Ways to say it
| Korean | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 사적 | sajeok | [ˈsʰa̠(ː)d͡ʑʌ̹k̚] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) [sʰa̠t͡ɕ͈ʌ̹k̚] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) |
| 사유 | sayu | [ˈsʰa̠(ː)ju] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) [sʰa̠ju] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) |
| 개인 소유 | gaein soyu |
In Korean, the term for 'private' changes based on whether you are discussing social/legal concepts, property or specific individual ownership. Use 사적 when contrasting private matters with public ones, such as a 'private life'. Use 사유 when referring specifically to the ownership of assets or property. Use 개인 소유 when you want to emphasize that something belongs to a single person rather than a state or a corporation.
Which one should you use?
사적 is used to contrast 'private' with 'public' (공적) in a social or legal sense. 사유 is specialized for the context of property or assets, such as 'private property' (사유 재산). 개인 소유 is used to highlight individual ownership as opposed to ownership by a corporation or the state.
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
sajeok
Did you know?
- The word 사적 is a homonym with several unrelated meanings. Depending on the characters used, it can refer to a 'private' matter, a 'historical site', a 'historical record' or even 'archery targets'.
- In Korean, the concept of 'private' can sometimes be intertwined with the concept of 'selfishness' in social settings. Using words related to 'private interests' can imply a lack of community spirit.
- In Korean culture, the distinction between 사적 (private) and 공적 (public) is often tied to the concept of 'face' and social hierarchy, where private feelings are strictly separated from public duty.
Examples in context
- 자본주의는 사유 재산을 인정한다.Capitalism recognizes the private ownership of property.This sentence is useful for learning how to use 사유 in the context of property ownership.
- 제 사적인 정보를 비밀로 유지해 주십시오.Please keep my private information confidential.
- 내 개인적인 생각을 말씀드리겠습니다.I will tell you my personal thoughts.
- 사적 영역을 존중해야 합니다.sajeok yeongyeogeul jonjunghae-ya hamnida.We must respect the private sphere.
- 그것은 사적 관계에 관한 문제입니다.geugeoseun sajeok gwangye-e gwanhan munjeimnida.That is a matter concerning private relationships.
Example conversation
Dohyun and Seoyeon are talking about their boundaries.
- 도현 Do-hyeon제 일기장을 보셨어요?je ilgijangeul bosyeosseoyo?Did you look at my diary?
- 서연 Seo-yeon아니요, 사적인 기록이니까 안 봤어요.aniyo, sajeogin giroginikka an bwasseoyo.No, I didn't because it's a private record.
- 도현 Do-hyeon이해해 줘서 고마워요, 서연 씨.ihaehae jwoseo gomawoyo, Seoyeon ssi.Thank you for understanding, Seoyeon.
- 서연 Seo-yeon당연하죠. 개인 정보는 중요하니까요.dangyeonhajyo. gaein jeongboneun jungyohanikkayo.Of course. Personal information is important.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “private” translations and entries 사적, 사유, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 사유, 사적, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Wiktionary CC BY-SA 4.0.
