‘느낌 아니까’ 번역, 클라이언트와 통하는 비법 (Translating the ‘Vibe’: The Secret to Connecting with Clients)

Hello! This is Daily Hangul (매일한글), here to upgrade your Korean skills!

Today, we’re diving into a highly professional and fascinating topic: how to communicate effectively with clients as a translator. This is crucial whether you’re a professional translator, work in a bilingual environment, or simply want to understand the nuances of expert-level communication in Korean.

Especially nowadays in Korea, with the global explosion of K-content like webtoons and dramas, the demand for high-quality, nuanced translation is higher than ever. A simple word-for-word translation just doesn’t cut it. To truly capture the original’s intent, translators need to have deep, clear conversations with their clients. Let’s learn the key phrases that make this possible!

Core Expressions for Pro-Level Communication

Here are some essential phrases that will make you sound like a seasoned professional in the Korean translation industry.

1. 이 표현의 뉘앙스를 좀 더 구체적으로 설명해 주시겠어요?

• Pronunciation [Romanization]: I pyohyeon-ui nwiangseu-reul jom deo guchejeogeuro seolmyeonghae jusigesseoyo?
• English Meaning: Could you explain the nuance of this expression in more detail?
• Detailed Explanation: This is your go-to phrase when a word or sentence has multiple potential meanings or carries a specific feeling that isn’t immediately obvious. Using the word ‘뉘앙스’ (nwiangseu), a loanword from ‘nuance’, shows a high level of understanding. This question signals to the client that you are not just translating words, but are committed to translating the underlying emotion, subtext, and cultural context. It’s a polite and professional way to request clarification.
• 💡 Pronunciation Tip:
  The part ‘설명해 주시겠어요’ flows together smoothly. It’s pronounced [seolmyeonghae jusigesseoyo]. Notice how the ‘ㅎ’ (h) in ‘해’ (hae) is very soft and almost links into the ‘주’ (ju). Practice saying it as one continuous, fluid phrase rather than choppy words.

2. 원문의 톤앤매너를 어떻게 살리면 좋을지 의견 부탁드립니다.

• Pronunciation [Romanization]: Wonmun-ui tonaenmaeneo-reul eotteoke sallimyeon joeulji uigyeon butakdeurimnida.
• English Meaning: I would appreciate your opinion on how best to preserve the tone and manner of the original text.
• Detailed Explanation: ‘톤앤매너’ (tonaenmaeneo) is a very common Konglish (Korean-style English) term used in creative and marketing industries, meaning “tone and manner.” This phrase is perfect when you need to confirm the desired style of the translation. Is it formal and academic? Casual and witty? Sharp and professional? Asking this shows you are considering the overall stylistic integrity of the work, not just the accuracy.
• 💡 Pronunciation Tip:
  The word ‘좋을지’ is not pronounced ‘joh-eul-ji’. The ‘ㅎ’ (h) sound is silent when it’s a batchim (final consonant) followed by a vowel. Therefore, it is pronounced as [조을지 joeulji]. This is a common pronunciation rule that makes you sound much more natural.

3. 직역보다는 의역을 하는 편이 타겟 독자에게 더 자연스럽게 다가갈 것 같습니다.

• Pronunciation [Romanization]: Jigyeokbodaneun uiyeogeul haneun pyeoni taget dokja-ege deo jayeonseureopge dagagal geot gatsseumnida.
• English Meaning: I believe a liberal (sense-for-sense) translation, rather than a literal one, will resonate more naturally with the target audience.
• Detailed Explanation: This sentence is a masterclass in professional suggestion. It uses key industry terms: ‘직역’ (jigyeok) for literal translation and ‘의역’ (uiyeok) for liberal or sense-for-sense translation. Instead of saying “Your idea is bad,” you are respectfully presenting a professional opinion with a clear rationale: it will feel more natural for the ‘타겟 독자’ (taget dokja – target audience). The ending ~ㄹ 것 같습니다 (geot gatsseumnida) softens the suggestion, making it polite and collaborative.
• 💡 Pronunciation Tip:
  The final word, ‘같습니다’, has a tricky sound change. It is written as gat-seum-ni-da but pronounced [갇씀니다 gassseumnida]. The 받침 ‘ㅌ’ (t) sound changes to a ‘ㄷ’ (d) sound before a consonant. Then, this ‘ㄷ’ (d) sound is assimilated by the following ‘ㅅ’ (s), becoming an ‘ㅅ’ (s) sound itself. Mastering this type of consonant assimilation is a hallmark of an advanced speaker.

