serendipity

KM BLOG & FAN TRANSLATIONS

[dalloga]

Intro.

Hello! I'm Euna, a BTS and KM fan since 2015. I'm also a native korean speaker, so if you have any translation requests or things you'd like to have a bit more cultural context on, feel free to let me know and I'll do the best I can!

Answered Asks | Translations | Cultural context | Language details | PSA  

[dalloga]

Hi Euna! How are you? On the recent live of Jungkook training boxing, Jimin made a comment (photo). There are several translations circulating on the internet. Could you translate this sentence and also talk about the context surrounding this sentence, please? Thank you!

🐥: "right, great— just like that, keep on improving so you can protect your hyung"

"그래 좋아" is a phrase that can imply both approval and satisfaction—an expression used when the user looks at something and likes what they see. It can also be used to signal the user coming to some sort of conclusion. In this context, JM's reaction to JK boxing is a combination of the two meanings (he approves of what he sees and decides what to do about it). It's funny and endearing because we all know JM is more than capable of protecting himself, but it comes across as him assessing JK's performance and granting him permission to be his bodyguard. A kind of — "you pass, keep up the good work, i'll be in your care~" all rolled into one 🤍

...

I hope this small explanation helped your understanding of what was said! I've been doing well. It's been an incredibly busy time for me, so I haven't been online as much save to check-in on how the tannies are doing, but that's been working out for me fine. From what I can tell, it's been a dramatic few weeks for more reasons than one—keeping a healthy distance from the noise and discourse online has helped me focus on pursuing my real life goals. And the faster I can work towards completing them, the faster I can come back to this blog more regularly! Until then, thank you for your patience and understanding 💜

[dalloga]

hello euna! just a question about today's run ep. there's a part where the hammock was stuck between jimin's butt and the members said "it won't let go." then jungkook somehow says "i won't let you go." kind of confusing! also, the editor has a subtitle underneath what jungkook says: "[we will omit the subject]". what are we missing???

Hi anon!

So right before that, Yoongi says "꽉 물었어 지금! 놓지 않을거라는 의지가 보여!", which I'd translate to: "You're caught in its jaws right now! I can see how it won't let you go!"

I mentioned before how in Korean, the subject of a sentence is often omitted. Yoongi does that here, where he doesn't explicitly say what the hammock "caught in its jaws" and is currently biting down on, but can be inferred by context to be Jimin's butt. That's probably why the next caption said [주어는 생략하겠습니다] [We will omit the subject].

When JK says "놓치지 않을거에요~" or "I won't let you go~", again there's no subject. I can see how the "I" in "I won't let you go" would make it confusing in English, since it seems to attribute the statement as something coming from JK. But in Korean, it's pretty clear that he's riffing off of what Yoongi just said by acting as the voice of the hammock. As the hammock, he's teasing JM by saying "I won't let you go~"

A bit confusing! But still very cute!

I hope this helped, anon!

[dalloga]

hello. can you explain the seaweed soup, please? i’m curious why jk’s mom would cook seaweed soup for jimin even if he’s not physically there and he is not her biological son. also, is this normal to korean culture? knowing that these two are the closest, is this normal? both jeon and park family seems really close. so happy them. thanks!

Hello anon!

For those who don't know, it's a tradition in Korean culture to make seaweed soup for someone's birthday. And no, it's not common at all for moms to go out of their way to do it for someone who 1) is not related to them or 2) live in their house. Especially if the birthday person isn't even present at the table, which judging by Jimin's reaction, he wasn't.

This is why all the reactions from k-kookminers were variations of "???!!!" and also probably why JK wanted to bring it up in the first place. It's both unexpected and incredibly cute, funny in a bizarre sort of way.

JK saying that he also ate seaweed soup, which his mom made for the particular occasion of it being Jimin's birthday, also has a way of implying that Jimin's considered to be a part of the household even if he isn't physically present. At the very least, it highlights just how much his mom cares for and treasures Jimin and also how strong the bond is between the Jeon & Park families.

