보통

Korean

Etymology

Sino-Korean word from 普通, from 普 (“universal”) + 通 (“pass through”). Cognate with Japanese 普通(ふつう) (futsū, “common, ordinary”).

Pronunciation

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

Romanizations
Revised Romanization?	botong
Revised Romanization (translit.)?	botong
McCune–Reischauer?	pot'ong
Yale Romanization?	pō.thong

Noun

보통 • (botong) (hanja 普通)

1. averageness, normality, usuality, generality, commonness, ordinariness, regularness

   Synonym: 평범(平凡) (pyeongbeom)

   보통 명사 ― botong myeongsa ― common noun

Adverb

보통 • (botong)

1. typically, commonly, usually, generally, in general

Derived terms

• 보통(普通)사람 (botongsaram, “layperson, everyman”)
• 보통명사(普通名詞) (botongmyeongsa, “common noun”)