Korean

Syllable

리 • ‎(ri)

1. A Hangul syllabic block made up of ㄹ and ㅣ.

Etymology 2

Suffix

리 • ‎(ri)

1. a suffix deriving a passive verb.
   • 그가 가방을 든다. (Geuga gabang-eul deunda., “He carries a bag.”) → 가방이 그에게 들린다. (Gabang-i geuege deullinda., “The bag is carried by him.”)

Suffix

리 • ‎(ri)

1. a suffix deriving a causative verb.
   • 그가 가방을 든다. (Geuga gabang-eul deunda., “He carries a bag.”) → 그녀가 그에게 가방을 들린다. (Geunyeoga geuege gabang-eul deullinda., “She has him carry the bag.”)

Etymology 3

Suffix

리 • ‎(-ri-)

1. (obsolete) I guess sb will ...
   • 그는 벌써 저녁을 먹었으리라. (Geuneun beolsseo jeonyeogeul meogeosseurira., “He might have had dinner already.”)
2. (obsolete) I/We will ...
   • 내 속히 다녀오리다. (Nae sokhi danyeoorida., “I'll be back soon.”)

Suffix

리 • ‎(-ri)

1. (obsolete) I guess sb will ...
2. (obsolete) I/We will ...
   • 세상이 나를 절망케 해도 나는 살아가리. (Sesang-i nareul jeolmangke haedo naneun saragari., “Even with the world frustrating me, I shall live.”)
3. (obsolete) How on earth will I/we ...?
   • 나라를 빼앗겼거늘, 어찌 가만히 있을 수 있으리? (Narareul ppaeatgyeotgeoneul, eojji gamanhi isseul su isseuri?, “The nation being deprived of, how on earth could we stay motionless?”)

Usage notes

The suffix -ri- is followed only by specific suffixes, including -da, -ra, -ni, -nira, therefore making combined suffixes like -rida, -rira, -rini, -rinira.

The suffix -ri takes the sequential form, and if the stem ends in ㄹ (l), the ㄹ (l) does not fall out.

Etymology 4

Noun

리 • ‎(ri) ‎(hanja 理)

1. (dependent) reason, logic, (with negation) even the slightest possibility
   • 그럴 리가 없다! (Geureol riga eopda!, “That can't be true!”)
   • 주인공이 죽을 리가 있겠냐? (Ju-in-gong-i jugeul riga itgennya?, “Do you think the main character can ever die?”)

Noun

리 • ‎(ri) ‎(hanja 里)

1. A village.

   (Administrative divisions of South Korea) 리 ‎(ri), 동 ‎(dong), 면 ‎(myeon), 읍 ‎(eup), 구 ‎(gu), 군 ‎(gun), 시 ‎(si), 도 ‎(do)

2. (unit) Li (0.393 kilometers).

Proper noun

리 • ‎(Ri) ‎(hanja 李)

1. The second most common Korean surname - the North Korean spelling.

Usage notes

• Most commonly romanized as Lee. Other romanizations include Li, Yi, Ri, and Rhee. Due to the phonology of the South Korean, the spelling 이 ‎(i) is used in South Korea.

Suffix

-리 • ‎(ri) ‎(hanja 裡, 裏)

1. in the center of

Derived terms

• 성황리 (盛況裏, seonghwangni)
• 절찬리 (絶讚裡, jeolchalli)