[dalloga]

Hi! I have to admit I'm kinda baffeld by the whole perilla leaf/shrimp thing. I honestly would have thought this to be a no brainer non-issue, especially in Korea! Korean culture is already way more about communal eating and food sharing than what I'm used to and the members have often said that Koreans share dishes, bowls etc (and we've seen them do this). So I'm surprised this even ever became a debate haha

Lol yes! Korea is more communal in their food culture, a fact that adds to the conversation at hand and maybe also to why this whole debate got so big. One side's argument is that it shouldn't be an issue because helping peel off someone's stuck perilla leaf is just how Korean people show their affection (정) and consideration towards each other — that it's a cultural thing. While the other side's argument is that no, there's an ambiguity specific to perilla leaf peeling that makes it different from other food sharing/serving acts of care.

Like yes, the debate is silly and in some respects a way to measure how jealous/possessive someone can be in a relationship. But it's also a genuinely relevant(?) or at least interesting question because the act of eating together is a central part of Korean culture. Out of all the countless rituals, mannerisms, and etiquette that stem from this fact, perilla leaf peeling just got a major spotlight as a point where people draw the line between cultural 정 and ambiguous 썸 (stage of romantic feelings before an official relationship).

[dalloga]

hi! i hope you're doing well! this isn't really a question about kookmin, but more about the language bts used in general? in the perilla leaf debate, the subtitles are very gender neutral with they/them pronouns and the phrase "significant other" instead of boyfriend/girlfriend. so i'm just wondering whether they also speak in a gender neutral way in korean and whether the words they used were purposefully gender neutral, or if it was just the english translation which was neutral?

Hello anon!

Korean, because of its tendency to make subjects implicit and omit them from sentences, lends itself to gender neutral language very easily. In fact, most of the pronouns you see in translations are ones that are added in by the translator and not inherent to the speech itself.

The word for lover/significant other used throughout the debate, "애인", is also gender neutral and commonly used to refer to one's partner.

The perilla leaf question was a trend for a long time. While I've seen the question get asked using "애인", I've also seen it get asked specifying the subject as a girlfriend/boyfriend in a lot of other cases.

Happy to confirm though that the perilla leaf debate here was all done through gender neutral language! Everything from how the question was posed to how it was answered — there wasn't a single moment where the dialogue wasn't inclusive.

[dalloga]

Hi Euna,

Haven’t seen you around in a while, I’m sure you are busy but do hope that you are okay first and foremost!

I was wondering if you could help with the recent omission of “형” with regards to JM from JK

As I am a jikook supporter, it would be really cute if he had omitted it purposefully, but I just saw a Korean speak saying that he omitted it because it was on the same row with V. But isn’t Jin on the same row as well?

Anyways, if that is the case obviously it changes nothing! Just there is nothing more I hate than mistranslations.

Thank you for your time in advance!

Hello anon! Thank you for the well wishes!

I have been busy, but for a nice reason. I was on holiday for the past few weeks, which is why I haven’t been online much (or at all, really) unless it was to check my emails or do a quick scroll through the timeline. Even now I’m typing this at the airport on my way to Korea (where I’ll be staying all summer) so yes! Slowly but surely catching up to what I’ve missed while I was away and very much looking forward to experiencing festa/cb season at the same time as the tannies 💜

As for your question, I do think this could be a case where the “형” was omitted for a practical, language-related reason. Even though he’s on the same line, “Jin” stands as a separate subject, which is why it’s necessary for 형 to be attached there. But JM and V gets compressed by a comma into a grouped(?) subject, which is why it makes sense for 형 to come at the end. It wouldn’t be wrong, but it would sound a bit awkward, a bit repetitive, to attach 형 twice when the names are listed consecutively like that.

Like you said anon, this really changes nothing! There’s scores of other instances where JK purposefully drops honorifics with JM — just maybe not in this particular interview.

I hope this helps!

