미국
miguk · TOPIK 1
United States (of America)
🗽 미국 = 美 (beautiful) + 國 (country): the beautiful country
From hanja 美國: 미 (美) means beautiful and 국 (國) means country, the same 국 as in 한국 (Korea) and 중국 (China). The 미 was chosen for its sound, echoing the me in America. Said aloud, the ㄱ softens between vowels: mi-guk.