Native Korean word (고유어, *go-yu-eo*), traceable to Old Korean *son*. Cognates appear in related Koreanic dialects. The word has remained remarkably stable — unchanged in form or meaning for well over a millennium.

손 carries rich cultural weight in Korean. The phrase **손이 크다** ("to have big hands") idiomatically means someone is generous with food or money — a valued trait in Korean hospitality culture. Conversely, **손을 놓다** ("to let go of hands") means to give up on something. Hands also feature prominently in Korean age-old customs: bowing with both hands together (공손히) signals deep respect.