화두

Sino-Korean word from 話頭 (“subject under discussion”).

• (SK Standard/Seoul) IPA^(key): [ɸwa̠du]
• Phonetic hangul: [화두]

화두 • (hwadu) (hanja 話頭)

1. topic of discussion

   전기자동차가 세간의 화두로 떠오르고 있다.

   Jeon'gi-jadongcha-ga segan-ui hwadu-ro tteooreugo itda.

   Electric cars are emerging as a society-wide topic of discussion.

2. (Zen Buddhism) koan

   Synonym: (less common) 공안(公案) (gong'an)

   • 2011, “비행기 잘못 타서 한국 왔다가 비구니로… 서구 수행자도 '이뭣고' 화두 좋아하데요”, in Chosun Ilbo‎:

     처음 내게 이뭣고 화두를, 그 뒤엔 조주 스님의 '무(無)'자 화두를 주셨다.

     Cheo'eum naege i-mwotgo hwadu-reul, geu dwi-en Joju seunim-ui mu ja hwadu-reul jusyeotda.

     He first gave me the koan of "What is 'this'?", and after that, the koan of Mu by Master Zhaozhou.

Sino-Korean word from 火頭, from 火 (“fire”) + 頭 (“head”).

• (SK Standard/Seoul) IPA^(key): [ˈɸwa̠(ː)du]
• Phonetic hangul: [화(ː)두]
  • Though still prescribed in Standard Korean, most speakers in both Koreas no longer distinguish vowel length.

화두 • (hwadu) (hanja 火頭)

1. head of a wildfire (the direction it is spreading the fastest in)
   • 2009, 이병두, 구교상, 이명보, “사례 조사를 통한 산불 방향 및 확산 특성 [Forest Fire Direction and Spread Characteristics by Field Investigations]”, in Fire and Science engineering‎, volume 23, number 5, page 96:

     화두 방향에서는 시간당 약 0.13km 속도로, 산불의 측면에서는 시간당 약 0.05km 속도로 확산되었다.

     Hwadu banghyang-eseo-neun sigan-dang yak 0.13-killomiteo sokdo-ro, sanbur-ui cheungmyeon-eseo-neun sigan-dang yak 0.05-killomiteo sokdo-ro hwaksan-doeeotda.

     It spread at a rate of approximately 0.13km per hour towards the head, and approximately 0.05km per hour on the flanks.

Sino-Korean word from 火斗.

• (SK Standard/Seoul) IPA^(key): [ˈɸwa̠(ː)du]
• Phonetic hangul: [화(ː)두]
  • Though still prescribed in Standard Korean, most speakers in both Koreas no longer distinguish vowel length.

화두 • (hwadu) (hanja 火斗)

1. (uncommon) Synonym of 다리미 (darimi, “clothing iron”).