Korean Translation Notes

Korean (ko) Translation Notes

Key Terminology

Secret Translation

• Choice: “비밀 메시지” (secret message)
• Rationale: Emphasizes the nature of confidential information being shared rather than personal secrets
• Alternative: “비밀” (secret) used in shorter UI elements where context is clear

Password vs. Passphrase Distinction

• Password: “비밀번호” (bimilbeonho) - standard term for account login credentials
• Passphrase: “접근 문구” (jeobgeun mungu) - translated as “access phrase” to distinguish from account passwords
• Rationale: Provides clear distinction between protection for individual secrets versus account credentials

Burn Translation

• Choice: “소각” (sogak) - incinerate/burn
• Rationale: Emphasizes permanent deletion before viewing

Brand Terms

Left untranslated as specified: “Onetime Secret”, “OTS”, “Identity Plus”

Translation Style

Voice and Tone

1. Active, imperative voice for buttons and actions

   • Example: “비밀 링크 생성” (Create secret link)
   • Example: “복사” (Copy)

2. Passive or declarative voice for status messages and notifications

   • Example: “복사됨” (Copied)
   • Example: “생성되었습니다” (Has been created)

3. Professional yet approachable tone

   • Maintained throughout the interface
   • Clear, direct language
   • Accessible to users with varying technical backgrounds

Grammar and Style

1. Standard punctuation used appropriately
2. Direct user address using second person where appropriate
3. Natural-sounding translations over literal ones
4. Consistent politeness levels appropriate for professional application

Thinking Behind Translation Adjustments

1. Terminology Consistency

The most important adjustment was establishing consistent terminology for key concepts throughout the application.

Changes made:

• Consistently translated “secret” as “비밀 메시지” (secret message) rather than just “비밀” (secret) to clearly distinguish from generic secrets
• Consistently used “접근 문구” (access phrase) for passphrase to distinguish from account passwords (“비밀번호”)
• Consistently used “소각” (incinerate) for burn to emphasize permanent deletion

2. Natural Language Flow

Some existing translations appeared to follow English sentence structure too closely. Adjusted these to follow more natural Korean language patterns while preserving the original meaning.

3. Technical Accuracy

Ensured technical terms were accurately translated while remaining accessible to both technical and non-technical users. This included careful translation of concepts related to encryption, security features, and domain settings.

4. Cultural Adaptation

Some phrases were adjusted to better resonate with Korean users’ expectations and communication norms, making the interface feel more native rather than obviously translated.

Important Translation Examples

1. Security Terminology

"burn_this_secret": "이 비밀 메시지 소각"
"view_secret": "비밀 메시지 보기"
"share_a_secret": "비밀 메시지 공유"
"secret_link": "비밀 링크"

2. Password vs Passphrase Examples (CRITICAL DISTINCTION)

# Account authentication (비밀번호)
"account_password": "계정 비밀번호"
"login_password": "로그인 비밀번호"
"reset_password": "비밀번호 재설정"
"enter_your_password": "비밀번호를 입력하세요"

# Secret protection (접근 문구)
"passphrase_protection": "접근 문구 보호"
"enter_passphrase": "접근 문구를 입력하세요"
"passphrase_required": "접근 문구 필요"
"protect_with_passphrase": "접근 문구로 보호"

3. UI Actions (Active Voice)

"create_secret": "비밀 링크 생성"
"copy_to_clipboard": "클립보드에 복사"
"share_secret": "비밀 메시지 공유"
"burn_secret": "비밀 메시지 소각"
"delete_account": "계정 삭제"

4. Status Messages (Passive Voice)

"copied": "복사됨"
"created": "생성되었습니다"
"burned": "소각되었습니다"
"secret_viewed": "비밀 메시지가 열람되었습니다"
"account_deleted": "계정이 삭제되었습니다"

5. Instructions and Warnings

"enter_passphrase": "접근 문구를 입력하세요"
"careful_only_see_once": "주의: 한 번만 볼 수 있습니다"
"secret_will_be_deleted": "비밀 메시지는 열람 후 삭제됩니다"
"use_passphrase_for_security": "보안을 위해 접근 문구를 사용하세요"

6. Common Mistakes to Avoid

❌ "비밀" (bare) → ✅ "비밀 메시지" (for the secret being shared)
❌ "보안 메시지" → ✅ "비밀 메시지" (consistent terminology)
❌ "비밀번호 보호" (when protecting secrets) → ✅ "접근 문구 보호"
❌ "암호" (generic) → ✅ "비밀번호" (account) or "접근 문구" (secret protection)
❌ "임시 비밀번호" → ✅ "임시 비밀 메시지" (temporary secrets, not passwords)

Summary of Changes to the Korean Translation

Key Terminology Improvements

1. Consistent Translation of “secret”: Changed inconsistent uses of “비밀” to “비밀 메시지” throughout the application to clarify the nature of what’s being shared

2. Clear Distinction between “password” and “passphrase”: Implemented “비밀번호” for account passwords and “접근 문구” for secret protection consistently

3. Technical Term Clarity: Terms like “burn” (소각), “encryption” (암호화), and “one-time access” (일회성 접근) were standardized throughout the application

User Interface Improvements

1. Button Labels: Optimized button text for Korean UI conventions, ensuring they’re concise while maintaining clarity

2. Error Messages: Made error messages more natural and helpful in Korean while preserving their informative nature

3. Instructional Text: Adjusted guidance text to sound more natural in Korean while providing clear instructions

Structural Enhancements

1. Korean Sentence Structure: Reworked sentences that followed English structure to use natural Korean grammar patterns

2. Honorifics and Politeness Levels: Maintained consistent politeness levels throughout the interface appropriate for a professional application

3. Length Considerations: Adjusted translations to account for text expansion/contraction between English and Korean to ensure UI elements display properly

These changes collectively create a more cohesive, natural, and professional Korean localization that will better serve Korean-speaking users of Onetime Secret while maintaining the security focus and clear communication that is central to the application.