Choi
/tʃɔɪ/noun
Choi is an established romanized surname, especially common among Koreans and also used in Chinese family names.
Did you know?The Korean surname Choi is usually written 崔, a character historically associated with something high or towering; its standard Korean pronunciation is closer to “Choe” than English “Choy.”
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Chinese
Old Chinese
崔
“A character associated with being high, lofty, or towering; it also became a hereditary surname.”
Middle Chinese
Middle Chinese
崔 *tswǝj
“The surname and character used in medieval Chinese, later developing into several regional pronunciations.”
Three Kingdoms–Goryeo period
Korean
최
“The surname 崔 entered and became established in Korea, where it developed the pronunciation Choe or Choi.”
Medieval Korean
Middle Korean
최〮
“A Korean surname pronounced with an earlier form of the modern Korean sound, conventionally romanized in different ways.”
19th–20th Century
English romanization
Choi
“A widely used English spelling of the Korean surname 최, especially in diaspora communities.”
Modern English
English
Choi
“An established surname and personal-name element, also appearing in romanizations of several Chinese family-name traditions.”