원수

Korean

Etymology 1

Sino-Korean word from 怨讐.

Pronunciation

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

Romanizations
Revised Romanization?	wonsu
Revised Romanization (translit.)?	wonsu
McCune–Reischauer?	wŏnsu
Yale Romanization?	wēnswu

Noun

South Korean Standard Language	원수(怨讐) (wonsu)
North Korean Standard Language	원쑤 (wonssu)

원수 • (wonsu) (hanja 怨讐)

1. enemy

Usage notes

• In the North, the second syllable is written and pronounced as 쑤 (ssu) to avoid homophony with 원수(元帥) (wonsu, “marshal”).

Etymology 2

Sino-Korean word from 元帥.

Pronunciation

• (SK Standard/Seoul) IPA^(key): [wʌ̹nsʰu]
• Phonetic hangul: [원수]

Romanizations
Revised Romanization?	wonsu
Revised Romanization (translit.)?	wonsu
McCune–Reischauer?	wŏnsu
Yale Romanization?	wenswu

Noun

원수 • (wonsu) (hanja 元帥)

1. (military) marshal

Usage notes

As the highest rank in the Korean People's Army (the North Korean military), it is intended to be an honorific title for Kim Il-sung and his successors. In this usage, it is "Marshal of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea" (조선민주주의인민공화국 원수 (joseonminjujuuiinmin'gonghwaguk wonsu)).

This rank is different from another top position in the KPA, "Marshal of the Korean People's Army" (조선인민군 원수 (joseoninmin'gun wonsu)).

Derived terms

• 대원수(大元帥) (daewonsu)
• 부원수(副元帥) (buwonsu)

Etymology 3

Sino-Korean word from 元首.

Pronunciation

• (SK Standard/Seoul) IPA^(key): [wʌ̹nsʰu]
• Phonetic hangul: [원수]

Romanizations
Revised Romanization?	wonsu
Revised Romanization (translit.)?	wonsu
McCune–Reischauer?	wŏnsu
Yale Romanization?	wenswu

Noun

원수 • (wonsu) (hanja 元首)

1. sovereign; head of state

   Synonym: 국가원수(國家元首) (gukgawonsu)

Etymology 4

Sino-Korean word from 員數, with compound/genitive tensing applied.

Pronunciation

• (SK Standard/Seoul) IPA^(key): [wʌ̹ns͈u]
• Phonetic hangul: [원쑤]

Romanizations
Revised Romanization?	wonsu
Revised Romanization (translit.)?	wonsu
McCune–Reischauer?	wŏnssu
Yale Romanization?	wenqswu

Noun

원수 • (wonsu) (hanja 員數)

1. number of persons

   Synonym: 인원수(人員數) (inwonsu)