I’m not Korean.
I’m obliged to write this disclaimer every.single.time for my antis, and those people new to the blog.
Hey, you, I’m not Korean!! So deal with my Korean language deficiencies, and my non-Korean perspectives. Please find yourself another blog to loiter around. I do NOT need clicks.
When Ha Ram expressed his feelings to CheongKi, he said the words “Geudaelul yeonmohao.”
“Geudaelul” means “you.” And “Yeonmohao” was translated as “I love you” in Viki.
Since I didn’t hear the word “Saranghada,” that’s commonly used in kdrama love confessions, I went on Nancy Drew mode.
Here’s what I found:
“Yeonmo” means affection.
It’s the same word that the upcoming drama, “The King’s Affection” uses in its title, “yeonmo” which is translated as “affection.”
I think the “Hao” comes from the verb “hada” which means to have/to do.
If I put them together, then Ha Ram just told CheongKi that “he had an affection” for her.
Note: Google translated 그대를연모하오 as “I adore you.”
My honest reaction to the Google translation was to shudder.
What does “to have an affection for CheongKi” mean?
It means he has tender feelings for her; he’s grown attached to her; he’s fond of her. He’s declaring himself to her in a formal way.
When you break down what Ha Ram actually said, it’s not as cheesy as saying, “I love you” out of the blue.
Interestingly too, “yeonmo” has something in common with “kite.” Kite is “yeon” in Korean.
CK: How is it? Do you feel the movement of the wind?
Ram: How high up is the kite?
CK: Your kite is flying the highest.
Ram: You are quite good.
I like this. He gave credit to her because she was the one who flew the kite for him.
CK: They say a person depends on “hard work, not luck.” The kite is also out of human control.
Because he gave her credit for the kite flying the highest, she was supposed to show modesty by depreciating her own work. But her words didn’t come out that way. Her words were tangled.
In the first sentence, she declared that hard work mattered. But in the next sentence, she contradicted herself, saying that hard work didn’t matter because it’s out of human control.
So he laughed.
Ram: (laughing) You mean dependent on luck, not hard work.
CK: Pardon?
Ram: (laughing)
CK: Oh, “luck, not hard work.” Right. That is what I said. Same thing either way. Stop laughing.
Ram: I apologize. I laughed too loudly.
They continued flying their kites. He then asked her what her first impressions of him were.
Ram: What was the young boy like from your childhood memory?
CK: I could not see then so I thought he was a rascal with a runny nose.
Ram: Is it different now that you’ve seen him?
I don’t know if it’s the Viki subber’s quirk, or Ha Ram was talking about himself formally in the third person. I thought addressing himself in the third person decreased the embarrassment of talking about his appearance. He didn’t sound like he was fishing for compliments, and she, in turn, didn’t sound like she was attracted to him.
CK: Yes. He’s fine-looking male fairy.
Uh-oh. Wait till she discovers that he’s Il Wol Seong. Fairy meant that he was good-natured and gave her whatever she desired.
Ram: Then, do you like that boy because he’s good-looking?
Here, he was referring, not to the young boy, but to the adult. He was trying to get her to admit that she liked him as an adult, like she did when he was young.
CK: (smilingly) Don’t say such things. Perhaps he was a runny-nosed rascal back then.
And here, she was reminding him that the good-looking adult, for all his current handsomeness, was still a snotty kid back then. She was putting him in his place.
Ram: (turning serious) Do not be surprised even if you do not see me for a few days. I shall come back.
CK: What do you mean?
Ram: I will go to the Inspection Office with Grand Prince Yangmyeong after what happened at Gyeongwonjeon. Nothing would happen, but it may take a few days, so I wanted to tell you beforehand.
Awww. I like this. He was concerned that she would worry about him if she didn’t know where he was.
CK: His Highness truly means to take you there.
She was annoyed with Prince Yul because he didn’t heed her request.
Ram: It cannot be brushed aside, as it happened at the King’s Palace. And what is more, you almost got injured as well.
Nice. I like that he focused on HER injury, rather than HIS hurt feelings that she kept her injury a secret. His attention was on the right issue. He understood that CheongKi didn’t want to tell him that he injured her, because she didn’t want to make him feel guilty.
CheongKi became flustered that he found out. She probably was going to deny it but realized that it was futile.
CK: I am.. I am only.. I am all right.
