자주

Korean

Etymology 1

First attested in the Seokbo sangjeol (釋譜詳節 / 석보상절), 1447, as Middle Korean ᄌᆞ조〮 (Yale: còcwó), originally a derived adverb of Middle Korean ᄌᆞᆽ다〮 (Yale: còc-tá) (whence also 잦다 (jatda)) with adverbial suffix 오 (Yale: -wo), but rarely perceived as such by modern speakers.

Pronunciation

• (SK Standard/Seoul) IPA^(key): [t͡ɕa̠d͡ʑu]
• Phonetic hangul: [자주]

Romanizations
Revised Romanization?	jaju
Revised Romanization (translit.)?	jaju
McCune–Reischauer?	chaju
Yale Romanization?	cacwu

Adverb

자주 • (jaju)

1. often, frequently

   너가 너무 자주 아파서 엄마가 걱정돼. ― Neo-ga neomu jaju apaseo eomma-ga geokjeongdwae. ― I [as your mother] am worried because you get sick too often.

Derived terms

• 자주자주 (jajujaju)

See also

• 때때로 (ttaettaero)
• 수시로 (susiro)

Etymology 2

Sino-Korean word from 自主, from 自 (“oneself”) 主 (“to own, to host; master, lord”).

Pronunciation

• (SK Standard/Seoul) IPA^(key): [t͡ɕa̠d͡ʑu]
• Phonetic hangul: [자주]

Romanizations
Revised Romanization?	jaju
Revised Romanization (translit.)?	jaju
McCune–Reischauer?	chaju
Yale Romanization?	cacwu

Noun

Derived verbs

Active	자주하다

자주 • (jaju) (hanja 自主)

1. independence, autonomy

Derived terms

• 자주국(自主國) (jajuguk)
• 자주권(自主權) (jajugwon)
• 자주성(自主性) (jajuseong)
• 자주적(自主的) (jajujeok)

 

Etymology 3

Sino-Korean word from 紫 (“purple”) 朱 (“cinnabar, vermilion; scarlet, red”).

Pronunciation

• (SK Standard/Seoul) IPA^(key): [ˈt͡ɕa̠(ː)d͡ʑu]
• Phonetic hangul: [자(ː)주]
  • Though still prescribed in Standard Korean, most speakers in both Koreas no longer distinguish vowel length.

Romanizations
Revised Romanization?	jaju
Revised Romanization (translit.)?	jaju
McCune–Reischauer?	chaju
Yale Romanization?	cācwu

Noun

자주 • (jaju) (hanja 紫朱)

1. violet; amethyst

   자주:    

2. purple; claret

   자주:    

Synonyms

• 자색(紫色) (jasaek), 자주색(紫朱色) (jajusaek)

Derived terms

• 남자주(藍紫朱) (namjaju)
• 반자주(半紫朱) (banjaju)
• 연자주(軟紫朱) (yeonjaju)
• 진자주(津紫朱) (jinjaju)

 

Etymology 4

Sino-Korean word from 慈 (“mother”) 主 (“master, mistress; you”).

Pronunciation

• (SK Standard/Seoul) IPA^(key): [t͡ɕa̠d͡ʑu]
• Phonetic hangul: [자주]

Romanizations
Revised Romanization?	jaju
Revised Romanization (translit.)?	jaju
McCune–Reischauer?	chaju
Yale Romanization?	cacwu

Noun

자주 • (jaju) (hanja 慈主)

1. (archaic Literary Chinese-style Korean) mother

   Synonym: (usual formal word) 어머님 (eomeonim)

Etymology 5

Sino-Korean word from 自 (“oneself”) 註 (“comment, note, annotation”).

Pronunciation

• (SK Standard/Seoul) IPA^(key): [t͡ɕa̠d͡ʑu]
• Phonetic hangul: [자주]

Romanizations
Revised Romanization?	jaju
Revised Romanization (translit.)?	jaju
McCune–Reischauer?	chaju
Yale Romanization?	cacwu

Noun

Derived verbs

Active	자주하다

자주 • (jaju) (hanja 自註)

1. (literary studies) self-footnote, self-annotation, note written on one's own writing
2. (literary studies) act of writing a footnote, annotation, note on one's own writing

Etymology 6

Sino-Korean word from 自 (“oneself”) 做 (“to do; to make”).

Pronunciation

• (SK Standard/Seoul) IPA^(key): [t͡ɕa̠d͡ʑu]
• Phonetic hangul: [자주]

Romanizations
Revised Romanization?	jaju
Revised Romanization (translit.)?	jaju
McCune–Reischauer?	chaju
Yale Romanization?	cacwu

Noun

Derived verbs

Active	자주하다

자주 • (jaju) (hanja 自做)

1. (uncommon) Synonym of 자작(自作) (jajak)