배산임수

Korean

Etymology

Sino-Korean word from 背 (“behind”) + 山 (“mountain”) + 臨 (“in front”) + 水 (“water”), "with a mountain in the back and a river in the front".

Pronunciation

• (SK Standard/Seoul) IPA^(key): [pɛsʰa̠nimsʰu] ~ [pe̞sʰa̠nimsʰu]
• Phonetic hangul: [배사님수/베사님수]

Romanizations
Revised Romanization?	baesanimsu
Revised Romanization (translit.)?	baesan'imsu
McCune–Reischauer?	paesanimsu
Yale Romanization?	paysan.imswu

Noun

배산임수 • (baesanimsu) (hanja 背山臨水)

1. (four-character idiom from Classical Chinese) favourable, ideal, preferred (building location)

   풍수에서는 배산임수의 남향집이 가장 좋다고 말한다.

   Pungsu-eseo-neun baesanimsu-ui namhyangjib-i gajang jotago malhanda.

   Feng shui dictates that a southward-facing house with a mountain behind it and a river in front is the best.