연조비가사

Korean

Etymology

Sino-Korean word from 燕 (“kingdom of Yan”) + 趙 (“kingdom of Zhao”) + 悲歌 (“sad song”) + 士 (“knight, gentleman, scholar-official”). From the poem 『송동소남서/送董邵南序』, by the eighth- and ninth-century Chinese poet Han Yu:

燕趙古稱多感慨悲歌之士。 [Korean Literary Sinitic, trad.]

From: 送董邵南序

연조고칭다감개비가지사
Yeon Jo goching da gamgae biga ji sa. [Sino-Korean]

It is said of old that in Yan and Zhao, there are many knights who sing elegies of lamentation.

And from the poem 『봉협자/逢俠者』, by the eighth-century Chinese poet Qian Qi:

燕趙悲歌士，相逢^劇^孟家。寸心言不盡，前路日將斜。 [Korean Literary Sinitic, trad.]

From: 逢俠者

연조비가사 상봉극맹가 촌심언부진 전로일장사
Yeon Jo biga sa, sangbong Geung Maeng sa. Chonsim eon bujin, jeollo il jang sa. [Sino-Korean]

The gentlemen of Yan and Zhao sing many laments; I met Ju Meng in his home. I pour out my heart, but things remain unsaid. On the road ahead, the sun is setting.

Pronunciation

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

Romanizations
Revised Romanization?	yeonjobigasa
Revised Romanization (translit.)?	yeonjobigasa
McCune–Reischauer?	yŏnjobigasa
Yale Romanization?	yēn.copikasa

Noun

연조비가사 • (yeonjobigasa) (hanja 燕趙悲歌士)

1. (four-character idiom from Classical Chinese) intellectuals worrying about the fate of their country

   Synonym: 우국지사(憂國之士) (ugukjisa)