[Daily Thousand Characters] Park Ilhwan's "Discovery of Onomatopoeic and Mimetic Words" <3>

Editor's NoteThe reason Korean has so many onomatopoeic and mimetic words is that it can create a wide variety of related words by changing vowels and consonants. For example, if you change the vowel in "gamotgamot," it becomes "geomutgeomut," and if you change the consonant in "geomutgeomut," it turns into "kkeomutkkeomut." In the same way, "bindungbindung" leads to "bandungbandung," "baendungbaendung," and "beondungbeondung," and further branches out to "ppindungppindung," "ppandungppandung," "ppaendungppaendung," "ppeondungppeondung," "pindungpindung," "pandungpandung," "paendungpaendung," and "peondungpeondung." Witnessing this, one cannot help but feel a sense of wonder. This ability to reveal subtle differences in nuance is a strength of Korean onomatopoeic and mimetic words. Today, we will explore the meanings and origins of "buryaburya" and "buryasarya." Character count: 950.

There is a saying that if a burglar breaks into your house and you shout "Burglar!" no one from the neighboring houses will come out, but if you shout "Fire!" everyone rushes out. This is because, while a burglary affects only that particular house, a fire can easily spread to neighboring homes. Moreover, in most cases, it is impossible to put out a fire alone. That is why, when someone’s house is on fire or when they witness a fire, they run around urgently, alerting others and calling for help. In such moments, the desperate cry that comes out is "Fire! Fire!" This urgent shout was eventually shortened to the following word.

Buryaburya: In a very hurried and rushed manner.

If a fire is not contained in its early stages, it spreads in an instant. In situations where every second counts, there is no room for dawdling or taking things easy. While "fire! fire!" was shortened to "buryaburya," the original sense of the word has faded over time. Additionally, whereas "fire! fire!" was a direct transcription of an urgent shout, "buryaburya" is not an onomatopoeic word but rather a mimetic one. As the definition shows, it describes the manner of hurrying, not the sound itself.

While "buryaburya" is a familiar expression in everyday use, "buryasarya," which has a similar meaning, is not used as often.

Buryasarya: In a very bustling and hurried manner.

Not only are "buryaburya" and "buryasarya" similar in form, but the way these words originated is also quite alike. "Buryasarya" is a shortened form of the phrase shouted in emergencies: "fire! arrow!" Here, "sal" (arrow) refers to an arrow. Just as a fire creates a sense of urgency, so does the situation when arrows are flying. In fact, the speed of a flying arrow is incomparable to the speed at which a fire spreads. This highlights just how urgent such a situation would be. The adverb "ssonsalgati" (like a shot arrow) also draws on the speed of a flying arrow. It means "as fast as a shot arrow," but as times changed and guns, which are faster than arrows, appeared, the expression "chongalgati" (like a bullet) has come into use.

- Park Ilhwan, , Saramin, 17,000 won