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seonsaeng - 선생 - - mister
Isn't this the Korean equivalent of sensei ([SIZE=-1]先生[/SIZE]? I usually see this used in the context of "teacher," but looking at some other resources I do see its usage connected to "mister." Very interesting.
I've never run into a differentiating situation for whether the surname, name, title, or whatever come in any certain order for Korean usage.
However, in the Japanese/Okinawan arts, we say the title of an instructor before OUR instructor's name but AFTER the name of someone who is a known instructor, but not ours. I would assume that the Korean may be similar, but I really have never heard any info on this.
Graham Sensei (as opposed to Sensei Graham, since I am not your instructor)
Yes.Do you always call every instructor with their full title?
Do you do it in the Korean way (name first, then title) or the American way (Title first then name)? Have you ever been told that there is a difference?
I have noticed and have actually been told by several Kodanja that there is a very distinct difference between very specific ways of addressing instructors.
The traditional title in Korean for an Instuctor is Sa Bom Nim, of course there are other titles, depending on the rank of your instructor and your organization. The "Nim" is also obviously the honorific term of respect, so depending on the context and your rank, the "nim" can stay or go. I'm wondering if others have run into this distinction as well.
What I'm talking about:
_________, Sa Bom Nim
Sa Bom Nim ___________
Master ___________
(Insert the last name of the instructor in question in the blank)
So has anyone ever heard of a distinction between the 3? Are there other ways that you use to address your instructor (aside from sir or different titles, such as Jo Kyo, Kyo Sa, etc)?
While I was in Korea, my instructor there allowed me to use them interchangeably and told me that they were all the same as far as he was concerned. In the US, I have heard from several different people, yudanja and kodanja alike that there is a specific difference, in fact, down to the level of: Use "Sa Bom Nim _______" for YOUR instructor, use "_________, Sa Bom Nim" for OTHER instructors and use "Master __________" for a Kodanja who is not a certified Sa Bom Nim.
I filled in the blanks from your post...
1. <Last Name>, Sa Bom (Usually when writing a letter or e-mail)..Leave off the "Nim"
2. Sa Bom Nim <Last Name> (in person)
3. Master <Last Name> (in Person)
4. Or you could call the instructor "Sa Bom Nim" (in person)
R. McLain
Sorry, there are just so many TKD people on the board, and you guy's start most of the threads, I have to get my 2 cents in somewhere. I will try and stick to my own kind.
Sir, is this the protocol for your Dojang or your organization?
No, just a Korean language protocol.
R. McLain
Correct, which is again, the basis of my question. this is how it is done in Korea, but many American Dojangs mix things up between Korean and American configurations and English. I'm just wondering what others do and how it is explained.
Sensei?
At a Korean martial arts class?
Generally a bad idea.
Hi MBuzzy,
Sorry, I had to quickly answer in the last post due to a time constraint. I didn't mean for it to be so short.
This is the way my teacher teaches the titles part. Also, when he writes me letters/e-mails or personally addressed people it follows the same. I saw in one of my old Korean-language books that this was addressed as well - only not for martial art titles, just Mr., Mrs. etc. But, same format.
R. McLain
http://www.tangsoodo.pl/terminologia_podstawowe_zwroty.php
I thought this might help. The way it was explained to me was the Nim basically means sir and is dropped off when using they name so John Doe could either be referred to as Sa Bum Nim or Sa Bum Doe Although we have learned proper protocol though, we refer to our instructors as Mr., Mrs., Ms., Sir, Mame or Master when applicable.
In our Dojang this is how we use the terms.....
1st dan---Jyo ko
2nd dan---Kyo sa
3rd dan---Bu Sa Bom
4th and above---Sa Bom