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Definition 2024


U+3139, ㄹ
HANGUL LETTER RIEUL

[U+3138]
Hangul Compatibility Jamo
[U+313A]
Stroke order

Korean

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /l/, [ɾ], [l], [ɭ]]
  • Phonetic hangul:

Symbol

(r)

  1. 리을 (rieul, “rieul”), a letter of the Korean writing system, hangeul; the alveolar flap or approximant ([ɾ], [l])
Usage notes

In the North Korean order, it is the fourth jamo. In the South Korean order, it is the sixth.

See also

Etymology 2

Pronunciation

Suffix

(-l)

  1. that will; who will
    (suffix forming future determiner)
    친구에게 선물chin-gu-ege jul seonmul ― the gift that (I) will give to (my) friend
  2. that; who
    (suffix forming determiner without tense)
    비가 bi-ga ol ttaewhen it rains (literally: times when it rains)
Usage notes

- (l/r, “-l”) is appended to the sequential form. Similar to a future participle, the future determiner indicates that the referent of the following substantive will perform the action described by the verb to which - (l/r, “-l”) is attached:

  • 가다 (gada, “to go”): (gani, “ga-”) + (l): (gal, “who will go; that sb will go to/at/by...”)
  • 묻다 (mutda, “to inquire”): 물으 (mureuni, “mureu-”) + (l): 물을 (mureul, “who will inquire; that sb will inquire”)
  • 날다 (nalda, “to fly”): 니/ (nani/nalmyeon, “na-/nal-”) + (l): (nal, “that will fly”)

The suffix -ㄹ (-l) is frequently used along with several dependent nouns, such as (geot, “thing”) and (ttae, “time”), for grammatical purposes. It can either denote the future tense, or nothing:

  • (future, intention) 친구이번 기회고향 라고 했다. (Geu chin-guneun ibeon gihoee gohyangjibeul chajeul geosirago haetda., “He said he will visit his hometown by this chance.”)
  • (future, guess) 차가 같다. (Muri chagaul geot gatda., “I guess the water is cold.”)
    cf. 물이 차가 것 같다. (Muri chagaun geot gatda., “The water seems cold.”) / 물이 차가 같다. (Muri chagawosseul geot gatda., “I guess the water was cold.”)
    물이 차가 것 같다. (Muri chagaul geot gatatda., “I guessed the water was cold.”) / 물이 차가 것 같다. (Muri chagawosseul geot gatatda., “I guessed the water had been cold.”)
  • (no tense) 그가 하 믿 만한 것이 있 가 없다. (Geuga haneun mal jung-e mideul manhan geosi isseul riga eopda., “Among the words he says, what is worth believing cannot ever exist.”)
  • (no tense) 목발은 이나 다리다쳐 사용한다. (Mokbareun barina darireul dachyeo jal georeul su eopseul ttae sayonghanda., “We use crutches when we don't walk well due to foot or leg injuries.”)