Ram: Do not worry. I will go free if there is no problem.
Then, his kite string broke.
CK: Oh!
Ram: What is it?
CK: Your kite has been cut off.
Ram: I apologize. It must have been my mistake.
CK: It is all right. This kite is meant to fly off with bad luck to repeal bad fortune.
Ram: Is that so?
CK: Yes. I shall cut mine and set it free.
She did so.
CR: The two kites are flying together.
Ram: They are flying away with all the bad fortune.
Yes. We get the double meaning of the kites. The image of two kites flying in the wind also symbolized their wish to soar together without care in the world.
Ram: Maiden. (putting down his kite and removing something from his sleeve) Please accept it.
CK: (putting down her kite) What is this?
Ram: It is the one and only jade ring that my father gave to mother when he was alive. I hope you will keep it much longer than the handkerchief.
I like that he was gently teasing her not to lose the ring.
I told you, right? From the first meeting, he liked to poke fun at her. Back then, he made her worry that she’d lost her pouch when he had it with him all along. She asked him why he teased like that. In reply, he grumbled that she was so mean that he couldn’t even joke around.
Now, he was teasing her about losing a handkerchief when he knew very well that she safeguarded it for 19 years and only used it to bandage his neck wound.
He was pleased to see the handkerchief again. He didn’t think she’d hold on to it. She told him that she meant to return it to him since it was important to him. Of course, she didn’t need to confess that she kept it because it had also become important to her as her keepsake of him. He understood because he could read between the lines.
CK: Why would you give me such a precious thing? I’m not sure it is right for me to keep this.
Ram: Geudaelul yeonmohao.
Dear @Packmule3,
We are soulmates on this one! I was looking since last night what exactly HaRam told her and I just found it on an SBS video! I just posted it on our episodes thread with no explanation because you haven’t commented!
I have found on papago.naver.com what the phrase in hangeul meant :
I’m going to keep you warm.
But here is the analysis of the phrase:
연모하다
1.love, have an affection (for)
그대
1.(주격, 목적격) you;
(소유격) your;
(소유대명사) yours;
(재귀대명사) yourself;
(고어) thou
Thank you for this! You made my evening ! <3
In Dramanice, it was translated as I love you too but because I’ve never heard of it that way, I thought is it really I love you?
Thank you. ☺️
@Packmule3, Yul is the nickname of Prince#3. This kite scene and confession are with Ha Ram and CheongKi. I know you know that, but you had a little Freudian slip. Are you subconsciously rooting for the second male lead?
Haha! @Welmaris!
You’re right!! Will change later.
Sigh. You found me out. I do like the second male lead ACTOR. 😂
Hey, non-Korean,
thank you for the Geodaedul yeonmohao… And for the yeon = kite!!!
I keep noticing stuff I am probably missing… and I loved this one today. So…. thank you! Great job!
best regards from Rio de Janeiro
Thank you @Packmule3 for this post and @Cleo for the video clip on th eother thread.
This is really interesting bc we’re so used to hear saranghae or saranghanda in dramas but there are other words to express it.
This is a little bit off topic but I remember this beautiful scene in Queen for Seven Days (ep 15) when the ML finally confessed his feelings to the FM for real.
Chae Kyung: Do you love me?
Lee Yeok: How could I not.
(and then he said it using not one but three Korean verbs)
Lee Yeok: Eunaehabnida, yeonmohabnida, saranghabnida.
This must have been hard for the translators. I remeber some Korean speaker on Soompi forum took time to explain:
연모합니다 – Yeonmohabnida (…) Yeon Mo (연모,戀慕) means to have great reverence & affection for the person, I will put that as “I adore you”
은애합니다. Eunaehabnida – Eunae (恩愛) is express of a conjugal devoted love usually express with married couple
사랑합니다 – Saranghabnida, everyone know this term….so I will not explained
Source: https://forums.soompi.com/topic/399275-drama-2017-%E2%99%9A-seven-day-queen-7%EC%9D%BC%EC%9D%98-%EC%99%95%EB%B9%84-%E2%99%9A/page/202/
And indeed there were different translations:
Viu: I love you, I adore you, I love you
Viki: I love you, I adore you, I love you
But apparently they are differents nuances of love as expressed though words.
Here is the link to the scene (YT)
I think the differences between the three words may/may be appropriate for that drama, “Queen for Seven Days” — which I dropped by the way when I realized how ineffectual the King was to his lover.
