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Definition of paektu

paektu

/ˈpɛk.tuː/
Paek · tu

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paektu Lexical Profile

• noun

1

An active stratovolcano located on the border between North Korea and China, representing the highest peak on the Korean Peninsula and holding profound mythological, cultural, and political significance as the legendary birthplace of the Korean people.

Example

"According to ancient Korean mythology, the founder of the first Korean kingdom descended from Heaven to the summit of Mount Paektu."

Word Nuance & Usage

Almost exclusively capitalized as a proper noun (Paektu or Mount Paektu); in Chinese contexts, the same geographical feature is referred to as Changbai Mountain.

Word Origin & Etymology

From Sino-Korean 'Paektu' (백두, 白頭), literally meaning 'white head', referencing the pumice and snow-capped summit of the mountain.

Cite this Entry


Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Paektu. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 13, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/paektu
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