How to Say "Detective" in Korean

탐정

tamjeong[tʰa̠md͡ʑʌ̹ŋ]

The English word detective is translated into Korean as 탐정 (tamjeong) or 형사.

Meaning: police officer who looks for evidence (noun)

Ways to say it

“detective” in Korean
Korean	Romanization (Wiktionary)	IPA
탐정	tamjeong	[tʰa̠md͡ʑʌ̹ŋ] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow)
형사	hyeongsa	[çʌ̹ŋsʰa̠] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow)

형사 refers specifically to a detective who is an official member of the police force.

tamjeong

The concept of a 'private detective' 탐정 was legally ambiguous in South Korea for many years, making the profession more of a literary trope than a common reality.
The word 탐정 is an orthographic borrowing from the Japanese word tantei, meaning the exact same characters are used in both languages to represent the concept.
In many Korean police procedurals, a 형사 might be called 반장님 meaning 'Chief' or 'Section Head' regardless of their actual rank, as a sign of seniority.

경찰 수사관은 범죄 피의자들을 철저히 조사해야 합니다.
Police detectives must thoroughly investigate criminal suspects.
이 소설은 두 명의 형사가 범인을 찾는 과정을 다루고 있습니다.
This novel depicts the process of two detectives searching for the culprit.
요즘 형사 드라마가 인기가 많아졌어요.
Detective dramas have become very popular these days.
그는 유명한 탐정이에요.
geuneun yumyeonghan tamjeong-iyeoyo.
He is a famous detective.
탐정이 사건을 조사하고 있어요.
tamjeongi sageoneul josa-hago isseoyo.
A detective is investigating the case.
탐정은 아주 똑똑해요.
tamjeongeun aju ttokttokaeyo.
The detective is very smart.

Minjun and Subin are talking about a mystery novel.

민준 Min-jun

이 소설 속 탐정은 정말 똑똑해요.
i soseol sok tamjeongeun jeongmal ttogttok-haeyo.
The detective in this novel is really smart.
수빈 Su-bin

맞아요. 단서를 정말 잘 찾아요.
majayo. danseoreul jeongmal jal chajayo.
True. He finds clues very well.
민준 Min-jun

수빈 씨도 탐정이 될 수 있을까요?
subin ssido tamjeongi doel su isseulkkayo?
Do you think you could be a detective, Subin?
수빈 Su-bin

저는 너무 무서워서 못 해요.
jeoneun neomu museoweoseo mot haeyo.
I can't do it because I'm too scared.

Sources

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