內
- inside;
- inner;
- within;
Etymology
Structure:
冂 (멀 경) – represents an enclosure or surrounding area;
入 (들 입) – functions as the phonetic element but also contributes meaning (“to enter”).
Meaning development:
Derived from the verb 入 (to enter).
When combined with 冂 (enclosure), it came to mean “that which is inside” → “inner, interior.”
Oracle bone & bronze inscriptions (金文 jinwen):
Originally written with 入 inside 冂, not overlapping.
In bronze script, 冂 sometimes resembled 宀 (the roof radical).
Clerical script (隸書 lìshū) onward:
Two forms developed: 內 (full form) and 内 (simplified form).
康熙字典 (강희자전) standardized 內 as the “proper” form.
Usage in Korean
It is widely used in compounds like 國內 (domestic), 內心 (inner heart), and 內外 (inside and outside).
Additional notes
內 and 入 are considered cognates (동계어) by some scholars.
Related characters believed to share this root:
入 (들 입) – to enter
納 (들일 납) – to receive, to accept
衲 (기울 납) – to mend
妠 (장가들 납) – to marry
Similar shape characters
Some people casually write 內 with 人 (person) (内) instead of 入 (enter) at the bottom. This substitution doesn’t change the meaning, but technically 入 is correct.
