조선

Jeju

Etymology

Sino-Korean word from 朝鮮, cognate with mainland Korean 조선 (Joseon).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /t͡ɕo̞sən/

Proper noun

조선 (joseon)

1. (historical) Joseon
2. (rare) Korea
3. (rare) North Korea

Synonyms

• (Korea): 한국 (han'guk)

Korean

Etymology 1

Sino-Korean word from 朝鮮

Pronunciation

• (SK Standard/Seoul) IPA^(key): [t͡ɕo̞sʰʌ̹n]
• Phonetic hangul: [조선]

Romanizations
Revised Romanization?	Joseon
Revised Romanization (translit.)?	Joseon
McCune–Reischauer?	Chosŏn
Yale Romanization?	cosen

Proper noun

조선 • (Joseon) (hanja 朝鮮)

South Korean Standard Language	한국(韓國) (Han'guk)
North Korean Standard Language	조선(朝鮮) (Joseon)

1. (North Korea, China, Japan, dated or humorous in South Korea, increasingly dated in Russia) Korea (a country in East Asia, now divided into North Korea and South Korea)
2. (historical) Korea under the Joseon dynasty (1392 CE — 1910 CE) and Japanese colonial rule (1910 CE — 1945 CE)
3. (North Korea, China, Japan) Short for 조선민주주의인민공화국(朝鮮民主主義人民共和國) (Joseon-minjujuui-inmin-gonghwaguk, “the Democratic People's Republic of Korea”).

   Synonym: 북조선(北朝鮮) (Bukjoseon)

   Coordinate term: 남조선(南朝鮮) (Namjoseon)

4. (uncommon) Synonym of 고조선(古朝鮮) (Gojoseon, “Gojoseon”).

Usage notes

• 조선 (朝鮮, Joseon) was the official name of Korea from 1394 to 1897, the de facto name from 1897 to 1910, and again the official name from 1910 to 1945 (though as a Japanese colony). When referring to Korea during these periods, all Koreans use the word 조선 (朝鮮, Joseon). When referring to the period from 1394 to 1910, the term 조선봉건왕조 (朝鮮封建王朝, Joseonbonggeonwangjo, “Joseon feudalist dynasty”) is used in North Korea.
• After Korea was divided in 1945, South Koreans have generally referred to Korea by the name 한국 (韓國, Han'guk), a shortening of South Korea's official name, 대한민국 (大韓民國, Daehanmin'guk, “Republic of Korea”), which is itself based on 대한 제국 (大韓帝國, Daehan jeguk, “Empire of Korea”), the official name from 1897 to 1910.
• Middle-aged and older speakers in South Korea may sometimes use 조선 (朝鮮, Joseon) to refer to contemporary Korea without any particular connotation. It is not used for contemporary contexts by younger speakers unless with a sarcastic, disparaging connotation (presumably due to association with North Korea and with old dynastic rule when Korea was weak).
• North Korea preserves the name 조선 (朝鮮, Joseon) and uses it to refer to Korea in contemporary contexts. Accordingly, North Koreans will refer to South Korea as 남조선 (南朝鮮, Namjoseon, “South Joseon”). However, since North Korea abandoned peaceful reunification with South Korea in early 2024, it has also started to officially use the terms 대한민국 (大韓民國, Daehanmin'guk) and 한국 (韓國, Han'guk) to refer to South Korea. Nevertheless, some North Korea-aligned media operating overseas, while generally agreeing with the North Korean point of view, insist on using 남조선 (南朝鮮, Namjoseon) while still holding a vision of peaceful reunification.
• For Koreans in China, 조선 (朝鮮, Joseon) usually refers specifically to North Korea, while South Korea is referred to as 한국 (韓國, Han'guk).

Derived terms

• 남조선 (南朝鮮, Namjoseon)
• 북조선 (北朝鮮, Bukjoseon)
• 조선글 (朝鮮—, joseon'geul)
• 조선말 (朝鮮—, joseonmal)
• 조선민주주의인민공화국 (朝鮮民主主義人民共和國, joseonminjujuuiinmin'gonghwaguk)
• 조선반도 (朝鮮半島, joseonbando)
• 조선봉건왕조 (朝鮮封建王朝, joseonbonggeonwangjo)
• 조선시대 (朝鮮時代, joseonsidae)
• 조선어 (朝鮮語, joseoneo)
• 조선왕조 (朝鮮王朝, joseonwangjo)
• 조선인 (朝鮮人, joseonin)
• 헬조선 (—朝鮮, Heljoseon)

 

See also

• 북한 (北韓, Bukhan)
• 남한 (南韓, Namhan)
• 한국 (韓國, Han'guk)

Etymology 2

Sino-Korean word from 造船

Pronunciation

• (SK Standard/Seoul) IPA^(key): [ˈt͡ɕo̞(ː)sʰʌ̹n]
• Phonetic hangul: [조(ː)선]
  • Though still prescribed in Standard Korean, most speakers in both Koreas no longer distinguish vowel length.

Romanizations
Revised Romanization?	joseon
Revised Romanization (translit.)?	joseon
McCune–Reischauer?	chosŏn
Yale Romanization?	cōsen

Noun

조선 • (joseon) (hanja 造船)

1. shipbuilding

Derived terms

• 조선소 (造船所, joseonso)
• 조선하다 (造船—, joseonhada)

 

Etymology 3

Sino-Korean word from 祖先

Pronunciation

• (SK Standard/Seoul) IPA^(key): [t͡ɕo̞sʰʌ̹n]
• Phonetic hangul: [조선]

Romanizations
Revised Romanization?	joseon
Revised Romanization (translit.)?	joseon
McCune–Reischauer?	chosŏn
Yale Romanization?	cosen

Noun

조선 • (joseon) (hanja 祖先)

1. ancestor

Etymology 4

Sino-Korean word from 釣船

Pronunciation

• (SK Standard/Seoul) IPA^(key): [ˈt͡ɕo̞(ː)sʰʌ̹n]
• Phonetic hangul: [조(ː)선]
  • Though still prescribed in Standard Korean, most speakers in both Koreas no longer distinguish vowel length.

Romanizations
Revised Romanization?	joseon
Revised Romanization (translit.)?	joseon
McCune–Reischauer?	chosŏn
Yale Romanization?	cōsen

Noun

조선 • (joseon) (hanja 釣船)

1. fishing boat

Etymology 5

Sino-Korean word from 漕船

Pronunciation

• (SK Standard/Seoul) IPA^(key): [t͡ɕo̞sʰʌ̹n]
• Phonetic hangul: [조선]

Romanizations
Revised Romanization?	joseon
Revised Romanization (translit.)?	joseon
McCune–Reischauer?	chosŏn
Yale Romanization?	cosen

Noun

조선 • (joseon) (hanja 漕船)

1. cargo ship