But in this drama the “reverence” aspect won’t work. That isn’t the kind of relationship Ha Ram and CheongKi have thus far.
Reverence implies deep awe and admiration.
But she and Ha Ram were flying a kite, a relaxing pastime between equals. She’d seen him in his horrible monster MaWang mode so admiration would be the last thing she would feel for him right now. Meanwhile, he thought it was funny when she mixed up her idioms and he laughed loudly at her mistake. She teased him about his runny nose and good looks. Then, Ha Ram just reassured her not to worry if he went missing for a few days.
Their conversation displayed companionship, mutual understanding, and kindred souls.
Not reverence. I think that’s out of context given the interaction they just displayed. 🙂 Maybe later….
Hahaha I must have been really sleepy last night so I didn’t pick up on Yul! 😂
@Welmaris! 👏🏻
Or maybe, @agdr03, you’re subliminally hoping as well…
@PM3, thank you for the word analysis. i was wondering what he said exactly. 💙 i was shocked to hear his confession. but i’m glad he was able to express it. and i love this “kiting” moment of theirs. i think there will be more next episode.
ooh and a ring? already? haha like a promise ring perhaps. i was wondering if she’ll wear it right away. they weren’t showing it. this is definitely better than the hanky. i’m amazed how she was able to preserve the hanky for 19 years. i think she has it with her all the time like a bracelet? special memento indeed.
😁 I’ve seen Gong Myung from other dramas before and as much I like him here, I’m more interested in the otp. I’m not fussed about how the ML looks as well because it’s the younger kids that made me want to have HR and CG to have a happy ending.
The dialogue script names were pre-written, @agdr03. I just copy and paste them, and then fill in the dialogues.
I was working on my “Yul’s Encounter” thread so CK and Yul names were on top of the page. 😂
As for Ahn HyoSeop’s looks, I think he’s better looking than Gong Myung.
But the makeup artist was a slacker. AHS’ eyebrows needed trimming, unless the plan was to give him spiky eyebrows to make him look a meerkat. And his philtrum did look shiny/sweaty during the midnight outing at the lakeside.
😂 I really shouldn’t watch Kdramas on HDTV because I’m seeing all their flaws (like Kim Seonho’s red lips on Hometown Cha Cha Cha) when their faces are shown in close-up.
I’ve been in the blog for years now so I know that you’re awesome with the dialogue script names. But I must have been really out of it last night. 😁 It should have clicked on me because I use Yul for Prince Myeong. ☺️
There was a scene where CG was learning about physiognomy and the older man was describing how to draw eyebrows. I forgot what he said about it. Maybe that’s for AHS. 😂 This is my first time watching him.
I love HDTV too, who doesn’t? 😂 I think most men in kdramas use lipstick of some sort, for me anyway. 😂
@Packmule3, are you dissing Ha Ram’s eyebrows? “Brows of a dragon are like his. They are powerful, like a dragon’s appearance and dark with a slight arch. They are called Yongmi.” [We see CK drawing eyebrows that look like HR’s.]
HR: “What are those with Yongmi like?” [I figure HR’s interest in Yongmi is because he knows he’s got them.]
Physiognomist: “They are exceptional writers and very wise. They are known to rise to high ranks.”
Just be glad his eyebrows don’t look like Andy Rooney’s during the latter part of his tenure on 60 Minutes.
Ah that’s it! Thanks @Welmaris ☺️
@agdr03, you and I think alike. I’ve got it covered in my comment above. You and I must’ve been typing at the same time.
@agdr03, as I was saying…
🙌🏻 @Welmaris 😉
It looks like we’ve got some funny moments between HR and CG.
Shhhh, @Welmaris! Don’t mention Andy Rooney.
Wait — So was I *right* then (and @Anonymous) to observe that his eyebrows were NOT trimmed? 🤨
But they weren’t trimmed on purpose to show his “brows of a dragon” and connection to power?
Tsk. Tsk. Tsk. We’re spotting things ahead of the game.
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@packmule3 the Chinese term for the Korean equivalent (it even sounds similar), is as @Linnea said, it’s elevating that person. A deep admiration/respect. The person is put on a pedestal. Much like the kites they were flying. Coupled with the precious family heirloom that he gifted her with (the ring), HR has not only professed his love for her, he’s proposed. 😍. I only just watched Ep9. Been indulging in the JOMO. Still Ep10 to go. The drama is moving along at a nice pace. Not so fast that you miss details and have to rewatch a few times to catch it all. And not so slow that it drags.
