제일

Korean

Etymology 1

Sino-Korean word from 第一, from 第 (“-th”) + 一 (“one”).

Pronunciation

(SK Standard/Seoul) IPA^(key): [ˈt͡ɕe̞(ː)iɭ]
Phonetic hangul: [제(ː)일]
- Though still prescribed in Standard Korean, most speakers in both Koreas no longer distinguish vowel length.

Romanizations
Revised Romanization^?	jeil
Revised Romanization (translit.)^?	jeil
McCune–Reischauer^?	cheil
Yale Romanization^?	cēyil

Adverb

제일 • (jeil) (hanja 第一)

most, -est; forms superlatives of adjectives
Synonym: 가장 (gajang)

그 는 팀 에서 제일 빠른 선수 면서 제일 힘 이 센 선수 다.
Geu-neun tim-eseo jeil ppareun seonsu-myeonseo jeil him-i sen seonsu-da.
He is the fastest and strongest player in [his] team.

저 는 한국어 사전 중 에서 는 이 사전 이 제일 좋습니다.
Jeo-neun han'gugeo sajeon jun-g'eseo-neun i sajeon-i jeil joseumnida.
For Korean, I like this dictionary the most.

Noun

제일 • (jeil) (hanja 第一)

number one; the first or primary
Synonyms: 최고(最高) (choego), 으뜸 (eutteum)

그 는 세계 제일의 축구 선수 다. ― Geu-neun segye jeir-ui chukgu seonsu-da. ― He is the number one soccer player in the world.
- 1992, “내 나라 제일로 좋아 [Nae nara jeillo joa, My country is the best]”, 최준경 (Ch’oe Chun-kyŏng) (lyrics):
  내 사는 내 나라 제일로 좋아!
  nae saneun nae nara jeil-lo joa!
  The country I live in is the best!
  (literally, “I like my country I live in as number one!”)

Usage notes

The most common use of this is in front of an adjective or adjectival phrase, to denote superlativity.

A 2007 decision by the Patent Court of Korea found that while the superlative sense of 제일(第一) (jeil) is not distinctive, the use of 제일(第一) (jeil) in front of a noun is distinctive and can be protected by trademark. [1]

Alternative forms

젤 (jel) (contraction)

Derived terms

제일(第一)가다 (jeilgada)
제일권(第一權) (jeilgwon)
제일보(第一步) (jeilbo)
제일봉(第一峯) (jeilbong)
제일선(第一線) (jeilseon)
제일의(第一義) (jeirui)
제일인(第一人) (jeirin)
제일주의(第一主義) (jeiljuui)
제일차(第一次) (jeilcha)

Descendants

→ Mandarin: 賊拉 / 贼拉 (zéilā)
- ⇒ Mandarin: 賊 / 贼

Etymology 2

Sino-Korean word from 祭日, from 祭 (“ceremony; memorial”) + 日 (“day”).

Pronunciation

(SK Standard/Seoul) IPA^(key): [ˈt͡ɕe̞(ː)iɭ]
Phonetic hangul: [제(ː)일]
- Though still prescribed in Standard Korean, most speakers in both Koreas no longer distinguish vowel length.

Romanizations
Revised Romanization^?	jeil
Revised Romanization (translit.)^?	jeil
McCune–Reischauer^?	cheil
Yale Romanization^?	cēyil

Noun

제일 • (jeil) (hanja 祭日)

a celebratory or memorial day

Etymology 3

Sino-Korean word from 除日, from 除 (“to remove”) + 日 (“day”), literally "the day that ends [the year]".

Pronunciation

(SK Standard/Seoul) IPA^(key): [t͡ɕe̞iɭ]
Phonetic hangul: [제일]

Romanizations
Revised Romanization^?	jeil
Revised Romanization (translit.)^?	jeil
McCune–Reischauer^?	cheil
Yale Romanization^?	ceyil

Noun

제일 • (jeil) (hanja 除日)

the last day of the lunar year; Lunar New Year's Eve
Synonym: 섣달그믐 (seotdalgeumeum)