왕조
wangjo[wa̠ŋd͡ʑo̞]general
The English word dynasty is translated into Korean as 왕조 (wangjo). Wiktionary also lists 황가 (hwangga) and 가 (ga).
Meaning: a series of rulers or dynasts from one family (noun)
Ways to say it
| Korean | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 왕조 | wangjo | [wa̠ŋd͡ʑo̞] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) | general |
| 황가 | hwangga | ||
| 가 | ga | [ka̠(ː)] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) [ka̠] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) |
|
| 왕가 | wangga | [wa̠ŋɡa̠] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) | general |
The term is used to describe a series of rulers or dynasts from one family.
What does it mean word for word?
The word 왕조 is composed of the characters for king (왕) and dynasty/lineage (조).
Which one should you use?
While 왕조 refers to a historical period or the entire system of a ruling family, 왕가 refers more specifically to the royal family itself as a group of people. Furthermore, while 왕가 refers to a royal family (king), 황가 is used specifically for an imperial family (emperor).
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The suffix 가 can be used in highly formal or literary contexts to denote a specific family or lineage, often seen in historical or genealogical discussions.
How do you pronounce it?
wangjo
Did you know?
- In modern Korean, the suffix 가 for lineage is often used to describe 'dynasties' in non-royal contexts, such as a family of famous musicians or scholars.
- In the Korean alphabet, the components of the word 가 are the very first consonant ㄱ and the first vowel ㅏ in the alphabetical order.
- The term 황가 for an imperial family gained a distinct status in Korean history during the transition from the Joseon 왕조 to the Korean Empire.
Examples in context
- 요즘 조선 왕조에 대해 연구하고 있어.I'm currently studying the Joseon dynasty.
- 왕조 연대기에 대해 얼마나 알고 있니?How much do you know about dynastic history?
- 조선 왕조는 매우 길었습니다.Joseon wangjo-neun mae-u gireotseumnida.The Joseon dynasty was very long.
- 새로운 왕조가 세워졌습니다.Saeroun wangjo-ga se-wo-jyeotseumnida.A new dynasty was established.
Example conversation
Subin and Jihun are studying history at a library.
- 지훈 Ji-hun이 왕조의 특징이 뭐야?I wangjoui teukjing-i mwoya?What are the characteristics of this dynasty?
- 수빈 Su-bin문화와 예술이 아주 발달했어.Munhwawa yesuri aju baldalhaesseo.Culture and art were very developed.
- 지훈 Ji-hun그렇구나. 정말 흥미로운 시대다.Geureokguna. Jeongmal heungmiroun sidaeda.I see. It's a really interesting era.
- 수빈 Su-bin응, 나도 그렇게 생각해, 지훈아.Eung, nado geureoke saenggakhae, Jihuna.Yes, I think so too, Jihun.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “dynasty” translations and entries 왕조, 가, 왕가, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 가, 왕가, 왕조, CC BY-SA 4.0.
