가방 (Korean)

Where does "가방" come from?

The Korean word '가방' entered the language as a loanword from the Japanese 'kaban,' which refers to a bag or briefcase. This Japanese term itself is believed to have roots in Chinese linguistic origins, reflecting how trade and cross-cultural contact introduced new everyday objects and their names into the Korean vocabulary.

Full etymology tree

• 가방 (Korean), 'bag; briefcase'
  • borrowed 鞄 (kaban) (Japanese)

Ancestors

• 鞄 (Japanese)

Descendants and derived words

• 손가방 (Korean)
• 책가방 (Korean)
• 서류 가방 (Korean)

Updated June 2026

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Etymology data from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0 · About Miraris