[dalloga]

hi! can you explain "근데 늦었구나" from the vlive? k-jikookers seem to be really excited about it

Hi anon,

I've tried to think of an English equivalent that would give off the same vibe, but I don't think there is any. The case with "근데 늦었구나" is really in the tone. You have to understand that there's so many different ways that JK could have said the same thing, but it's almost like he chose the softest(?), most indulgent(?) way to say it. Which is why k-kookminers were so excited and called it his 'boyfriend tone'.

"--구나~" (like in "그랬구나~") usually gives off an "Oh I see~" kind of feeling, like you're already speaking from a place of understanding. In the context that JK used, it functions a bit more like an affirmation:

"But it's too late to go running, [right?]"

There's a certainty to the expression that assumes familiarity with the subject and their situation—almost like you're speaking on their behalf and helping make excuses for them? And it's completely informal.

I don't know if I'm explaining this correctly (maybe it's one of those things that really do get lost in translation), but anyways, it wouldn't be the first time that JK used this kind of domestic tone with JM (see: bday vlive's "잠깐 가줘?" and gimbap vlive's "괜찮아~ 안죽어~"). This was just the most recent example out of many.

[dalloga]

Do you ever feel like Kookmin haven’t really been hiding anything? They obviously have never confirmed anything. But they don’t seem to shy away from certain things. They act like my husband and I do in a professional setting. We still act like a couple, but aren’t gross about it in front of everyone. What if they are just going about their everyday lives without the need (or ability) to confirm it to the world?

Hello anon!

It's an undeniable fact that JK and JM are both intelligent, professional people who also care very deeply for each other. Rather than hiding it, they go out of their way to express it over and over in as many ways that they can — through words, action, art (so much GCF Tokyo on my timeline today!) — in gestures big and small.

No matter the narrative that antis and solos try to push, KM will continue to go on with their everyday lives unbothered. Today just confirms what we already knew. In addition to that, this whole Instagram series from the past few days shows how they're constantly in control of what they choose to share with us. Out of millions of questions and comments, JK chose what he wanted to engage with. There's agency and intentionality in that (and in everything else the tannies do, for that matter) that shouldn't be underestimated.

Whether it's KM or BTS, I really feel like there's nothing left for them to 'prove' anymore. It's our part as fans to just stick by their side, support them from afar, and appreciate the moments they decide to share with us, without doubt or insecurity. 💜

[dalloga]

Hello Euna! Please give us some insight into how bad k-army are freaking out right now ahahaha

Ahahahahahaha.... rose bowl? Hickeygate? It's almost 3am in Korea right now and over 800 people are still tuned in to a Twitter space talking about Kookmin.

"질투하는거예요 지금? 질투 하세요! 전 지미니 계속 잡겠습니다 - 에베붸뷉베부에ㅔ" Are you jealous right now? Be jealous! I'll continue holding on to Jiminie [teasing noises]"

^ Another legendary moment for the KM annals.... Just JK straightforwardly making a declaration with no extra explanation needed.

[dalloga]

Hi Dalloga:

Thank you so much for the clarification of JK’s “of course” in his Instagram questions. Wondering if you could clarify something for me. Being a Kookmin supporter, I truly believe in the nuances the Korean language brings, when spoken in Korea. And why so many K-Army react to KM’s interactions a certain way. But my sister in law, is full Korean, but was brought up here in the US. So she understands but doesn’t really speak Korean. When she and I have a convo on BTS and why I think Kookmin are together, she doesn’t get the tone difference when I try to explain it to her. maybe I’m not explaining it well. But is there a difference between the Korean language spoken in Korea, and those that learn the language outside of Korea? She says culturally, Korea supports more skinship, and that’s what she believes is the reason for KM’s interactions. I completely disagree but since I’m not Korean (Asian yes, but not Korean), I’m not the expert. If you rather just DM me the answer, that’s ok too.

Thanks.

Hello!

While I can't speak for your sister-in-law's proficiency , if she was raised in the US and grew up not really speaking Korean, then it's entirely possible for her to be a bit unfamiliar with its culture and language. Or at least experience it in a different way than other natives.

