기금

When you hear the word 기금 (fund), think of a dedicated pot of money. It is not just loose change; it is a structured amount set aside with a clear goal in mind.

Whether it is a scholarship fund for students or an emergency fund for a city, the core idea is purpose-driven finance. It is a very common term in business, government, and non-profit sectors.

The Korean word 기금 is a Sino-Korean term. 기 (基) refers to a base or foundation, and 금 (金) refers to gold or money.

Historically, this reflects the idea of building a foundation of money. It evolved from ancient practices where communities would pool resources to ensure stability during lean times, eventually becoming the standard term for modern institutional finance.

You will see 기금 used mostly in formal contexts. Common collocations include 기금을 조성하다 (to raise/create a fund) or 기금을 운영하다 (to manage a fund).

It is rarely used in casual, everyday conversation between friends unless discussing serious financial topics or large-scale charity events.

1. 기금을 조성하다: To raise funds for a cause.

2. 기금 고갈: A fund depletion or running out of money.

3. 기금 운용: The management or investment of fund assets.

4. 공익 기금: A public interest fund.

5. 장학 기금: A scholarship fund.

기금 is a standard noun. It does not have a plural form in Korean, as plurality is context-dependent.

In terms of pronunciation, it is pronounced [기금]. Ensure the '기' is crisp and the '금' has a clear nasal ending. It rhymes with words ending in '-음' like '믿음' (faith) or '걸음' (step).