Beyond Translation

written by Kim Mingyo

People all around the world experience similar emotions such as love, sadness, and happiness. However, expressing those emotions exactly the same across different  languages is hard.

Some words cannot be fully translated into other languages. The nuances of the words used to describe the emotions are missing when translated.

Every language contains unique meanings and emotional depth.

The Korean word “jeong” can’t be simply translated into “affection”. Jeong contains a deeper sense of attachment and connection built over time. “The bond they share isn’t just friendship, it is something closer to jeong” is an example for “jeong”.

Similarly, the Portuguese word “saudade” refers to a complex feeling of longing, nostalgia, and loss. “Looking at the old photos filled her with saudade for the days that would never return.” is an example of “saudade”.

Many languages usually don’t have a single word to express these emotions.

Language reflects culture. Each country has its own history, ways of thinking, and traditions. These are naturally embedded into their language.

In Japanese, honorific expressions known as “keigo” reflect the importance of hierarchy and respect in society. The way people change their language depending on age, status shows how deeply social relationships are valued in Japanese culture.

As a result, different cultures tend to empathize with different emotions.

Translations have limitations. While it is possible to deliver the general meaning of an emotion, it is often difficult to deliver the exact nuance.

Some meanings are inevitably lost in the process. 

The Portuguese word “saudade” is often translated into Korean as “그리움” but this doesn’t fully capture the deeper meaning of nostalgia, loss, bittersweet longing for something that may never return.

However, this does not mean that translation is useless. Rather, it highlights the uniqueness and richness of languages.

We should go beyond simple translations and focus on delivering deeper meanings across different languages.