제일

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

• (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.

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.

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!”)

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. [1]

• 젤 (jel) (contraction)

• → Mandarin: 賊拉／贼拉 (zéilā)
  • ⇒ Mandarin: 賊／贼

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

• (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.

제일 • (jeil) (hanja 祭日)

1. a celebratory or memorial day

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

• (SK Standard/Seoul) IPA^(key): [t͡ɕe̞iɭ]
• Phonetic hangul: [제일]

제일 • (jeil) (hanja 除日)

1. the last day of the lunar year; Lunar New Year's Eve

   Synonym: 섣달그믐 (seotdalgeumeum)