열쇠

Korean

Etymology

First attested in the Myobeopyeonhwagyeong eonhae (妙法蓮華經諺解 / 묘법연화경언해), 1463, as Middle Korean 엸쇠 (yels.soy). From 열— (yeol-, “to open”) + 쇠 (soe, “metal”). The phonological resemblance to Chinese 鑰匙 (yàoshi, “key”) is probably coincidental.

Pronunciation
  • IPA(key)[ˈjɘːɭs͈we̞] ~ [ˈjɘːɭs͈ø̞]
  • Phonetic Hangul[열:쒜/열:쐬]
Revised Romanization? yeolsoe
Revised Romanization (translit.)? yeolsoe
McCune–Reischauer? yŏlssoe
Yale Romanization? yēlqsoy

Noun

열쇠 • (yeolsoe)

  1. key
    열쇠로 자물쇠를 열다
    yeolsoero jamulsoereul yeolda
    open a lock with a key
  2. (figuratively) means
    행복의 열쇠 ― haengbogui yeolsoe ― the key to happiness
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