The closest example I can think of that would give you an indication of YeonMo is when a political figure or celebrity showers accolades on their spouse when asked about their contribution. When they say things like, “she’s my better half”, “I wouldn’t be here if not for her”, “she works twice a hard as I do”. It goes a lot deeper than just “I love you”. It’s undergirded by admiration and respect. It doesn’t sound as romantic but it is. Because nothing is sexier than having a man shower praise on his woman and being full of admiration for her qualities.
But @nrllee, that’s exactly my point.
His actions does NOT show this kind of reverence. He doesn’t see her as his “better” half (with emphasis on “better”). He hasn’t put her on a pedestal (not that I think this is emotionally healthy). He doesn’t
Did you read what I wrote? 🙂
He knows that she’s flawed.
a. She misquoted.
b. She’s easy to tease,
c. She pouts and sulks when things don’t go her way.
d. She sticks her nose in where it doesn’t belong. (Didn’t he just lecture her for fighting with the physiognomer’s guard?)
To me, when a person sees you with your faults, and still loves you despite them, then THAT’s more, infinitely more, satisfying and romantic.
And no, personally, I don’t think a man is sexy when he showers me praise, especially when the praise isn’t commensurate or deserved. It’d feel fake and insincere. He’d look obsequious and creepy.
(As creepy as the male lead in Yumi’s Cells when he continually praised Yumi for being “cute” during their first date, and he knew next to nothing to her. I thought he wasn’t sincere back then. But he improved now.)
Same thing here.
To me, HaRam would be insincere if he were to declare reverence for her because his current actions do not attest to it.
Look: I get what “YeonMo” means by definition.
But what I’m saying is that the deep reverence isn’t there yet for HaRam. For him, it’s just deep affection, which is perfectly fine. He’d be FAKING if he actually claimed to have deep reverence for her.
Why?
Because if he actually revered her, then he would stop this revenge scheme that he was planning.
To show reverence = to avoid disappointing that person = to fear that person’s condemnation = to do good because good actions would give honor to the person he’d put on a pedestal = to be better than what he is right now
To revere = to worship that person above anything else, even before his desire for vengeance
Do you see what I’m saying?
If he truly reveres her, then he should know that she’ll disapprove of his schemes, double-dealing, treachery and treason as Il Wol Seong. She’ll shun him if she finds out.
If he really reveres her, then that possibility alone that he can jeopardize her feelings for him, should make him stop, pause, hesitate and reconsider his future actions.
He doesn’t show reverence when he’s still hell-bent on taking his revenge. That’s the Number 1 sign that authentic reverence for her is still missing.
At least, at the moment.
So yes, “yeonmo” may sound more profound that “saranghae” but, at the moment, it’s a fact that HaRam hasn’t shown the fullest extent of the word. I wouldn’t ascribe reverence to HaRam’s feelings for CheongKi. It’s premature.
waiting for ur next post of ep 10.. i really like your ideas that make me fall even more for this drama.. fightingg!!
@packmule3 I was talking more in general rather than specifically. When I say sexy about a man showering his woman with praise, it was in the situation where he acknowledges that his achievements were in part the result of his spouse working hard in support of him in the background. But yes I do agree that in this situation (HR and CK), his dishonesty and scheming do not match up with his profession of his high regard for her. That’s why I still prefer Yul as a character. At least he is open and honest with her. No secrets.
🙂 That’s what I said when I responded to @Linnea. I wrote that the definitions may (or may not, as the case may be) work for that particular kdrama (“Queen of Seven Days”) but they do not apply to this drama. The original poster delineated the different qualities of love expressed in those three words as she/he saw fit in that drama.
However, I said that, in the case of “Lovers of the Red Sky,” the definition of yeonmo as both affection AND reverence does NOT apply. Reverence is still in the incipient stage.
That time when HR told CK that he “yeonmo”-ed her, the reverence was simply missing. He regarded her as an equal/friend/partner/childhood friend, but he didn’t revere her…at least, not in the way *I understood* the word reverence.
Thus, I said that yeonmo = affection.
Nothing more, nothing less.
