超
- to leap over, to surpass, to go beyond;
Etymology
It is a phono-semantic compound, consisting of:
走 (ju, “to run”) as the semantic element;
召 (so, “to call, to summon”) as the phonetic element.
Usage in Korean
When prefixed to a word, 超 adds the sense of “beyond, over, super-, extremely.” This is especially common in Japanese creative works, where adding 超 makes anything sound extraordinary.
In Korean too, the prefix exists, though less prominently in creative works. Instead, it is embedded in standard terms such as 초능력 (超能力, superpower) and 초음속 (超音速, supersonic). It is also widely used to translate European prefixes like super-, supra-, or related morphemes into Korean, e.g.:
초인 (超人) – superhuman
초분절음소 (超分節音素) – suprasegmental
초구조 / 상부구조 (superstructure) – depending on context
초월 (超越) – transcendence
초대형 (超大型) – super-large, oversized
- 土人尸竹口 (GOSHR)
- ⿺ 走 召