Comparative Study Of Sino-Korean Words In 《Primary Korean》 And Chinese Words

Korea, geographically near China, produced Sino-Korean words by adopting Chinese Characters as its own national characters early before Anno Domini. Sino-Korean words had been used extensively and played an irreplaceable role in Korean even after the King Sejeong created the Korean script at the mid-15th century. So, it is a significant work to study Sino-Korean words and compare them with Chinese words systematically. This thesis deals with the study of 《Primary Korean》 edited by the Korean department of YanBian University. This schoolbook is directed mainly at non-Korean peoples, especially at Chinese peoples. The most elementary words and the words occured the most frequently in the learning course of non—Korean peoples are embodied in the book. The author found all the Sino-Korean words in the book and compared them with Chinese words from morphology and semanteme.In the first chapter, the subject, purpose and significance of the study have been expatiated. The foregone methods, findings and reference data have been narrated too.In the second chapter, all the Sino-Korean words have been divided into four classes from morphology: identical words, reverse words, similar words and words formed by Chinese characters but not appeared in Chinese. On the basis of division, each class has been divided into different categories. And the reason why it has morphological differences between Sino-Korean words and Chinese words has been analyzed.In the third chapter, identical words have been divided into synonymy and homograph from semanteme. On the basis of division, the synonymy has beendivided into absolute synonymy and relative synonymy, and the homograph has been divided into partial homograph and absolute homograph according to the differences of application area and sense of language. Further, partial homograph has been classified into three parts: has the other meaning in Chinese besides the common meaning, has the other meaning in Korean besides the common meaning and has additional meanings both in Korean and Chinese besides the common meaning.The identical words between Sino-Korean and Chinese can be an advantage for the learners both in Korea and in China. However, it can be a disadvantage if we don't know or ignore the subtle difference of the meanings. I sincerely hope this study could contribute the reference to the people who are leaning Korean or Chinese although it has some shortages.