# 구

| 구 | U+AD6C, &#44396; HANGUL SYLLABLE GU |
| Composition: | ㄱ + ㅜ |
| ← 굫 [U+AD6B] | Hangul Syllables | 국 → [U+AD6D] |
(see above for verbal suffixes)
구국굮굯군굱굲 굳굴굵굶굷굸굹 굺굻굼굽굾굿궀 궁궂궃궄궅궆궇 :
| 교 ← | → 궈 |

## Korean
### Etymology 1

Sino-Korean word from 九 (“nine”).

#### Pronunciation

* (SK Standard/Seoul) IPA: [ku]
* Phonetic hangul: [구]

#### Numeral

구 • (gu) (hanja 九)
* (Sino-Korean numeral) nine

##### Usage notes

In modern Korean, numbers are usually written in Arabic numerals.
The Korean language has two sets of numerals: a native set of numerals inherited from Old Korean, and a Sino-Korean set which was borrowed from Middle Chinese in the first millennium C.E.
Native classifiers take native numerals.
* 개 한 마리 (gae han mari, “one dog”, native numeral)
* 나무 두 그루 (namu du geuru, “two trees”, native numeral)
Some Sino-Korean classifiers take native numerals, others take Sino-Korean numerals, while yet others take both.
* 종이 두 장(張) (jong'i du jang, “two sheets of paper”, native numeral)
* 이 분(分) (i bun, “two minutes”, Sino-Korean numeral)
* 서른/삼십 명(名) (seoreun/samsip myeong, “thirty people”, both sets possible)
Recently loaned classifiers generally take Sino-Korean numerals.
* 일 킬로미터 (il killomiteo, “one kilometer”, Sino-Korean numeral)
For many terms, a native numeral has a quantifying sense, whereas a Sino-Korean numeral has a sense of labeling.
* 세 반(班) (se ban, “three school classes”, native numeral)
* 삼 반(班) (sam ban, “Class Number Three”, Sino-Korean numeral)
When used in isolation, native numerals refer to objects of that number and are used in counting and quantifying, whereas Sino-Korean numerals refer to the numbers in a more mathematical sense.
* 하나만 더 주세요 (hana-man deo juse-yo, “Could you give me just one more, please”, native numeral)
* 일 더하기 일은? (il deohagi ir-eun?, “What's one plus one?”, Sino-Korean numeral)
While older stages of Korean had native numerals up to the thousands, native numerals currently exist only up to ninety-nine, and Sino-Korean is used for all higher numbers. There is also a tendency—particularly among younger speakers—to uniformly use Sino-Korean numerals for the higher tens as well, so that native numerals such as 일흔 (ilheun, “seventy”) or 아흔 (aheun, “ninety”) are becoming less common.

##### Derived terms

* See the hanja entry at 九 for Sino-Korean compounds of 구 (九, gu).

### Etymology 2

Sino-Korean word from 球 (“ball, sphere”).

#### Pronunciation

* (SK Standard/Seoul) IPA: [ku]
* Phonetic hangul: [구]

#### Noun

구 • (gu) (hanja 球)
* sphere

##### Derived terms

* See the hanja entry at 球 for Sino-Korean compounds of 구 (球, gu).

##### See also

* 공 (gong, “ball”)

### Etymology 3

Sino-Korean word from 舊 (“former, old”).

#### Pronunciation

* (SK Standard/Seoul) IPA: [ku(ː)]
* Phonetic hangul: [구(ː)]
** Though still prescribed in Standard Korean, most speakers in both Koreas no longer distinguish vowel length.

#### Determiner

구 • (gu) (hanja 舊)
* former; defunct
    Antonym: 신(新) (sin, “new”)
    구시대 ― gusidae ― former period; bygone period
    구 소련 ― gu Soryeon ― the former Soviet Union

##### Usage notes

* Before most common nouns, it is written without spaces as a prefix.

##### Derived terms

* See the hanja entry at 舊 for Sino-Korean compounds of 구 (舊, gu).

### Etymology 4

Sino-Korean word from 區 (“area, district”).

