하면

Korean

Etymology 1

Sino-Korean word from 下面, from 下 (“lower”) + 面 (“surface”).

Pronunciation

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

Romanizations
Revised Romanization^?	hamyeon
Revised Romanization (translit.)^?	hamyeon
McCune–Reischauer^?	hamyŏn
Yale Romanization^?	hāmyen

Noun

하면 • (hamyeon) (hanja 下面)

bottom surface
Antonym: 상면(上面) (sangmyeon)

Etymology 2

Of native Korean origin. From 하- (ha-, “to say”) +‎ -면 (-myeon, “if”): "if one speaks [about]..."

Pronunciation

(SK Standard/Seoul) IPA^(key): [ha̠mjʌ̹n]
Phonetic hangul: [하면]

Romanizations
Revised Romanization^?	hamyeon
Revised Romanization (translit.)^?	hamyeon
McCune–Reischauer^?	hamyŏn
Yale Romanization^?	hamyen

Verb

하면 • (hamyeon)

conditional of 하다 (hada): see 하다 (hada), -으면 (-eumyeon).

Particle

하면 • (hamyeon)

Attaches to a noun to introduce an exemplar, most desirable example, or closely associated fact about said noun.
생선 하면 고등어 지. ― Saengseon hamyeon godeung'eo-ji. ― As for fish, mackerel is best.

영국 하면 해리포터지. ― Yeongguk hamyeon Haeri-Poteo-ji. ― When I think of the United Kingdom, Harry Potter comes to mind.

친구 하면 민지 가 제일 먼저 떠오른다.
Chin'gu hamyeon Minji-ga jeil meonjeo tteooreunda.
When I think of friends, Minji is the first to come to mind.
- 2023, Kim Sung-su, 12.12: The Day, episode 7, spoken by Chun Doo-gwang (Hwang Jung-min):
  
  이 정도 각오 도 안 했습니까? 실패하면 반역, 성공하면 혁명 아입 니까!
  i jeongdo gago-do an haetseumnikka? silpaehamyeon banyeok, seonggonghamyeon hyeongmyeong aimnikka!
  How come you are not determined to this extent? If it fails, it's treason; if it succeeds, it's revolution, isn't it?

Usage notes

In prescriptive Korean orthography, this is considered a conjugation of the verb 하다 (hada), not a particle, and is hence written with an orthographic space.