끼니를 잇다

The phrase '끼니를 잇다' is a combination of two words: '끼니' (kki-ni) and '잇다' (it-da). '끼니' refers to a 'meal' or 'food for a meal'. It is derived from the archaic Korean word '슭' (seulk), which meant 'food' or 'provisions'. Over time, through phonetic changes and semantic shifts, '슭' evolved into '끼니'. The act of eating and having meals has always been fundamental to human survival, and '끼니' encapsulates this basic necessity. '잇다' means 'to connect', 'to link', 'to continue', or 'to succeed'. In this context, it implies a continuous act of securing or obtaining meals. It suggests a struggle to ensure that one meal follows another, emphasizing the precariousness of the situation where one's livelihood is just barely sufficient to cover daily needs. Therefore, '끼니를 잇다' literally translates to 'to connect meals' or 'to continue meals'. This vivid imagery conveys the effort and struggle involved in providing for oneself or one's family on a day-to-day basis, highlighting a state of poverty or financial hardship where one is just scraping by. The phrase has been in use for a significant period in Korean, reflecting the historical realities of many people who have had to work tirelessly to secure their basic sustenance. It has become a common idiom to describe a hand-to-mouth existence or a meager living.