or () is a

nickname A nickname, in some circumstances also known as a sobriquet, or informally a "moniker", is an informal substitute for the proper name of a person, place, or thing, used to express affection, playfulness, contempt, or a particular character trait ...

or Korean honorific for an old man in

Korea Korea is a peninsular region in East Asia consisting of the Korean Peninsula, Jeju Island, and smaller islands. Since the end of World War II in 1945, it has been politically Division of Korea, divided at or near the 38th parallel north, 3 ...

. was historically an honorific title for second-level and third-level civil servants; Vice-Ministers, or Assistant Secretaries of

Goryeo Goryeo (; ) was a Korean state founded in 918, during a time of national division called the Later Three Kingdoms period, that unified and ruled the Korea, Korean Peninsula until the establishment of Joseon in 1392. Goryeo achieved what has b ...

and

Joseon Joseon ( ; ; also romanized as ''Chosun''), officially Great Joseon (), was a dynastic kingdom of Korea that existed for 505 years. It was founded by Taejo of Joseon in July 1392 and replaced by the Korean Empire in October 1897. The kingdom w ...

. Over time the word became an honorific or nickname for a judge, county governor,이 대단한 분
중도일보 2004-03-22 head of a township or old man. In recent years, has come to be used primarily as a nickname for elderly men. has been used in

for more than a thousand years.

History

Joseon-Portrait of Cha Jegong-Black danryeongpo

was first used as an

honorific An honorific is a title that conveys esteem, courtesy, or respect for position or rank when used in addressing or referring to a person. Sometimes, the term "honorific" is used in a more specific sense to refer to an Honorary title (academic), h ...

for a lower level civil servants of the

Goryeo Dynasty Goryeo (; ) was a Korean state founded in 918, during a time of national division called the Later Three Kingdoms period, that unified and ruled the Korea, Korean Peninsula until the establishment of Joseon in 1392. Goryeo achieved what has b ...

and Joseon dynasties,[금요칼럼
겉만 번지르르한 '실버 공약'">��요칼럼">[금요칼럼
겉만 번지르르한 '실버 공약'Busanilbo 2007.12.14 though the first instance of its use is unknown. (), was the first spelling used for this name, it was later changed to . The term comes after public office and peerage titles in a man's name. is a homograph. It is not only a title for elderly men, it means 'inspiration' in Korean. In the Joseon dynasty, men over their 80th birthday were bestowed the honorary position Assistant Secretary. At their 90th birthday they were given the honorary position of Vice-Minister. With the fall of Joseon, the position of (). Along with the change in the meaning of these positions, Korean patriarchal perspectives were added to the usages of , which became a common designation; 1. When judges refer to each other 2. When others who are not judges refer to judges 3. When people refer to the mayor 4. When people refer to their elders 5. When women refer to their husbands. After the

dynasty, the use of continued in

Japan Japan is an island country in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean off the northeast coast of the Asia, Asian mainland, it is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan and extends from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea ...

and

Colonial Korea From 1910 to 1945, Korea was ruled by the Empire of Japan under the name Chōsen (), the Japanese reading of "Joseon". Japan first took Korea into its sphere of influence during the late 1800s. Both Korea (Joseon) and Japan had been under polic ...

as an honorific for the position of country governor, judge, prosecutor, and district attorney. /nowiki>한마당-염성덕">[한마당-염성덕
/nowiki> 영감과 영감탱이2010.09.13

Modern usage

After 1962, the Supreme Court of Korea">Supreme Court of South Korea sought to eliminate the habit of using the term for judges since it was considered to be un-democratic. In modern Korea, is commonly used as a suffix that comes after the last name of elderly men.‘영감’에 깃든 우리말 변천사
한국경제 2011/03/25 During the

and Joseon dynasties followed one's title, in modern use is used by itself.

References

External links

삼도수군통제사 이순신 조선시대 고위직 '종2품'
hangyorye 2005.02.20
‘영감’에 깃든 우리말 변천사
한국경제 2011/03/25
[한마당-염성덕
/nowiki> 영감과 영감탱이">/nowiki>한마당-염성덕">[한마당-염성덕
/nowiki> 영감과 영감탱이국민일보 2010.09.13
[엽기인물 한국사
/nowiki> 5. 조선의 국제적 포주②] 스포츠경향 2007년 09월 17일
일상에 남은 옛말의 흔적
한국경제 2011/04/01

브레이크뉴스
[한마당-염성덕
/nowiki> 영감과 영감탱이">/nowiki>한마당-염성덕">[한마당-염성덕
/nowiki> 영감과 영감탱이2010.09.13 {{in lang, ko
[성석제의 길위의 이야기
/nowiki> 대감과 마누라] 한국일보 Society of South Korea Culture of South Korea Goryeo Society of Joseon Popular culture language Korean words and phrases

History

Modern usage

See also

References

External links