제일

Korean

Etymology 1

Sino-Korean word from 第一, from 第 (“-th”) + 一 (“one”).

Pronunciation
  • (SK Standard/Seoul) IPA(key): [ˈt͡ɕe̞(ː)iɭ]
  • Phonetic hangul: [제(ː)일]
    • Though still prescribed in Standard Korean, most speakers in both Koreas no longer distinguish vowel length.
Romanizations
Revised Romanization?jeil
Revised Romanization (translit.)?jeil
McCune–Reischauer?cheil
Yale Romanization?cēyil

Adverb

제일 • (jeil) (hanja 第一)

  1. most, -est; forms superlatives of adjectives
    Synonym: 가장 (gajang)
    그는 팀에서 제일 빠른 선수면서 제일 힘이 센 선수다.
    Geu-neun tim-eseo jeil ppareun seonsu-myeonseo jeil him-i sen seonsu-da.
    He is the fastest and strongest player in [his] team.
    저는 한국어 사전 중에서는 이 사전이 제일 좋습니다.
    Jeo-neun han'gugeo sajeon jung-eseo-neun i sajeon-i jeil joseumnida.
    For Korean, I like this dictionary the most.

Noun

제일 • (jeil) (hanja 第一)

  1. number one; the first or primary
    Synonyms: 최고(最高) (choego), 으뜸 (eutteum)
    그는 세계 제일의 축구 선수다. ― Geu-neun segye jeir-ui chukgu seonsu-da. ― He is the number one soccer player in the world.
    • 1992, “내 나라 제일로 좋아 [Nae nara jeillo joa, My country is the best]”, 최준경 (Choe Jun-gyeong) [Choi Joon Kyong] (lyrics):
      내 사는 내 나라 제일로 좋아!
      Nae saneun nae nara jeil-lo joa!
      The country I live in is the best!
      (literally, “I like my country I live in as number one!”)

Usage notes

The most common use of this is in front of an adjective or adjectival phrase, to denote superlativity.

A 2007 decision by the Patent Court of Korea found that while the superlative sense of 제일(第一) (jeil) is not distinctive, the use of 제일(第一) (jeil) in front of a noun is distinctive and can be protected by trademark.

Alternative forms
  • 젤 (jel) (contraction)

Derived terms
  • 제일(第一)가다 (jeilgada)
  • 제일권(第一權) (jeilgwon)
  • 제일보(第一步) (jeilbo)
  • 제일봉(第一峯) (jeilbong)
  • 제일선(第一線) (jeilseon)
  • 제일의(第一義) (jeirui)
  • 제일인(第一人) (jeirin)
  • 제일주의(第一主義) (jeiljuui)
  • 제일차(第一次) (jeilcha)

Descendants
  • → Mandarin: 賊拉／贼拉 (zéilā)

Etymology 2

Sino-Korean word from 祭日, from 祭 (“ceremony; memorial”) + 日 (“day”).

Pronunciation
  • (SK Standard/Seoul) IPA(key): [ˈt͡ɕe̞(ː)iɭ]
  • Phonetic hangul: [제(ː)일]
    • Though still prescribed in Standard Korean, most speakers in both Koreas no longer distinguish vowel length.
Romanizations
Revised Romanization?jeil
Revised Romanization (translit.)?jeil
McCune–Reischauer?cheil
Yale Romanization?cēyil

Noun

제일 • (jeil) (hanja 祭日)

  1. a celebratory or memorial day

Etymology 3

Sino-Korean word from 除 (“to remove”) + 日 (“day”), literally "the day that ends [the year]".

Pronunciation
Romanizations
Revised Romanization?jeil
Revised Romanization (translit.)?jeil
McCune–Reischauer?cheil
Yale Romanization?ceyil

Noun

제일 • (jeil) (hanja 除日)

  1. the last day of the lunar year; Lunar New Year's Eve
    Synonym: 섣달그믐 (seotdalgeumeum)
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