geezer” reveals a lot about hierarchy in South Korea
为“高人一等的老头”而生的新词充分体现了韩国的等级制度
Kkondae is a modern word of uncertain origin — perhaps an adaptation of the English word “condescend”. It means an older person, usually a man, who expects unquestioning obedience from people who are junior. South Koreans apply the word to everyone from narcissistic bosses to overbearing uncles and corrupt politicians.
Kkondae （老顽固）是一个来源不详的现代词汇，也许化用自英文单词 condescend（屈尊）。它指的是一类上了年纪的人，往往是男性，他们要求年轻人的绝对服从。在韩国，从自恋的老板，到专横的大叔，以及腐败的政治家，这个词对他们都适用。
South Korea is notorious for its suffocating workplace hierarchies based on age, sex and length of service. Many South Koreans are outraged when younger colleagues or relatives fail to use the correct honorific to address them.
韩国的工作场所中，基于年龄、性别和工龄而产生的等级制度十分压抑，此事臭名远扬。当年轻的同事或家里的小辈未能使用正确的敬语来称呼他们时，很多韩国人会勃然大怒。
However, the popularity of kkondae as an insult is a sign of change. Open rebellion against hierarchical strictures is still rare and frowned upon. But young people are beginning to question authority.
然而，越来越多人使用“老顽固”来羞辱他人，这意味着转变的发生。（韩国）公然反对等级束缚的情况仍然少见，且这依然是不被允许的。但是年轻人正逐渐开始质疑权威。
Education partly explains this shift. Younger people tend to have more of it than their elders. That gives them greater power to challenge the kkondae, says Moon Seung-sook of Vassar College in America.
教育在一定程度上促成了这种转变。年轻人往往比他们的长辈受过的教育要多，而这在美国瓦萨学院的文胜淑看来，给了前者更大的力量去挑战“老顽固”现象。
South Korea’s evolving political culture has been making an impact, too. Since democracy began to take hold in the country in the late 1980s, belief in universal rights, including people’s right to be treated equally, has become stronger. This has encouraged people to question their deference to others.
韩国逐渐转型的政治文化也一直对此产生着巨大影响。自从 1980 年代末韩国开始确立民主制度，人们对于自己享有的普遍权利已变得更有信心，而其中就包括人人都受到平等对待的权利。这也鼓励了人们去质疑他们对他人的尊崇。
An ancient culture of authority is unlikely to disappear overnight. Young people are becoming more willing to challenge hierarchy, but what will happen as they get older? Some of today’s young upstarts will not achieve the success they dream of. They may find themselves yearning for the kind of deference their elders once automatically enjoyed. Today’s kkondae critics may grow up to be kkondae themselves. But whether tomorrow’s young people will let them get away with that is doubtful.
一个老旧的、遵从权威的文化观念不太可能一夜之间就消失不见。年轻人正变得更愿意挑战等级制度。但是随着他们变老，又将会发生什么呢？一些如今的年轻新贵将不会获得他们所希望的成功。到那时，他们或许会发现，曾经的长辈们理所当然享受的那种尊崇，他们自己也同样地渴望。今日反对“老顽固”文化的人，也许就会成为日后的“老顽固”。但是那时候的年轻人不见得会让他们免受责难。
主编：Zurini、毛西
品控：毛西
审核：Jenny、Jack
© 2019 The Economist Newspaper Limited. All rights reserved.
From “The word for “condescending old person” in Korean”, published under license. The original content, in English, can be found on https://www.economist.com/asia/2019/05/30/the-word-for-condescending-old-person-in-korean.
重点词汇
condescending
/ˌkɑːndɪˈsendɪŋ/
adj. 高人一等的，居高临下的
词性拓展：condescend (v.)
condescend 例句：Will you condescend to visit us?
geezer
/ˈɡiːzər/
n. 怪老头
英文释义：a man, often old or unusual in some way
hierarchy
/ˈhaɪərɑːrki/
n. 等级制度
搭配短语：political hierarchy
词性拓展：hierarchical (adj.)
adaptation
/ˌædæpˈteɪʃn/
n. 适应，化用
词性拓展：adapt (v.)
obedience
/əˈbiːdiəns/
n.（人或动物的）服从，听话
词性拓展：obey (v.)
搭配短语：obey the rules
搭配短语：total / blind obedience
例句：Soldiers act in obedience to the orders.
narcissistic
/ˌnɑːrsɪˈsɪstɪk/
adj. 自恋的
相关词汇：narcissus（n. 纳西索斯；水仙花）
overbearing
/ˌoʊvərˈberɪŋ/
adj. 专横的，盛气凌人的
相关词汇：bear (v.)
例句：I can't bear being bored.
notorious
/noʊˈtɔːriəs/
adj. 臭名昭著的
英文释义：well known for being bad
搭配短语：a notorious criminal
近义词：famous
搭配短语：be notorious for sth.
length of service
工龄
相关词汇：length（n. 长度，时长）
相关词汇：service（n. 服务）
honorific
/ˌɑːnəˈrɪfɪk/
n. 敬语
词性拓展：honorific（adj. 尊敬的，敬称的）
搭配短语：an honorific title
rebellion
/rɪˈbeljən/
n. 反抗
词性拓展：rebel (v.)
搭配短语：rebel against sb./sth.
搭配短语：a rebellion against the new policy
stricture
/ˈstrɪktʃər/
n. 约束，限制
近义词：restriction
搭配短语：financial strictures
搭配短语：to impose a stricture on sth.
frown upon
不赞成，不许
相关词汇：frown (v. 皱眉)
例句：Smoking is frowned upon.
take hold
掌握控制权，确立地位
英文释义：to begin to have complete control over sb./sth.
例句：They got out of the house just before the flames took hold.
例句：The disease takes hold.
deference
/ˈdefərəns/
n. 尊敬，尊崇
词性拓展：defer (v.)
例句：I defer to Daniel's superior knowledge.
upstart
/ˈʌpstɑːrt/
n.（尤指年轻的）突然发迹的人，暴发户，新贵
英文释义：a person who has risen suddenly to wealth or high position, especially one who behaves arrogantly
yearn
/jɜːrn/
v. 渴望，渴求
搭配短语：yearn for sth./yearn to do sth.
词义辨析
yearn, long
两者都可以表示强烈的渴望，常互换使用。yearn 所代表的渴望会给人以焦躁和痛苦，例如“被压迫的人民渴望自由”：They're yearning for freedom.；而 long 更强调某人非常想要什么东西，并愿意为此付出巨大努力，例如“她非常努力地想成为一名作家”：She longed to become a successful writer.。
critic
/ˈkrɪtɪk/
n. 批评者，反对者
get away with
做（错事）而未被惩罚，做（坏事）而未被发觉
英文释义：to do sth. wrong and not be punished for it
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