• bearing, demeanor, conduct;
  • rule, law, ceremony, etiquette;

Etymology

Phono-semantic compound:

人 (사람 인, “person”) — semantic, indicating human action or conduct.

義 (옳을 의, “righteousness, justice”) — phonetic, lending the sound 의 / yí.

Thus the character conveys “human conduct in accordance with righteousness”, later extended to etiquette, ceremonial law, and appearance.

The semantic emphasis shifted over time from “personal conduct” to “ritual and etiquette”, “formal appearance and instruments.”

Usage in Korean

Used in words relating to ceremony, dignity, or instruments.

儀式 (의식) — ceremony, rite

儀態 (의태) — bearing, comportment

儀器 (의기) — instrument, apparatus

威儀 (위의) — dignity, stately bearing

儀容 (의용) — appearance, countenance

거동
geodong
ui
Kangxi radical:9, + 13
Strokes:15
Unicode:U+5100
Cangjie input:
  • 人廿土戈 (OTGI)
Composition:
  • ⿰ 亻 義

Neighboring characters in the dictionary

References

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