ː)]
    • Though still prescribed in Standard Korean, most speakers in both Koreas no longer distinguish vowel length.
Romanizations
Revised Romanization?imja
Revised Romanization (translit.)?imja
McCune–Reischauer?imja
Yale Romanization?īmca

Noun

임자 • (imja)

  1. owner

Etymology 2

Sino-Korean word from 壬子.

Pronunciation

Romanizations
Revised Romanization?Imja
Revised Romanization (translit.)?Imja
McCune–Reischauer?Imja
Yale Romanization?imca

Proper noun

임자 • (Imja) (hanja 壬子)

  1. The forty-ninth term of the Chinese sexagenary cycle, sometimes glossed as "Water Rat" from its associated terms in the Chinese elements and zodiac.
Coordinate terms