www.koreanhistory.tv - Korean Historical Drama web pages

HOME

Series

Fans

Timeline

Forum

  • Summary
  • Nuances
  • Series Descriptions
  • Individual series' pages
  • Personal Testimonies - How people got into them
  • Fan Community

History Timeline -- how the different series fit in with real history

Message Board

Links

Words

News

Database

HOME

Links to...
  • information
  • fans
  • news
  • Translations (Alternate Spellings of names, places)
  • Familiar terms
  • News about the shows
  • News stories about the fans
Coming soon...
  • an interactive Database
  • Summary
  • Nuances

Translations and Transliterations

Credits: much thanks to "anonymous" for his working helping non-Koreans understand what they're hearing & seeing!

 One of the problems that early fans faced was a lack of information on the shows and their characters on the internet. Little did we know that the translators may have chosen a different way than the "official" translation. The Korean Cultural Center of Los Angeles provides a detailed explanation on The revised Romanization of Korean

They tell us: " As you may have noticed, Koreans are very confused about proper Romanization of the Korean language. It will take years for Koreans to get used to revised Romanization. It does not help that non-Korean speakers can't hear and pronounce the exact sound of Korean letters. For example, non-Koreans hear Kamsahamnida when Koreans say Gamsahamnida and Yoboseyo when Koreans say Yeoboseyo."

 So if you're interested in using a search engine to find more info on the real historical character, you may have to type in a different spelling:

Name in subtitles Alternate transliterations
Jang-geum Jang Geum, Jang-Geum, Janggeum, Jang Gum, Jang-Gum, Janggum, Jang Keum
Wang-Guhn Wang Geon , Wang Guhn, Wang Gun, Wang Kon, Wanggon,
Chang Nok Soo Jang Noksu , Jang Nok Soo
Koryo Goryeo
Chosun Joseon
Bekjae Baekje, Pekchae
Yi Soon-shin Yi Sunsin, Lee Soon-shin, Yi sunshin   

  "His descendents probably use either one of Yi, Lee, or Rhee, depending on what they feel like using. Yi should be the closest to how it sounds in Korean"

 "Personal names are written by family name first, followed by a space and the given name. In principle,
syllables in given names are not separated by hyphen, but the use of a hyphen between syllables is permitted."

------------------------------------------------------------------

Here are some favorite phrases that historical drama fans have learned (some of these are older terms that aren't used in today's Korean; kind of like speaking Shakespeare to someone on the street)

Phrase Meaning & context
Seong eun-i mang geuk ha-omnida "Your grace is immeasurable" - often said by subjects when the king does something nice

Seong Eun = Your Grace
Mang Geuk = immeasurable is the closest translation
also inscrutable or infinite work, too. 
ha-omnida = "be" in extremely formal language. 

Gamsahamnida "Thank you"    
Yeoboseyo "Hello"     
   

Yes, this page is clearly under construction.  We appreciate you patience, and hope this page is helpful!

Got corrections, comments or additions?!?

hey, we're humble enough to know that we don't know everything. We're fans of Korean Historical dramas, but not experts in all aspects of it (including the language).  So if you have some words for us , please e-mail us at words@koreanhistory.tv

Thanks for reading!