복수
boksu[po̞ks͈u]
The English phrase vengeance is translated into Korean as 복수 (boksu).
복수 is a noun meaning revenge taken for an insult, injury or other wrong. To express the action of taking revenge, it is common to use the verbal phrase 복수를 하다, which means to commit vengeance.
Meaning: revenge taken for an insult, injury, or other wrong (noun)
Which one should you use?
While 복수 is the standard term for vengeance, it is a homonym in Korean.
How do you pronounce it?
boksu
Did you know?
- Because it is a homonym, you might encounter the word 복수 in a mathematics class to mean 'multiple' or 'plural' instead of 'vengeance'.
- In a martial arts or historical context, the single Hanja character 讐 used in 복수 represents an 'enemy' or 'foe', literally embedding the target of the revenge within the word itself.
- The tension between the noun 복수 (vengeance) and its opposite, 용서 (forgiveness), serves as the central moral engine in many traditional Korean folk tales.
Examples in context
- 그는 복수를 다짐했다.geuneun boksu-reul dajim-haetda.He vowed vengeance.
- 복수는 결코 해결책이 아니다.boksu-neun gyeol-ko haegyeolchaek-i anida.Vengeance is never a solution.
- 그 영화는 복수를 주제로 한다.geu yeonghwa-neun boksu-reul juje-ro handa.That movie is about vengeance.
Example conversation
Two friends are discussing a movie plot in a cafe.
- 서연 Seo-yeon주인공이 결국 복수에 성공했어?juingong-i gyeol-guk boksu-e seong-gong-haesseo?Did the protagonist eventually succeed in his vengeance?
- 도현 Do-hyeon아니, 복수는 실패하고 말았어.ani, boksu-neun silpae-hago marasseo.No, his vengeance ended in failure.
- 서연 Seo-yeon정말 슬픈 이야기네.jeongmal seulpeun iyagi-ne.That is a truly sad story.
- 도현 Do-hyeon맞아, 결말이 아주 충격적이었어.maja, gyeolmal-i aju chunggyeok-jeok-ieosseo.Right, the ending was quite shocking.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “vengeance” translations and entries 복수, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