#### Pronunciation

* (SK Standard/Seoul) IPA: [ku]
* Phonetic hangul: [구]

#### Noun

구 • (gu) (hanja 區)
* ward, district; administrative division of a large city.

##### Coordinate terms

* 구(區) (gu)
* 군(郡) (gun)
* 도(道) (do)
* 동(洞) (dong)
* 리(里) (ri)
* 면(面) (myeon)
* 시(市) (si)
* 읍(邑) (eup)

##### Derived terms

* See the hanja entry at 區 for Sino-Korean compounds of 구 (區, gu).

### Etymology 5

Sino-Korean word from 具 (“classifier for coffins, corpses”).

#### Pronunciation

* (SK Standard/Seoul) IPA: [ku]
* Phonetic hangul: [구]

#### Counter

구 • (gu) (hanja 具)
* Used to count corpses.

##### Usage notes

* Usually takes native numerals.

##### Derived terms

* See the hanja entry at 具 for Sino-Korean compounds of 구 (具, gu).

#### Proper noun

구 • (Gu) (hanja 具)
* a surname

### Etymology 6

Sino-Korean word from 口 (“mouth, hole”).

#### Counter

구 • (gu) (hanja 口)
* (obsolete) Used to count family members.

#### Suffix

—구 • (-gu) (hanja 口)
* gateway
    ‎출입(出入) (churip, “coming and going”) + ‎구(口) (gu) → ‎출입구(出入口) (churipgu, “entrance/exit”)
    ‎비상(非常) (bisang, “emergency”) + ‎구(口) (gu) → ‎비상구(非常口) (bisanggu, “emergency exit”)

#### Derived terms

* See the hanja entry at 口 for Sino-Korean compounds of 구 (口, gu).

### Etymology 7

Sino-Korean word from 俱 (“tool”).

#### Suffix

—구 • (-gu) (hanja 俱)
* tool for...

##### Derived terms

* See the hanja entry at 俱 for Sino-Korean compounds of 구 (俱, gu).

### Etymology 8

Sino-Korean word from 溝.

#### Numeral

구 • (gu) (hanja 溝)
* (rare) the number 10$^{32}$

##### Derived terms

* See the hanja entry at 溝 for Sino-Korean compounds of 구 (溝, gu).

### Etymology 9

Modern Korean reading of various Chinese characters.

