阿孩

Old Korean

Noun

阿孩 (*ahoy)

1. child
   • 765, 忠談師 (Chungdamsa), “安民歌 (Anmin-ga)”, in 三國遺事 (Samguk Yusa) [Memorabilia of the Three Kingdoms]:

     民焉狂尸恨阿孩古

     *MIN-un ELI-l ho-n ahoy-kwo

     The [common] people are as foolish children

Reconstruction notes

This spelling is generally thought to be phonographic, representing a form close to Middle Korean 아ᄒᆡ (Yale: àhóy). It is also an example of phono-semantic matching, the second syllable being identified with 孩 (MC hoj, “child”).

Descendants

• Middle Korean: 아ᄒᆡ (àhóy)
  • Korean: 아이 (ai)

References

• 남풍현 (Nam Pung-hyeon) (2019) “安民歌의 새로운 해독 [A new reading of the Anmin-ga]”, in Gugyeol Yeon'gu, volume 42, pages 33-49