The Korean diaspora is not a monolith, and every person's relationship to their home country will be different. But it's not uncommon for some Korean-Americans to feel a foreigner-like estrangement from both countries that they "belong" to—especially the one they no longer or have never lived in.

Based on just the vast difference in experience and environment, I think there inevitably is a gap between people who learn Korean abroad and people learn Korean at home. The same thing applies to cultural familiarity. How much one makes the effort to close that gap, despite geographical distance, is up to each individual, but ultimately even that can be difficult to measure or judge. By others or by oneself.

Like I've said before, yes — in some cases, skinship between male friends may be more commonplace and normalized than it is in the west. But as with any aspect of culture, its nuances and boundaries are complex and situational. Someone who was raised in an entirely different culture (who also may be unfamiliar with JK/JM's personalities as individuals?) may not be as attuned to where those nuances and boundaries might lie.

I guess the bottom line to this is that there are no experts in this scenario (neither you, your sister-in-law, or even me for that matter). Just different levels of familiarity and proximity to complex people and complex cultures.

[dalloga]

Hello, I just saw the quotes on your latest tweet and here to say you don't deserve all those backlash. Tkkrs have made the situation complicated by twisting JK's words to make it seem that he hates JM and you only want to provide a correction to invalidate their words. Because of tkkrs' agenda, even JK got hate from jm solos who believed them and caused a mess. The boys don't deserve this hate and I'm rly sorry the I-side is out of control and are being disrespectful to native Korean speakers.

Thank you for reaching out anon!

It amazes me how some people can waste their energy on willfully misinterpreting people's words, whether that's mine or the members', to justify their hate. It just seems like a very exhausting way to live... not just as a fan (if they can even call themselves that) but as a human being...

[dalloga]

Hi Euna!

Just wanted to say my thanks as well, but in a bit different way! I don’t know if you know it or not, but you’re such an inspiration for so many people. The class you have, the way you handle everything, is just such a good example, not just in our little km sphere, but for life in general. You’re truly an example to follow and someone other jkkrs and i definitely look up to. So beyond all the love you have for km, and the effort you put in to provide others with understanding of the cultural nuances relating to them bc of that love, thank you for being yourself!

And though perhaps it may not mean much, i hope you know there are people that are definitely cheering you on! Hope that life rewards you for being the special person you are and you’re surrounded by love, peace, happiness and success wherever you go because you more than deserve it! 🤍🤍🤍

Anon, I hope you know how much this message means to me.... I've written and rewritten several drafts in response to this, but none of them felt quite right...

Honestly speaking, I've never been the type of person who enjoys attention or being at the center of discourse. Even now it still freaks me out a little to see this name and this blog being circulated online, however small this corner of the internet may be.

One of the reasons why I decided to make a separate Twitter account for dalloga was because I wanted to control, even a little bit, the way in which my words got spread. As some of my post started to travel out of this Tumblr sphere, I wanted to hold on to a sense of agency over the process, even knowing how impossible that may be in an digital culture that's to some extent dominated by a boundary-blurring entitlement towards strangers...

While I know that most of the backlash I've received comes from a place of immaturity and insecurity, I'd be lying if I said that it didn't still sting.

But despite all that, I come back because I want to keep on contributing whatever I can to conversations that I feel qualified to comment on.

And more than anything, it's an incredible comfort to see and hear how this blog has played even a minor role in prompting others to be a little bit more thoughtful in how they consume content as a fan. The respect and consideration towards cultures and languages different from one's own... the prioritization of fact, reason, and empathy... all of that and more has been so encouraging to see.

I'm by no means a perfect human or translator, but I'm grateful nonetheless for the trust and support you've given me so far. For as long as I can, at a pace that is sustainable for me and my mental health, I want to run this blog in a way where I can continue to be deserving of it.

Before this gets too long— thank you anon for taking the time to send me this incredibly kind message. I hope life returns that same kindness to you twofold and that you're also surrounded by love, peace, and happiness wherever you go 💜💜💜

[dalloga]

Hi Euna !

