원수

Sino-Korean word from 怨讐.

• (SK Standard/Seoul) IPA^(key):
• Phonetic hangul:
  • Though still prescribed in Standard Korean, most speakers in both Koreas no longer distinguish vowel length.

원수 • (wonsu) (hanja 怨讐)

1. enemy

• In the North, the second syllable is written and pronounced as 쑤 (ssu) to avoid homophony with 원수(元帥) (wonsu, “marshal”).

Sino-Korean word from 元帥.

• (SK Standard/Seoul) IPA^(key):
• Phonetic hangul:

원수 • (wonsu) (hanja 元帥)

1. (military) marshal

As the highest rank in the Korean People's Army (the North Korean military), it is intended to be an honourific title for Kim Il-sung and his successors. In this usage, it is "Marshal of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea" (조선민주주의인민공화국 원수 (joseonminjujuuiinmin'gonghwaguk wonsu)).

This rank is different from another top position in the KPA, "Marshal of the Korean People's Army" (조선인민군 원수 (joseoninmin'gun wonsu)).

Sino-Korean word from 元首.

• (SK Standard/Seoul) IPA^(key):
• Phonetic hangul:

원수 • (wonsu) (hanja 元首)

1. sovereign; head of state

   Synonym: 국가원수(國家元首) (gukgawonsu)

Sino-Korean word from 員數, with compound/genitive tensing applied.

• (SK Standard/Seoul) IPA^(key):
• Phonetic hangul:

원수 • (wonsu) (hanja 員數)

1. number of persons

   Synonym: 인원수(人員數) (inwonsu)