In Episode 10, Prince Yul also declared he “yeonmo”-ed CK. And note: he used the formal version of the verb (unlike Haram). To me, Yul showed more reverence in his chivalrous, gallant behavior towards CK than HR.
For example:
when Yul offered her his coat, and told her to hop on his back
when he warned Haram not to allow CK walk in the rain
when he visited her at night to deliver his message or drop off the medicine
when he admired her artistry and acknowledged her as a divine painter
when he promised to protect her and her father like he’d protect his life (but that waits to be seen, lol).
Or when he stayed up all night composing four lines (was it four?) of poetry for CK, at the end of Episode 10.
His poem read:
“The moon causes my heart to long for someone.”
I don’t know if this was a partial poetry or the whole one. It was too brief, though, lol. If he had stayed up all night to write those few words, then I’d laugh at his efforts.
AS IT STANDS, Yul’s current actions appear more reverent to me than Haram’s.
Don’t get me wrong. I like HaRam’s character. I know he’s the OTP. I’m sure he’ll be a good guy in the end. But objectively speaking, his actions towards CK shows affection, fondness, and protection. But not reverence.
For Haram, “yeonmo” = affection
@packmule3 honestly I wasn’t exactly following the argument above. I just read Linnea’s comment and then YeonMo on the title and wrote my comment 😂. Sorry if I misinterpreted you. I am finding it hard to read your posts here on the blog (only lately) because my internet has been patchy for some reason. The page loads without the pics. And then as I am reading, the pics slowly load individually which then results in the scrolling up suddenly and I lose my spot in the paragraph I am reading and I can’t follow the flow. So sometimes I just read the comments that come with the email and respond without actually looking at the page. MiAn. Probably why I missed salient points of the discussion. The comments load up quickly and fine, so I can read it in one sitting.
But HR’s duplicity is what puts me off. It’s like he wants to have his cake and eat it. On the one hand, he wants to be with CK, on the other he is driven by rage and a vengeful spirit and plotting the demise of the Royal family. I wasn’t happy with how he seemed to push Prince2 into warring with Yul when he was playing Go. 😒. Also did you find his laughing at her fake? When she misquoted the saying and he laughed? I cringed. 😂. I wasn’t sure if he was really trying to give us a fake laugh or if he was actually trying to laugh for real but it didn’t come across like that.
One thing that does make me wonder is his (HR) agency. How much of his vengeance is self motivated and how much of it is due to MW possessing him? Or is it both? MW feeds on his vengeful spirit and eggs him on? If MW is confined in the divine “bowl” once more, does his vengeance subside? So he can say, “the Devil made me do it?” I am not sure if Yul will die as a result of his plot for revenge. Like you said, thus far, everything Yul has done has been above board. Even in the love stakes. I haven’t watched Ep10. Yul hasn’t used his power as prince to tear the 2 of them apart. That in itself is reverence on his part to CK? He respects her decision to be with HR. And that’s the main reason I am still in his corner as a character. I (and even he does I think) realize that CK’s heart has always been with HR, but I cannot help but think in my momma’s heart that Yul is the better man. 😂
Hello! I see the yoenmo discussion got a little heated,I didn’t mean to drive a vedge between you guys, I just wanted to share some content from another drama (Qf7D) bc I thought it was an interesting concept to compile three different verbs for love/affection, obviously with some nuance in meaning, in one love confession scene, and an interesting case for a translator as well. Especially as we don’t get to hear the other two verbs so often in dramas and so many paid attention to that. So my intention was rather to write abt the general meaning than discuss the actual nuance in this particular scene in LOTRS in a polemic way. Sorry for the confusion.
As to Yul, I admit that he is a gentleman, but to me it’s more about typical gestures than real acts that matter. I agree with @Cleo that Ha Ram, in contrast to Yul, shows more real support, not only words. And besides, Yul was very quick to judge CK as a forger and express his disappointment whereas he himself is in elevated position. And he forgets or suppresses all the time that his care for Ha Ram may put her in danger (for example the piggyback scene I the rain) so bc all of that together I really can’t warm up to this character. But I hope he will redeem himself by helping the OTP later.
As to Ha Ram’s duality, I agree with @Nrllee and in fact I was wondering abt that as well, probably in another thread, and my questions were quite similar so I’m waiting for some explanation/further development as to that matter in the coming episodes as well.