I am learning Korean, and my dictionary gives an English meaning for 葛藤(갈등) as 'conflict' or 'troubles'. Why do these characters combine do give this meaning? Both characters seem to mean some kind of plant (although in each case, I'm getting varying definitions as to exactly which plant!)
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1Please check this out.– zyyMar 23, 2019 at 14:43
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2 Answers
The Wiktionary page for 葛藤 says:
Etymology: From the tendency of the vines of kudzu and rattan to become entangled.
No citation is provided, however.
The Korean Wikipedia page for 갈등 says something similar:
어원: 왼쪽으로 감아 자라나는 칡과 오른쪽으로 감아 자나라는 등나무가 서로 얽히고 설킨 모습에서 유래.
Etymology: It is derived from the shape of the wisteria that is wrapped to the left and the wisteria which is wrapped to the right and entwined to the right. (Google Translate)
Again, no citation is provided, unfortunately.
It’s semantic extension.
The plant refers to a kind which forms entangled vines. This is extended to mean troubled, complex relationships or conflicts.
