Different Layers Of Borrowing: Sino-Korean Characters With Multiple Readings

Previous studies of Sino-Korean claim that the phonological system of modern Sino-Korean was derived from Middle Chinese. This conventional view is often misinterpreted to mean that Sino-Korean was never influenced by phonological changes in Chinese except for the Middle Chinese period. This study, however, demonstrates that Sino-Korean has had constant contact with Chinese throughout its history by identifying traces of Old Chinese, Middle Chinese, Old Mandarin, and Modem Mandarin all mingled in characters with multiple readings in modern Sino-Korean.