#### Syllable

구 • (gu)
* 丘: small hill
    (eumhun reading: 언덕 구 (eondeok gu)) (MC reading: 丘 (MC khjuw))
* 丠:
    (MC reading: 丠 (MC khjuw))
* 丩:
    (MC reading: 丩 (MC kjuw))
* 久: to be long
    (eumhun reading: 오랠 구 (orael gu)) (MC reading: 久 (MC kjuwX))
* 乆:
    (MC reading: 乆)
* 九: nine
    (eumhun reading: 아홉 구 (ahop gu)) (MC reading: 九 (MC kjuwX))
* 仇:
    (MC reading: 仇 (MC gjuw))
* 佉:
    (MC reading: 佉 (MC khja))
* 佝:
    (MC reading: 佝 (MC xuwH))
* 俅:
    (MC reading: 俅 (MC gjuw))
* 俱: accompany, together
    (eumhun reading: 함께 구 (hamkke gu)) (MC reading: 俱 (MC kju))
* 倃:
    (MC reading: 倃 (MC kaw|gjuwX))
* 傴:
    (MC reading: 傴 (MC 'juX))
* 具: tool
    (eumhun reading: 갖출 구 (gatchul gu)) (MC reading: 具 (MC gjuH))
* 冓:
    (MC reading: 冓 (MC kuw|kuwH))
* 劬:
    (MC reading: 劬 (MC gju))
* 劶:
    (MC reading: 劶)
* 勼:
    (MC reading: 勼 (MC kjuw))
* 勾:
    (MC reading: 勾 (MC kuw|kuwH))
* 匓:
    (MC reading: 匓)
* 匛:
    (MC reading: 匛)
* 匶:
    (MC reading: 匶 (MC gjuwH))
* 区:
    (MC reading: 区)
* 區: area; district; region; ward
    (eumhun reading: 구역 구 (guyeok gu)) (MC reading: 區 (MC khju|'uw))
* 厩:
    (MC reading: 厩)
* 句: sentence; phrase
    (eumhun reading: 글귀 구 (geulgwi gu)) (MC reading: 句 (MC gju|kuw|kjuH|kuwH))
* 叴:
    (MC reading: 叴 (MC gjuw))
* 呴:
    (MC reading: 呴 (MC xuwX|xjuH))
* 咎:
    (MC reading: 咎 (MC kaw|gjuwX))
* 嘔:
    (MC reading: 嘔 (MC 'uw|'uwX))
* 坵:
    (MC reading: 坵)
* 坸:
    (MC reading: 坸)
* 垢:
    (MC reading: 垢 (MC kuwX))
* 夻: a cod
    (eumhun reading: 대구 구 (daegu gu)) (MC reading: 夻)
* 姤:
    (MC reading: 姤 (MC kuwH))
* 媾:
    (MC reading: 媾 (MC kuwH))
* 柩: coffin
    (eumhun reading: 널 구 (neol gu)) (MC reading: 柩 (MC gjuwH))
* 枸:
    (MC reading: 枸 (MC kuw|kjuX|kuwX))
* 昫:
    (MC reading: 昫 (MC xjuH))
* 旧:
    (MC reading: 旧)
* 救: save, rescue; help
    (eumhun reading: 건질 구 (geonjil gu)) (MC reading: 救 (MC kjuwH))
* 摳:
    (MC reading: 摳 (MC khju|khuw))
* 搆:
    (MC reading: 搆 (MC kuwH))
* 捄:
    (MC reading: 捄 (MC kju|gjuw))
* 拘: restrain, seize, detain
    (eumhun reading: 잡을 구 (jabeul gu)) (MC reading: 拘 (MC kju))
* 拒:
    (MC reading: 拒 (MC gjoX))
* 扣:
    (MC reading: 扣 (MC khuwX|khuwH))
* 戵:
    (MC reading: 戵 (MC gju))
* 懼: fear; be afraid of; dread
    (eumhun reading: 두려워할 구 (duryeowohal gu)) (MC reading: 懼 (MC gjuH))
* 彀:
    (MC reading: 彀 (MC kuwH))
* 廐:
    (MC reading: 廐)
* 廏: stable
    (eumhun reading: 마구간 구 (magugan gu)) (MC reading: 廏)
* 廄:
    (MC reading: 廄 (MC kjuwH))
* 嶇:
    (MC reading: 嶇 (MC khju))
* 岣:
    (MC reading: 岣 (MC kju|kuwX))
* 屨:
    (MC reading: 屨 (MC kjuH))
* 寇: bandit; thief; invader
    (eumhun reading: 도둑 구 (doduk gu)) (MC reading: 寇 (MC khuwH))
* 嫗:
    (MC reading: 嫗 (MC 'juH))
* 柾:
    (MC reading: 柾)
* 榘:
