Comparative analysis of the concept of “child” in Mongolian and Korean expressions

Figures & data

Table 1. Words and definitions expressing the concept of “child” in Mongolian and Korean

Language	Words expressing the concept of “child”	Definitions of the concept of “child”
Mongolian	Хүүхэд(Child), хүү(Son), охин (Daughter), хөвгүүн(Boy), үр зулзага(Baby), жаал(Boy)	“Young boys and girls.” (Short glossary of the Mongolian language, 1966, 2013)
Korean	아이(Child1), 아기(Child2), 어린이(Child3), 아동(child4), 아들(Son), 딸(Daughter), 자식(child; offspring) 새끼(Baby)	“A person of a young age” (국어대사전Dictionary of native language, 2004)

Table 2. Word origins conveying the concept of “child” in Mongolian and Korean

Language	Mongolian	Korean
Form	*kü>*kegü > *kegü > *kebü: > kewü: > ke’ü: > kö’ü: > kü’ü: > kü: (= MM. kü:n) > CM. xú:(Soronzon, 2013, p.145)	*ač > *ači > *aǯi > ayi/aki
Meaning	xú: “A new person is created by separating from the mother’s body”	ači: the beginning of something new
Interpretation	The word “child” in modern Mongolian is derived from a plural suffix (“-d”) attached to a root morpheme “kü:, kü:ken” (son, daughter)	The words aki and ayi come from the root morpheme ač. By attaching a noun-forming suffix(–i) to the root morpheme, the word form ayi (child) derives from the sound interchange ači.

Table 3. Conceptual representations of the concept of “child” in Mongolian dream interpretations

Dream interpretation	Conceptual representation	Metaphor
Тоглож буй хүүхэд зүүдэлбэл бие сэтгэл амаржиж, өлзий буян дэлгэрнэ. Togloj bui khüükhed züüdelbel biye setgel amarjij, ölzii buyan delgerne. “If you have a dream about a child playing, your body and mind will feel relaxed, and you will experience good deeds.”	Goodness	A child is a blessing
Олон балчир эрэгтэй хүүхэд зүүдэлбэл мөнгөтэй болно. Olon balchir eregtei khüükhed züüdelbel möngötei bolno. “If you dream about many young boys, you will come into a great deal of money.”	Wealth, welfare
Хүүхэд өлгийдөж байна гэж зүүдэлбэл олз олно. Khüükhed ölgiidöj baina gej züüdelbel olz olno. “If you dream that you are swaddling a baby, this means you will receive something.”	Benefits
Нялх эрэгтэй хүүхэд зүүдэлбэл сайн хүнтэй танилцана. Nyalkh eregtei khüükhed züüdelbel sain khüntei taniltsana. “If you dream about a baby boy, you will meet a good person.”	Good fortune
Хүүхэд зодож байна гэж зүүдэлбэл таагүй хэрэг болно. Khüükhed zodoj baina gej züüdelbel taagüi khereg bolno. “If you dream of beating a child, it will be a bad thing.”	Result and reason
Эцэг эх нь алс яваа хүүгээ холуур дуугүй өнгөрөв гэж зүүдэлбэл ажил төрөл нь бүтэмжтэй тэднээс сайн мэдээ ирнэ. Etseg ekh ni als yavaa khüügee kholuur duugüi öngöröv gej züüdelbel ajil töröl ni bütemjtei, tednees sain medee irne. “If parents dream that their distant son has gone away without a word, good news will come.”	Successful job, happiness

Table 4. Conceptual representations of children in Mongolian proverbs

Proverbs	Conceptual representation	Metaphor
Бадам цэцгийн нахиа зөөлөн Бага хүүхдийн гар зөөлөн Badam tsetsgiin nakhia zöölön Baga khüükhdiin gar zöölön ‘The shoots of the lotus are soft The hands of a child are soft.’	Loving, kind	Flower
Хүний бага адтай, хүлгийн бага хурдтай Khünii baga adtai, khülgiin baga khurdtai ‘The youngest one is smart The youngest baby horse is fast.’	smart, healthy	Offspring of an animal
Төрөөд өсөхөд ээж аав түшиг Өсгөөд өтлөхөд үр хүүхэд түшиг Törööd ösökhöd eej aav tüshig Ösgööd ötlökhöd ür khüükhed tüshig ‘Parents are supportive when a child is born and grows up. Children are supportive when old age comes.’	Precious	Support
Хүүхэд нэг эрдэнэ, хүмүүжил мянган эрдэнэ Khüükhed neg erdene, khümüüjil myangan erdene “A child is a treasure; good breeding is a thousand treasures.”	Important	Jewel
Цэцэгт ус хэрэгтэй, хүүхдэд ном хэрэгтэй Tsetsegt us keregtei, khüükhded nom kheregtei “Flowers need water; children need education.”	Crucial	Wisdom
Сайн морь унаганаасаа, сайн хүн хүүхдээсээ Sain mori unaganaasaa, sain khün khüükhdeesee “A good horse comes from a foal; a good man comes from a child.”	Good breeding	Innocent

Table 5. Conceptual representations in Mongolian riddles involving the concept of “child”

