Semantic Drift in Loanwords
Kadamai isn't a suit but single-breasted, ppaguri isn't sex but plagiarism
Many Korean words come from Japanese. But some settled with meanings completely different from the original. The word was borrowed, but the meaning got twisted somewhere along the way.
The previous post (japanese-loanwords-in-korean) covered daily, construction, and adult terms. This one focuses specifically on words whose meanings drifted.
Completely Changed Meanings
Kadamai — Not a Suit, but a Jacket Closure Style
In Korean, "kadamai" evokes old-school formal suits. But Japanese 片前(katamae) originally means single-breasted — a jacket with one row of buttons. 片=one side, 前=front closure.
The opposite is moromai (諸前=double-breasted) — two rows of buttons.
A technical tailoring term expanded in Korean to represent the entire era\'s fashion image.
Syobu — Not a Match, but Bargaining
Japanese 勝負(shoubu) means match, showdown. In Korean, it became price haggling. A Japanese person hearing "syobu" would think you\'re picking a fight.
Ppaguri — Not Plagiarism, but Sex
Japanese パクリ(pakuri) means theft, plagiarism. In Korean it became sexual intercourse slang. パクリ has zero sexual connotation in Japanese.
Sakkashi — Not Upside Down, but Oral
Japanese 逆さ(sakasa) means upside down, reversed. In Korean it became oral sex slang. 逆さ is a perfectly innocent everyday word in Japanese.
Nuance Shifts
| Korean | Japanese Original | Korean Meaning | Drift |
|---|---|---|---|
| 유도리(yudori) | ゆとり — relaxation (positive) | "No yudori" = inflexible (negative only) | Positive → negative-only |
| 무데뽀(mudeppo) | 無鉄砲 — reckless | Stubborn, ignorantly pushing through | "Reckless" → "ignorant" |
| 노가다(nogada) | 土方 — construction worker (neutral) | Hard manual labor (derogatory) | Neutral → derogatory |
| 뗑깡(ttengkkang) | てんかん — epilepsy (medical) | Throwing a tantrum | Medical → behavioral |
Scope Changes
| Korean | Japanese Scope | Korean Scope | Drift |
|---|---|---|---|
| 스킨십(skinship) | Physical contact (including parent-child) | Romantic physical contact only | Narrowed |
| 찌라시(chirashi) | Flyer, advertisement | Flyer + spreading rumors | Negative meaning added |
| 가다마이(kadamai) | Single-breasted (technical) | Old-school formal suit (entire image) | Expanded |
Key Points
Full change: kadamai, syobu, ppaguri, sakkashi — meanings completely different from Japanese
Nuance shift: yudori (positive→negative), nogada (neutral→derogatory), ttengkkang (medical→tantrum)
Scope change: skinship (all→romantic), chirashi (flyer→rumors), kadamai (closure→era image)
Causes: oral transmission + context-based settling + slang easily distorts meaning