First of all thank you so much for clarifying things for us non-korean Jikookers, we appreciate you so much 💜. Second of all, I know it’s a specific group of people that try to speak over you and other korean fans and non-fans and on behalf of the I-army community (even tho I can’t speak for everyone unfortunately), I’m so sorry, no one deserves to have foreigners that have absolutely 0 knowledge of your culture and that are unwilling to learn, speak over native speakers of that country. I hope they’ll leave you alone.

Thank you anon 🫂💜

Ultimately it's people like you who keep me motivated to stay on this platform. Even though I still lack in many areas, thank you always for your willingness to listen and understand! As well as your continued patience.

[dalloga]

Hi Euna, hope you're doing well! I had a question regarding JK's response "그럼요", which translates to 'of course', to the ig comment asking to kidnap JM. I saw many k-kookminers react to this with vids of JK boxing & such, it gave me the implication that perhaps JK responded in sort of a challenging/sarcastic way? I had also looked up the phrase & found that "그럼요" could either mean 'of course' or 'of course not' depending on the question asked. I was wondering if you could explain this more?

Hello anon!

There's a lot of different ways to express the affirmative, "of course" meaning in Korean (그럼요, 당연하죠, 물론이죠, etc). They each mean similar things, but the tone/force that they give off are all slightly different. Out of those, 그럼요 comes across as having a more relaxed (the word I want to use here is "여유로운") tone. Which is why it lends itself to a more sarcastic, jokey feeling and why a lot of k-kookminers interpreted it as a challenging — "Sure you can take him. If you can get through me" — kind of way.

Overall, I feel like tone is one of the biggest things that gets lost with translation. While 'of course' is the correct translation, it inevitably falls a bit short of conveying the nuances of how 그럼요 can come across and be received. This kind of gap makes it possible for there to be misunderstandings, but I hope that it's abundantly clear that in this situation, JK was giving faux permission to a fan in an obviously joking manner.

[dalloga]

Omg Hi Euna ! I missed you here !

I know many translations and opinions were already given about Jimin’s comment on the bromance moment yesterday but I still wanted to have your opinion on it as a Korean person

Hello anon! 💜

So in Korean he said "저 이런 작위적인 거 되게 싫어하거든요? 물론 저희가 아이돌이지만.." which in a literal sense, translates to "[You understand that] I really don't like these kinds of forced/contrived things? Even though we're idols.."

Basically Hobi was joking that Jin was doing fanservice by helping get something off of Jimin's face, and Jimin replied by saying that he doesn't like doing things just for show. In this context, "작위적인 거" (contrived things) = fanservice (which, in an idol industry, means showing off the "bromance" between members).

So while he understands that being an idol entails a certain amount of fan-catered performance, his relationships and interactions with his members aren't that. He wants it to be—and they are—genuine and natural.

[dalloga]

Hi Euna! So there has been some interesting discussion online about jikook and them seemingly acknowledging relationship milestones that westerners wouldn't normally consider. Like 100 or 1500 days together or something. People keep saying that celebrating relationship milestones like that are very important in Korean culture and I just wanna know if there's any serious truth to that claim

Hi anon!

Yes, celebrating relationship milestones is a big part of Korean dating culture, and it's common for couples to download apps that calculate anniversaries and count the days for them. I think in other cultures you only really celebrate once a year, but in Korea we count the 22nd day, 100th day, 300, 1000, 1500 (and so on...). Of course, not every person/relationship pays the same amount of attention to every single milestone, but it's reasonable to expect couples to keep track of it to a certain extent. Especially if the people in the relationship are romantic people who like to attach special meaning to certain dates/numbers in their day to day lives.

Some people might find it a bit excessive(?), but Korea's couple culture is so strong that it wouldn't be odd at all to check and know how many + days it was since you first got together.

— Hence the reaction from k-side yesterday on JM's 2315 (and earlier, JK's 2308).

There's always the chance that these numbers are pure coincidence..... but the cultural context behind them is very valid!