함흥차사

Korean

Etymology

Sino-Korean word from 咸興 (“Hamhung, Korean city”) + 差使 (“messenger”), literally "messenger to Hamhung".

King Taejo of Joseon had wanted his favorite seventh son to succeed him, but in 1398 he was usurped by his fifth son King Taejong, who also murdered his two younger brothers. Soon after, Taejo retired to his hometown of Hamhung. According to folklore, the fact that his father remained unreconciled with him proved a source of personal stress and political trouble to the new king. Taejong thus sent his father a number of messengers asking for reconciliation, but Taejo is said to have killed them all. Taejong awaited his messengers in vain, hence the modern word.

In reality, Taejo attempted a counter-coup from Hamhung in 1402, which his son quickly suppressed. He was then forcibly brought back to the capital of Seoul, where he lived under close supervision until he died of a stroke in 1408.

Pronunciation

• (SK Standard/Seoul) IPA^(key): [ha̠mɣɯŋt͡ɕʰa̠sʰa̠]
• Phonetic hangul: [함흥차사]

Romanizations
Revised Romanization?	hamheungchasa
Revised Romanization (translit.)?	hamheungchasa
McCune–Reischauer?	hamhŭngch'asa
Yale Romanization?	hamhungchasa

Noun

함흥차사 • (hamheungchasa) (hanja 咸興差使)

1. (idiomatic) person sent on an errand who fails to return even after a long time

   Synonym: 강원도 포수(江原道砲手) (gang'wondo posu)