곰

• (SK Standard/Seoul) IPA^(key): [ko̞(ː)m]

  • (file)

• Phonetic hangul: [곰(ː)]
  • Though still prescribed in Standard Korean, most speakers in both Koreas no longer distinguish vowel length.

곰 (gom, “bear”)

First attested in the Yongbi eocheon'ga (龍飛御天歌 / 용비어천가), 1447, as Middle Korean 곰〯 (Yale: kwǒm), from earlier *고마〮 (Yale: *kwòmá), which survived into Middle Korean in the place name 고마〮ᄂᆞᄅᆞ (Yale: Kwòmánòlò). Clearly cognate to Japanese 熊(くま) (kuma, “bear”) and Baekje 金馬 (*kəma/*kuma, “bear”).

Beyond Koreanic and Japanese, perhaps a regional Wanderwort also related to Old Chinese 熊 (OC *ɢʷlɯm).

곰 • (gom)

1. bear (animal)

   곰처럼 미련하다 ― gomcheoreom miryeonhada ― to be stupid like a bear

2. (figurative, derogatory) a thick, dull fellow

   Synonym: 곰탱이 (gomtaeng'i)

• 熊 (ung), the hanja for bears

고 (go-, “to simmer slowly”) +‎ ㅁ (-m, nominalizing suffix).

곰 • (gom)

1. verbal noun of 고다 (goda, “to simmer slowly”)
2. (rare) Short for 곰탕 (gomtang, “slow-simmered beef soup”).