So very confused here. My last name (Bak), I'm told, is pure korean although there is a "character" for it.

朴

See it? Is there a meaning for this in chinese?

Here is what I was told...

When Bak Hyeokgeose (first king of Shilla) created that family name (Bak), it was not from chinese. Although it looks like a chinese character, it dosen't exist among the chinese people. The reason was because the Hangeul writing system wasn't invented during the Three Kingdoms period, so it was likely just influenced by it.

Thanks.

Even if I asked my mom who's like a Chinese dictionary, she'd probably tell me it was from another language

UH......UUUHHHHHHHHHHH.........DANG!!!! UM......HOW ABOUT.........5+16=2X+CHAIR!!!

WOOT!!! IM A FRIGGIN GENOUSS!!!! (have no clu)

i don't know about meaning in chinese. but in japanese lang, we have same chara and that is pronounced as 'bok' and meaning is obedient/gentle.

Thanks for your input Doatek!

Unfortunatly I am now twice as confused (hehe). Is that a family name in japan or just a term used to call someone gentle?

sino-japanese? If so, it must be the same in chinese as well. Hmmm...

i think we don't have that family name. and yes, sino-japanese.

Oh boy.....

Kanji = has meaning.
Chinese = (not sure) has meaning.
Han-mun = has no meaning. Just a family name.

*rips hair out*

Thanks for your reply Doatek.

Got new info. Makes more sense now. (but also pops up more confusion at the same time)

During that time since korea didn't have their own writing system, they used chinese characters. 'Bak' was deprived from a city name in Shilla, and the king made a character for it based on chinese characters. That character could have been passed on to japan in which they created their own meaning for it.

but Doatek says it is sino-japanese, that means it is based on chinese root meaning.

Haha, I'm still hopeful for someone to help me figure out this puzzle!

we also have 卜 (bok) itself. then 朴 is 木 + 卜. as same as other kanji structure.
so naturally, i believe this came from chinese like others.

most popular bok is used for like this.
素朴 = plain and natural. this word is easily found in any media.
but 朴 itself, this is not so many.

1. family name for korean ppl.
2. expressing gentle in elder person's writing style.

Got the answer.

Doatek is right, it is a chinese character (pronouced as Pu/Pok in chinese) and it does exist among the chinese. We have many 'Bak' sounds so likely a character of that range was probably just randomly selected (or one that gives positive meaning lol).

i'm glad to hear you found the answer. :)