닻
dat[ta̠t̚]
The English word "anchor" is translated into Korean as 닻 (dat) or 정.
Meaning: tool to moor a vessel into sea bottom (noun)
Ways to say it
| Korean | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 닻 | dat | [ta̠t̚] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) |
| 정 | jeong | [t͡ɕʌ̹ŋ] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) |
The term refers to the tool used to moor a vessel to the sea bottom. Beyond its literal meaning, certain phrases involving the word are used idiomatically. The phrase 닻을 내리다 (to lower the anchor) can be used metaphorically to mean settling down or establishing a base. Similarly, 닻을 올리다 (to raise the anchor) can mean to start or to launch a project or an event.
How do you pronounce it?
dat
Did you know?
- In modern Korean media, the word for a news 'anchor' is a loanword from English, rather than using 닻. This creates a linguistic gap where the physical tool has a Korean name, but the professional role does not.
- The word 정 is a homonym for several other common Korean words, including the deeply cultural concept of 'affection' or 'attachment' (情). In written text, the context is essential to distinguish a ship's anchor from an emotional bond.
- The written history of the word 닻 dates back to the 1527 text 훈몽자회, a foundational dictionary for Korean learners of that era.
Examples in context
- 닻을 내리다To anchorThis example shows how to use 닻.
- 닻을 올리다To raise the anchor, to set off
- 야, 닻 어딨어?Hey, where is the anchor?
- 왼쪽에 닻이 있어.The anchor is on the left.
- 배에 무거운 닻이 있다.bae-e mu-geo-un dat-i it-da.There is a heavy anchor on the boat.
Example conversation
A man and a woman are watching ships at a harbor.
- 현우 Hyeon-woo저 배는 닻이 정말 커 보여요.jeo bae-neun dat-i jeong-mal keo bo-yeo-yo.That boat's anchor looks really big.
- 지은 Ji-eun맞아요, 아주 튼튼해 보여요.ma-ja-yo, a-ju teun-teun-hae bo-yeo-yo.You're right, it looks very sturdy.
- 현우 Hyeon-woo지은 씨, 닻이 얼마나 무거울까요?Ji-eun ssi, dat-i eol-ma-na mu-geo-ul-kka-yo?Ji-eun, how heavy do you think the anchor is?
- 지은 Ji-eun아마 엄청나게 무거울 거예요.a-ma eom-cheong-na-ge mu-geo-ul geo-ye-yo.It is probably incredibly heavy.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “anchor” translations and entries 닻, 정, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 닻, 정, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Wiktionary CC BY-SA 4.0.