    (MC reading: 榘 (MC kjuX))
* 構:
    (MC reading: 構 (MC kuwH))
* 歐: Europe
    (eumhun reading: 구라파 구 (gurapa gu)) (MC reading: 歐 (MC 'uw|'uwX))
* 毆:
    (MC reading: 毆 (MC 'uwX))
* 毬:
    (MC reading: 毬 (MC gjuw))
* 求: request, wish
    (eumhun reading: 구할 구 (guhal gu)) (MC reading: 求 (MC gjuw))
* 溝:
    (MC reading: 溝 (MC kuw))
* 漚:
    (MC reading: 漚 (MC 'uw|'uwH))
* 灸:
    (MC reading: 灸 (MC kjuwX|kjuwH))
* 狗: dog
    (eumhun reading: 개 구 (gae gu)) (MC reading: 狗 (MC kuwX))
* 玖:
    (MC reading: 玖 (MC kjuwX))
* 球: ball
    (eumhun reading: 공 구 (gong gu)) (MC reading: 球 (MC gjuw))
* 璆: beautiful jade; twinkle
    (eumhun reading: 아름다운 옥 구 (areumdaun ok gu)) (MC reading: 璆 (MC gjuw|gjiw))
* 甌:
    (MC reading: 甌 (MC 'uw))
* 疚:
    (MC reading: 疚 (MC kjuwH))
* 痀:
    (MC reading: 痀 (MC kju))
* 癯:
    (MC reading: 癯 (MC gju))
* 瞿:
    (MC reading: 瞿 (MC gju|kjuH))
* 矩:
    (MC reading: 矩 (MC kjuX))
* 穀:
    (MC reading: 穀 (MC kuwk))
* 究: examine, investigate
    (eumhun reading: 연구할 구 (yeon'guhal gu)) (MC reading: 究 (MC kjuwH))
* 窛:
    (MC reading: 窛)
* 窶:
    (MC reading: 窶 (MC gjuX))
* 篝: old
    (eumhun reading: 예 구 (ye gu)) (MC reading: 篝 (MC kuw))
* 糗: careless; illicit; if, but, if only
    (eumhun reading: 진실로 구 (jinsillo gu)) (MC reading: 糗 (MC khjuwX))
* 絿:
    (MC reading: 絿 (MC gjuw))
* 耇:
    (MC reading: 耇 (MC kuwX))
* 耈:
    (MC reading: 耈)
* 耉:
    (MC reading: 耉)
* 胊:
    (MC reading: 胊)
* 臼:
    (MC reading: 臼 (MC gjuwX))
* 舅:
    (MC reading: 舅 (MC gjuwX))
* 舊:
    (MC reading: 舊 (MC gjuwH))
* 苟:
    (MC reading: 苟 (MC kuwX))
* 蒟:
    (MC reading: 蒟 (MC kjuX|kjuH))
* 蚯:
    (MC reading: 蚯 (MC khjuw))
* 衢:
    (MC reading: 衢 (MC gju))
* 裘:
    (MC reading: 裘 (MC gjuw))
* 覯:
    (MC reading: 覯 (MC kuwH))
* 詬:
    (MC reading: 詬 (MC kuwX|khuwH|xuwH))
* 謳:
    (MC reading: 謳 (MC 'uw))
* 購:
    (MC reading: 購 (MC kuwH))
* 軀: body
    (eumhun reading: 몸 구 (mom gu)) (MC reading: 軀 (MC khju))
* 逑:
    (MC reading: 逑 (MC gjuw))
* 遘:
    (MC reading: 遘 (MC kuwH))
* 邱:
    (MC reading: 邱 (MC khjuw))
* 釦:
    (MC reading: 釦 (MC khuwX))
* 鉤:
    (MC reading: 鉤 (MC kuw))
* 銶:
    (MC reading: 銶 (MC gjuw))
* 鞫:
    (MC reading: 鞫 (MC kjuwk))
* 鞲:
    (MC reading: 鞲)
* 韭:
    (MC reading: 韭 (MC kjuwX))
* 韮:
    (MC reading: 韮)
* 颶:
    (MC reading: 颶)
* 駆:
    (MC reading: 駆)
* 駈:
    (MC reading: 駈)
* 駒:
    (MC reading: 駒 (MC kju))
* 驅: spur a horse on; expel, drive away
    (eumhun reading: 몰 구 (mol gu)) (MC reading: 驅 (MC khju|khjuH))
* 鬮:
    (MC reading: 鬮 (MC kjuw|kjiwX))
* 鳩:
    (MC reading: 鳩 (MC kjuw))
* 鷇:
    (MC reading: 鷇 (MC khuwH))
* 鷗:
    (MC reading: 鷗 (MC 'uw))
* 鸜:
    (MC reading: 鸜 (MC gju))
* 鼽:
    (MC reading: 鼽 (MC xwoj|gjuw))
* 龜:
    (MC reading: 龜 (MC kwij|kjuw))