The Painful History of Korea (韓國痛史, 한국통사) by Pak Eunshik (朴殷植, 박은식, 1859-1925). Published in 1915, the book covers incidents in Korean history from 1864 to 1911 leading to loss of independence.
Second Person Pronouns
Second person pronouns (二人稱代名詞, 2인칭대명사) are those pronouns that refer to the reader or audience. Examples in English include, “you”,”your”, “thou”, “thee”, et cetera. In Classical Chinese, second person pronouns can be largely classified into two categories: (1) general use and (2) address by title.
General Use
There are a number of general use second person pronouns: 女/汝(여), 爾(이), 而(이), 乃(내), 若(약), 君(군), 公(공), and 子(자). It should be especially noted that all of these characters have other meanings that are used quite frequently. In particular, 而, 乃, and 若 are more often used not as second person pronouns. Furthermore, note that 女 more often means “woman,” but as a second person pronoun is the archaic form of 汝.
居! 吾語女. 好仁不好學, 其蔽也愚.
거! 오어여. 호인불호학, 기폐야우.
Sit, I say to you. If [one] likes benevolence but does not like learning, then his occlusion [will render him] foolish.
► Analects (論語, 논어), Yang Huo Chapter (陽貨篇, 양화편, Yanghwapyeon).
今爾出於崖涘, 觀於大海.
금이출어애사, 관어대해.
Now, you arise forth from the edge of the banks and see the great seas.
► Zhuangzi (莊子, 장자, Jangja), Outer Chapters (外篇, 외편), Floods of Autumn (秋水, 추수).
而忘越人之殺而父邪?
이망월인지살이부야?
Have you forgotten that a man of the Yue State (越, 월, Weol, ?-222BC) killed your father?
► Eighteen Abbreviated Histories (十八史略, 십팔사략).
舅氏, 余嘉乃勳, 毋逆朕命.
구씨, 여가내훈, 모역짐명.
Maternal uncle, I have [deemed] your merits as illustrious. Do not disobey my orders.
► Records of the Grand Historian (史記, 사기), Annals of the Zhou Dynasty (周本紀, 주본기).
若勝我, 我不若勝, 若果是也, 我果非也邪?
약승아, 아불약승, 약과시야, 아과비야야?
If you had gotten the better of me or I had not gotten the better of you, then you are indeed right and I indeed am wrong?
► Zhuangzi (莊子, 장자, Jangja), Inner Chapters (內篇, 내편), Adjustment of Controversies (齊物論, 제물론).
勸君敬奉老人言, 莫敎乳口爭長短.
권군경봉로인언, 막교유구쟁장단.
I advise you to respectfully receive the words of old men. Do not with [your] breast milk [soaked] mouths quibble over [what is] long or short.
► The Precious Mirror Illuminating the Heart (明心寶鑑, 명심보감, Myeongshimbogam), Eight Repeated Songs (八反歌, 팔반가).
公無渡河, 公竟渡河, 墮河而死, 當奈公何
공무도하, 공경도하, 수하이사,당내공하
You, [please] do not cross the river. You have in the end [already] crossed the river, have fallen into the river and perished. [Now] what will you do?
► Do Not Cross the River Song (公無渡河歌, 공무도하가) by Yeo’ok (麗玉, 여옥, ?-?) of Gojoseon (古朝鮮, 고조선, 2333BC-108BC).
衛君待子而爲政, 子將奚先?
위군대자이위정, 자장해선?
The Lord of the Wei State (衛, 위, Wi, 1040-209BC) awaits you to [inquire about] governance. What will you do first?
► Analects (論語, 논어), Zi Lu (子路, 자로, Ja Ro).
Nota Bene: Among these pronouns, there are different levels of formality. Listed from the least formal to the most formal are: 爾 and 汝; 君; 女; and 子. Although these differences are unlikely to effect English translations, they should be noted in Korean ones.
To make these second person pronouns explicitly plural, the characters 等(등), 儕(제), 輩(배), 屬(속), 曹(조) are postfixed to 女/汝, 爾, and 若. These constructions are more common in later Classical Chinese texts. Since there is no plural second person pronoun in English, words have been supplied in the translations of the example texts below.
爾等謀害著古與, 乃稱萬奴民戶殺之, 罪三也.
이등모해저고여, 내칭만노민호살지, 죄삼야.
You all planned to kill Jeogoyeo (著古與, 저고여) (A Yuan Mongol diplomat), and then called for all the slaves and commoner households to assassinate him. [This is your] third crime.
► A Short History of Goryeo (高麗史節要, 고려사절요), Volume 16 (券十六, 권십륙), King Gojong (高宗, 고종, 1192-1259, r. 1213-1259), Year 1233 AD.
汝輩衆人中, 誰能爲我入水府, 拜龍王, 替行面謝之禮乎?
여배중인중, 수능위아입수부, 배룡왕, 체행면사지례호?
Among the multitudes of your men, who can enter the underwater palace on behalf of me, bow [before] the dragon king, and as a representative do the rites of showing gratitude?
► The Cloud of Dream Nine (九雲夢, 구운몽) by Kim Chuntaek (金春澤, 김춘택, 1670-1717).
吾欲汝曹聞人過失, 如聞父母之名, 耳可得聞, 口不可得言也.
오욕여조문인과실, 여문부모지명, 이가득문, 구불가득언야.
I want you all to hear about others’ faults, as though you are hearing [your] parents’ names. The ear can obtain hearing, but mouths cannot obtain words.
► Admonishing Nephew Yandun (誡兄子嚴敦書, 계형자엄돈서) by Ma Yuan (馬援, 마원, Ma Weon, 11-49BC).
不者, 若屬皆且爲所虜.
불자, 약속개차위소로.
If [you all] do not do so, you all will then become [his] prisoners.
► Records of the Grand Historian (史記, 사기), Annals of Xiang Yu (項羽本紀, 항우본기).
Address by Title
Similar to modern Korean, in Classical Chinese the reader or audience can be referred in the third person by their title. Common examples include: 先生(선생), meaning “teacher” or “master”; and 卿(경), meaning “minister.” Whether the word is interpreted as a second person pronoun will be highly dependent on the context.
先生何爲出此言也?
선생하위출차언야?
Master, for what reason do you emit these words?
► Mencius (孟子, 맹자, Maengja), Li Lou Part I (離婁上, 이루상, Irusang).
卿未嘗進一賢, 退一不肖.
경미상진일현, 퇴일불초.
You, the minister, have not yet promoted one sagely [scholar] and withdrawn [even] one unworthy man.
► Gyeongseyupyo (經世遺表, 경세유표) by Jeong Yakyong (丁若鏞, 정약용, 1762-1836).
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