재승덕박

Korean

Etymology

Sino-Korean word from 才勝德薄 (“[his] talent is outstanding, [his] virtue is slight”). Perhaps coined in Korea.

Pronunciation

• (SK Standard/Seoul) IPA^(key): [t͡ɕɛsʰɯŋdʌ̹k̚p͈a̠k̚] ~ [t͡ɕe̞sʰɯŋdʌ̹k̚p͈a̠k̚]
• Phonetic hangul: [재승덕빡/제승덕빡]

Romanizations
Revised Romanization?	jaeseungdeokbak
Revised Romanization (translit.)?	jaeseungdeogbag
McCune–Reischauer?	chaesŭngdŏkpak
Yale Romanization?	caysungtekpak

Noun

재승덕박 • (jaeseungdeokbak) (hanja 才勝德薄)

1. (four-character idiom from Classical Chinese) being talented but morally problematic; being unscrupulously competent
   • 2009, 김형욱·김경재 [gimhyeong'uk·gimgyeongjae], 10월 유신과 박정희 정권 [10wol yusin'gwa bakjeonghui jeonggwon], 인물과 사상사 [inmulgwa sasangsa], →ISBN:

     젊은 시절의 재기발랄했던 김대중을 가리켜 재승덕박(才勝德薄)하다고 흠잡던 동료 정치인들까지도 더 이상 김대중에게 큰소리치지 못하고 있었다.

     Jeolmeun sijeor-ui jaegiballalhaetdeon Gimdaejung-eul garikyeo jaeseungdeokbakhadago heumjapdeon dongnyo jeongchiin-deul-kkaji-do deo isang Gimdaejung-ege keunsorichiji mothago isseotda.

     Even his fellow politicians, who used to criticize the young and energetic Kim Dae-jung for being [a man] of many talents and little virtue, were now no longer able to say much to Kim Dae-jung.

Derived terms

• 재승덕박(才勝德薄)하다 (jaeseungdeokbakhada)