Origin of the word "kimchi"

Ancient Korean word for collective kimchi was ji. The word was also said chim-chae, a translation into Chinese characters. Chim-chae means "immersing vegetables (in salt solution)". The word referred to any kinds of vegetable food processed by immersing in salt solution. The salt water was not to be taken; only the vegetable was. At that time the word was said as tim-chae, which became palatalized to be said as chimchi, then became kimchi.

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