Example Dialogue

Let’s see how these expressions work in a real-world scenario. Imagine a translator (B) working on a popular webtoon script with a client (A).

A: 번역가님, 이 장면에서 주인공이 “아, 진짜 대박이다!”라고 말하는데, 이걸 그냥 “Wow, it’s great!”으로 번역하면 될까요?

(Translator, in this scene the main character says, “Ah, jinjja daebagida!” Should we just translate this as “Wow, it’s great!”?)

B: 좋은 질문입니다. 혹시 이 표현의 뉘앙스를 좀 더 구체적으로 설명해 주시겠어요? 이게 긍정적인 놀라움인가요, 아니면 믿을 수 없다는 느낌의 감탄인가요?

(That’s a good question. Could you explain the nuance of this expression in more detail? Is it positive surprise, or more of an exclamation of disbelief?)

A: 음… 후자에 더 가까워요. 너무 엄청난 광경이라 현실감이 없는 느낌이죠.

(Hmm… it’s closer to the latter. It’s a scene so incredible it feels unreal.)

B: 알겠습니다. 그렇다면 원문의 톤앤매너를 살리기 위해, “Wow, it’s great!” 같은 직역보다는 “This is absolutely insane!” 이나 “I can’t believe what I’m seeing!” 같은 의역을 하는 편이 타겟 독자에게 더 자연스럽게 다가갈 것 같습니다.

(I see. In that case, to preserve the tone and manner of the original, I believe a liberal translation like “This is absolutely insane!” or “I can’t believe what I’m seeing!” will resonate more naturally with the target audience, rather than a literal translation like “Wow, it’s great!”)

Culture Tip & Trend Deep Dive

In Korean professional culture, demonstrating ‘눈치’ (nunchi) is paramount. Nunchi is the subtle art of understanding the unspoken context, intentions, and emotions in a situation. When you, as a translator, ask clarifying questions about nuance and tone, you are showing excellent nunchi.

You are communicating that you understand the project goes beyond the literal text. You are trying to grasp the client’s deeper goals: Do they want to make the audience laugh? Feel a sense of awe? Understand a complex technical concept?

Using phrases like ~ㄹ 것 같습니다 (it seems that…) or 의견 부탁드립니다 (I would appreciate your opinion) when suggesting changes is also key. It frames your expertise not as a rigid correction, but as a collaborative effort to find the best possible outcome. This approach is highly valued and is the mark of a true professional in any Korean workplace.

Let’s Wrap It Up & Practice!

Today, we learned three fantastic phrases for professional communication in translation:
* 뉘앙스를 좀 더 구체적으로 설명해 주시겠어요? (For clarifying subtle meaning)
* 원문의 톤앤매너를… 의견 부탁드립니다. (For discussing style)
* 직역보다는 의역을 하는 편이… 더 ~ㄹ 것 같습니다. (For professionally suggesting an alternative)

Now, it’s your turn to practice!

Practice Question:
Imagine a client asks you to translate the Korean proverb “시작이 반이다” (Starting is half the battle) for a marketing slogan. A literal translation might be awkward. How would you use one of today’s expressions to suggest a more natural, powerful alternative like “A good start is half the work done” or “Getting started is the hardest part”?

Leave your answer in the comments below using one of the phrases we learned today! We’d love to see how you master these pro-level expressions.