Riddles	Metaphorical entity	Meaning of the metaphor
Булгийн эхэнд бугын шагай Bulgiin ekhend bugiin shagai “The anklebone of a deer lays at the beginning of spring.”	Anklebone	Small, cute
Мэдэхгүй газраас танихгүй айлчин ирэх Medekhgui gajraas tanikhgui ailchin irekh “An unfamiliar visitor comes from unknown places.”	Visitor, guest	Respected, honored
Орон дээр онхи цэцэг, дэрэн дээр дэлбээ цэцэг Oron deer onkhi tsetseg, deren deer delbee tsetseg “A fresh flower is on the bed; a flower with petals is on the pillow.”	Flower	Beautiful, precious
Алт мөнгө байвч авдагүй баян, арслан заан ирэвч айдаггүй баатар Alt möngö baivch avdaggui bayan, arslan zaan irevch aidaggui baatar ‘A person is rich who does not take gold and silver; a brave hero is one who is not scared of the mammoth coming toward him.’	Rich person, hero	Valuable, naive
Үхэг дотор алтан шагай ükheg dotor altan shagai “A golden anklebone in a chest of drawers.” (nomadic chest—described as a container for carrying a baby during the migration)	Anklebone (golden)	Priceless, cute
Холоос ирсэн айлчин 2 богц хоолтой Kholoos irsen ailchin 2 bogts khooltoi “A guest from afar has 2 packages of food.”	Visitor, guest	Honorary
Орон дээр олгой шар тос Oron deer olgoi shar tos “Ghee is on the bed.” (Ghee is Mongolian butter extracted from the large intestines of the five kinds of livestock)	Ghee	Extract

Table 6. Conceptual representations of the concept of “child” in Korean dream interpretations

Dream interpretation	Representations	Metaphor
꿈에 갓난아기를 낳으면 작은 성취를 이루거나 새로운 사업을 시작하게 된다. ggume gasnanagireur naheumyeon jageun seongcheuiruer irugeona saeroun saeobeur sijaghage doenda. “If you dream that you are giving birth to a baby, your task will be accomplished or you will get a new job.”	Wishes, well-being	Children as jobs
꿈에안색이좋지않은아이가나오면안좋은일이생길수있다. ggume ansaegi johji anheun aiga naomyeon an joheun iri saenggir su issda. “If you dream about a child with a dark complexion, you will become involved in unpleasant activities that people do not like.”	Obstacles
갓난아기를때리는꿈을꾸면일거리에변화가생긴다 gasnanagireur ddaerineun ggumeur ggumyeon irgeorie byeonhwaga saengginda. “If you dream that you are beating a child, there will be a change in your job.”	Changes will come
꿈에아이를죽이면애정을가지고하던일이무산된다. ggume aireur jugimyeon aejeongeur gajigo hadeon iri musan doenda. “If you dream that you kill a child, you will achieve a goal you are working on with passion.”	Passion and purpose
아이가우는꿈은행운이오고하는일에도움과이익등이생깁니다. aiga uneun ggumeun haenguni ogo haneun ire doumgwa iig deungi saenggibnida. “If you see or meet a child who is crying in your dream, you may get lucky and some kind of help for what you are doing.”	Beneficence
아기가웃는꿈은위험, 사고등에주의를요합니다. Agiga usneun ggumeun wiheom, sago deunge jueuireur yohabnida. “If you see or meet a child who is smiling at you in a dream, you should be cautious about a dangerous accident that might happen to you.”	Care and awareness

Table 7. Conceptual representations of the concept of “child” in Korean proverbs

Proverbs	Representations	Metaphors
아이와장독은얼지않는다 Aiwa jangdogeun eorji anhneunda. “Neither child nor jangdog ever freeze.”	Healthy	Pickle container
아이들이아니면웃을일이없다 Aideuri animyeon useur iri eobsda. “Only children make you laughter.”	Dear, adorable	Laughter, joy
아이가진떡 Ai gajin ddeog. “A ddeog keeps in a child.” (Ddeog—rice cake or traditional Korean rice cake)	Inexperienced, powerless	Ddeok
아이자라어른된다. Ai jara eoreun doenda. “Children grow up to be adults.”	Grow up	Future
어른아이는오이크듯자란다 Oereun aineun oi keudeus jaranda “Babies grow up like cucumbers.”	Healthy	Cucumbers
술 취한 사람과 아이는 거짓말을 안 한다. Sul chwihan saramgwa aineun geojismareur an handa. “Neither drunken men nor children ever lie.”	Innocent, honest	Symbol of honesty and justice

Table 8. Conceptual representations in Korean riddles involving the concept of “child”

Riddle	Metaphorical entity	Meaning of the metaphor
먼밭에아이업고줄지어서있는것은? Meon bate ai eobgo jurjieo seoissneun guseun? “What is a thing that carries a baby in a field?”	Corn	Small, cute
늙은이는울면서먹고어린이는웃으면서먹는것은? Neurgeunineun urmyeonseo meoggo, eorinineun usmyeonseo meogneun geoseun? “An older person eats by crying, but a child eats by laughing.”	Age	Food
아주어린애도없고아주노인도없는것은? Aju eorinaedo eobgo, aju noindo eobneun geoseun? “Neither a baby nor an older person has it?”	Teeth	A similar characteristic describes a baby and an older person
한국아이들이가장좋아하는기름은? (오월오일-5월 5일) Hangug aideuri gajang johahaneun gireumeun? Which oil is the favorite of children in Korea? Owul oil (oil means the 5^th day of the month in Korean; May 5 is Children’s Day in Korea)	Extract	Supreme and nutritious
아기가신을낳았다. Agiga sineur nahassda. “A newborn baby is a god” A baby that is just born. (sini means that a baby is just born)	God	Worthy
아이들이가장좋아하는동네이름은무엇일까요? (방학동) Aideuri gajang johahaneun dongne ireumeun mueosirggayo? ‘What is the name of the town that the children like the most? Banghakddong (the name of a town in Korea).’	The main place	Ideal place

Soronzon, D. (2013). Mongol khelnii khünii eshiin neriin utga, bütets, garlyn sudalgaa. [The Study of Etymology, Structure and Meaning of Mongolian kingship and relationship terms]. Doctoral dissertation. Mongolian National University of Education.

 Google Scholar