조선

Sino-Korean word from 朝鮮, cognate with mainland Korean 조선 (Joseon).

• (Morphophonemic) IPA^(key): ⫽t͡ɕosən⫽
• (Jeju City) IPA^(key): [t͡ɕosʰən]
• Phonetic hangul: [조선]

조선 (joseon)

1. (historical) (historical) Joseon (a former Korean kingdom and dynasty in East Asia which ruled the Korean Peninsula from 1392 CE to 1897 CE)
2. (rare) Korea (a geographic region consisting of two countries in East Asia, commonly known as South Korea and North Korea; formerly a single country)

   Synonym: 한국 (han'guk)

3. (rare) North Korea (a country in East Asia, whose territory consists of the northern part of Korea)

Sino-Korean word from 朝鮮

• (SK Standard/Seoul) IPA^(key): [t͡ɕo̞sʰʌ̹n]
• Phonetic hangul: [조선]

조선 • (Joseon) (hanja 朝鮮)

1. (North Korea, China, Japan, dated or humorous in South Korea, increasingly dated in Russia) Korea (a geographic region consisting of two countries in East Asia, commonly known as South Korea and North Korea; formerly a single country)
2. (historical) Joseon (a former Korean kingdom and dynasty in East Asia which ruled the Korean Peninsula from 1392 CE to 1897 CE)
3. (historical) Chosen (a former colony of Japan in East Asia; Korea under Japanese rule, from 1910 through 1945)
4. (North Korea, China, Japan) North Korea (abbreviation of 조선민주주의인민공화국(朝鮮民主主義人民共和國) (Joseon-minjujuui-inmin-gonghwaguk) (= Democratic People's Republic of Korea): a country in East Asia, occupying the northern part of the Korean Peninsula)

   Synonym: 북조선(北朝鮮) (Bukjoseon)

   Coordinate term: 남조선(南朝鮮) (Namjoseon)

5. (uncommon) synonym of 고조선(古朝鮮) (Gojoseon, “Gojoseon”)

• 조선(朝鮮) (Joseon) was the official name of Korea from 1394 to 1897, the de facto name from 1897 to 1910, and again the official name from 1910 to 1945 (though as a Japanese colony). When referring to Korea during these periods, all Koreans use the word 조선(朝鮮) (Joseon). When referring to the period from 1394 to 1910, the term 조선봉건왕조(朝鮮封建王朝) (Joseonbonggeonwangjo, “Joseon feudalist dynasty”) is used in North Korea.
• After Korea was divided in 1945, South Koreans have generally referred to Korea by the name 한국(韓國) (Han'guk), a shortening of South Korea's official name, 대한민국(大韓民國) (Daehanmin'guk, “Republic of Korea”), which is itself based on 대한 제국(大韓帝國) (Daehan jeguk, “Empire of Korea”), the official name from 1897 to 1910.
• Middle-aged and older speakers in South Korea may sometimes use 조선(朝鮮) (Joseon) to refer to contemporary Korea without any particular connotation. It is not used for contemporary contexts by younger speakers unless with a sarcastic, disparaging connotation (presumably due to association with North Korea and with old dynastic rule when Korea was weak).
• North Korea preserves the name 조선(朝鮮) (Joseon) and uses it to refer to Korea in contemporary contexts. Accordingly, North Koreans would refer to South Korea as 남조선(南朝鮮) (Namjoseon, “South Joseon”). However, since North Korea abandoned peaceful reunification with South Korea in Dec. 2023, it is now politically correct to use the terms 한국(韓國) (Han'guk) or 대한민국(大韓民國) (Daehanmin'guk) to refer to the South.
• For Koreans in China, 조선(朝鮮) (Joseon) usually refers specifically to North Korea, while South Korea is referred to as 한국(韓國) (Han'guk).

Sino-Korean word from 造船

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

조선 • (joseon) (hanja 造船)

1. shipbuilding

Sino-Korean word from 祖先

• (SK Standard/Seoul) IPA^(key): [t͡ɕo̞sʰʌ̹n]
• Phonetic hangul: [조선]

조선 • (joseon) (hanja 祖先)

1. ancestor

Sino-Korean word from 釣船

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

조선 • (joseon) (hanja 釣船)

1. fishing boat

Sino-Korean word from 漕船

• (SK Standard/Seoul) IPA^(key): [t͡ɕo̞sʰʌ̹n]
• Phonetic hangul: [조선]

조선 • (joseon) (hanja 漕船)

1. cargo ship