Signification
To expel air from the lungs suddenly with a noise.
Banque d exercices
3 exercices감기에 걸려서 계속 _____을 하다. (I caught a cold, so I keep coughing.)
목이 간지러워서 나도 모르게 _____을 했어. (My throat was itchy, so I coughed without realizing it.)
먼지가 많아서 연신 _____을 하다. (There was a lot of dust, so I kept coughing.)
🎉 Score : /3
The Korean phrase '기침을 하다' (gichimeul hada) literally translates to 'to do a cough' or 'to perform a cough.' Let's break down its components and historical development. **'기침' (gichim):** * **Origin:** The word '기침' is a noun meaning 'cough.' Its origins can be traced back to Middle Korean. The most widely accepted etymology points to a combination of two elements: * **'기-' (gi-):** This prefix or stem is believed to be related to sounds or actions involving the throat or breathing. While not a standalone word in modern Korean, it appears in other words related to breathing or sound, such as '기침하다' (gichimhada, 'to cough') or older forms related to throat sounds. * **'침' (chim):** This element is likely related to '침' (chim), meaning 'saliva' or 'spittle.' The act of coughing often involves expelling air and sometimes phlegm or saliva, so this connection makes semantic sense. Another possibility, though less common, is a connection to older forms of words indicating expulsion or projection. * **Historical Evolution:** In Middle Korean, forms like '기ᄶᅵᆷ' (ki-ccim) or '기침' (ki-chim) are observed. Over time, the pronunciation and spelling standardized to '기침' (gichim) in modern Korean. The sound change from 'ᄶ' (ccim) or 'ㅊ' (chim) to 'ㅊ' (chim) is a common phonological development in Korean, especially concerning palatalization. * **Onomatopoeic Influence:** It's also possible that '기침' has an onomatopoeic component, mimicking the sound of a cough. While not purely onomatopoeic, the sound structure of the word might have been influenced by the acoustic nature of the act itself. **'하다' (hada):** * **Origin:** '하다' is one of the most fundamental and versatile verbs in Korean, meaning 'to do,' 'to make,' or 'to perform.' Its roots are very ancient, dating back to Old Korean. It has consistently served as a light verb, forming compound verbs with many nouns to create verbal expressions. * **Function:** In '기침을 하다,' '하다' functions as a light verb, taking '기침' (cough) as its object. This structure ('Noun +을/를 하다') is extremely common in Korean for verbalizing actions, where the noun specifies the action and '하다' carries the verbal force. This construction allows for flexibility and is often used when a direct verb form for the action doesn't exist or when a more formal or descriptive tone is desired. **Combined Meaning and Usage:** When combined, '기침을 하다' literally means 'to do a cough.' This is the standard and most natural way to express 'to cough' in Korean. The '을/를' particle indicates that '기침' is the direct object of the verb '하다.' **Summary of Etymology:** The phrase '기침을 하다' is a testament to the dynamic nature of Korean language. '기침' itself is an ancient noun with roots likely tied to sounds of the throat and the expulsion of bodily fluids, potentially influenced by onomatopoeia, evolving through Middle Korean to its modern form. '하다' is an equally ancient and essential light verb that attaches to countless nouns to create verbal expressions. Together, they form a clear and idiomatic way to describe the act of expelling air from the lungs suddenly and with noise, showcasing a common grammatical pattern in Korean where a noun denoting an action is combined with '하다' to form a verb phrase.
