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Definition 2024


Korean

Syllable

(bun)

  1. A Hangul syllabic block made up of , , and .

Etymology 2

Sino-Korean word from (minute)

Noun

(bun) (hanja )

  1. (time) minute
    • 8(여덟)시 45(사십오)8(yeodeol)si 45(sasibo)bun ― 8:45 (time)

Etymology 3

Possibly from Chinese / ("part, portion").

Noun

(bun)

  1. (honorific) person

Counter

(bun)

  1. (honorific) people (honorific counter)
    • 교실에서 교수님 다섯 은 계시다gyosir-eseo gyosunim daseot bun-eun gyesida ― There are 5 professors in the classroom
Usage notes

As with most count words (a.k.a. classifiers), (bun) is preceded by native Korean numerals. More technically, 분 is classified as a "counter," not a noun. The concept of a counter is unusual in English, but common in Korean. It is the equivalent of the word "loaf" in three loaves of bread.

See also
  • (si, “o'clock”), 시간 (sigan, “hours”), (beon, “times”), (sal, “years”), 사람 (saram, “people”), (gap, “packs”), 마리 (mari, “animals”), (gwon, “volumes”), (chae, “houses”)