#(-ssi = polite suffix -nim = honorific/respectful suffix; -nim is more formal) | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

mikrrokosmos · 1 month

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Hi! This is going to sound kind of random, but I am writing a paper about the translation of Korean honorifics in subtitles, and I just saw your post from like a year ago mentioning how "hyung" is translated as "bro" in subtitles. So first off THANK YOU because I have been looking for a good example of that for a while now and I've finally found one thanks to you. Secondly, is there any more you can tell me about how "hyung" is translated as "bro" in "Bloodhounds" (or any other drama)? And, just to clarify, are the characters in "Bloodhounds" related or not related?

Anyway, thanks again, and sorry for the long ask about a show you probably haven't watched in a year.

Hi! Of course I don’t mind talking about it! I’m actually super excited that you asked me about this, as I love linguistics and translations and always find it a fascinating topic.

I feel like I should make a disclaimer that I am not Korean and don’t speak Korean, so everything I know about the language and culture is just from what I’ve observed from watching kdramas and listening to kpop for years. I am open to correction if I get something wrong, and I would suggest checking out the blog @consigliere-vincenzo, as I believe she is/knows Korean and provides translations for dramas! (She’s also just, a really cool blog <3)

(Also, since I don’t know the Hangul alphabet, I will be using the romanized spelling for the translations. Romanized spellings can also differ, and there's no 'correct' spelling for each word!)

Korean, like many other languages like Dutch and Japanese, is a language structured around respect to those around you, largely dependant on age, and is shown with the usage of honorifics. Honorifics like agasshi (refers to a young woman, though you're unsure of her age) and ajusshi (in reference to an older man, usually middle-aged; and ajumma, which is the female equivalent) all showcase respect; and to not use any honorific would come across as rude. (In formal language, suffixes such as -ssi and -nim are used, as well as different words all together, but I won't be touching on those since I don't speak Korean and they are harder to pinpoint!)

Honorifics like oppa, unni, and hyung are a bit different, since they're more affectionate in nature. Oppa is mostly by a woman for their older brother, but can also be used for a boyfriend. Unni would be what a woman would call her older sister, or a sister-like figure/friend. Hyung would be the male equivalent of this; what a man would call his older brother, a close male friend.

To answer your question, the main duo in Bloodhounds (Gunwoo and Woojin) are not related by blood!

In the scene where they are talking in a restaurant and find out each others ages (Netflix won't let me screenshot, but starts approx. 22:10 in ep1, and this is the only gifset I can find) is probably the best scene to illustrate the use of hyung in their dynamic. Before this, we can assume that the characters think they are the same age (in Korea, it is normal for two people who are born in the same year to become friends, since no honorifics based upon age are needed, so a sense of familiarity is immediate). When Gunwoo finds out that Woojin is in fact two years older than him, he apologizes (for not using formal language). Woojin then finds out that Gunwoo's role in the military (when they each did their service, as every able-bodied Korean male is required by law to do) was a higher station than his, he also uses formal language, calling him hyung-nim (if I am hearing correctly, since Netflix is HORRENDOUS for translating honorifics properly). Gunwoo wishes to use 'casual' tone with Woojin and just call him hyung, but Woojin's also using honorifics creates a humorous dynamic, since older men are not required to use such honorifics with those younger than them. This conversation is a great showcase of their characters, and how their different personalities play into how they act around each other (Gunwoo's more reserved and polite persona, and Woojin's more loose and free-willed personality).

It is near impossible to understand this underhanded joke with just the subtitles, as so much gets lost in translation, especially since English is not an honorific-centred language. Unni *does* technically directly translate to 'sister,' and hyung to 'brother,' but it comes across as janky sometimes, since English-speaking people don't casually call each other that (you know that complaint about how it's bad for siblings in books/movies to be like 'hey sis'/'hey bro' since no one talks like that? Yeah.) Shortening the term to 'bro' doesn't really help matters, since I haven't heard anyone use the word 'bro' unironically . . . ever? So what is originally a natural and affectionate word and can carry great meaning depending on context (like if a character was dying, and used hyung in his last moments when he has never referred to a character like that before) easily becomes cheapened with translation. They can also try to subsitute some honorifics with 'sir' (like they do in Bloodhounds), but it kinda carries the same effect.

The usage of the term hyung, or any honorific, can be found in any kdrama ever. A great example I can think of is in The Eighth Sense, which is a BL (BoysLove, which is just a genre of Asian dramas that are queer love stories).

In a scene of The Eighth Sense (at 34:47 in ep2 on Rakuten Viki) Jihyun accidentally calls Jaewon hyung, and not sunbaenim, as he was told to do. Since Jaewon is Jihyun's elder in the club they are both in, it would be more appropriate to be called sunbaenim, which is an honorific for those in an academic or work setting. Using hyung is more intimate, and insinuates a stronger bond of closeness rather than the polite sunbaenim.

I hope I answered your question and was able to elaborate on this properly! I am so sorry I didn't answer this right away, I hope this was helpful! If you have any further questions feel free to ask, and I will do my best to answer as correctly as I can.

#answered asks #i know this got kinda long akjdfs sorry!#i really hope i conveyed everything properly #since its kinda hard to just briefly talk about something like this since there are so many surrounding context about culture and such #i hope the links to the gif sets are working!

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