Like Father, Like Son / そして父になる / 그렇게 아버지가 된다

Like Father, Like Son

Japan: そして父になる(soshite chichi ni naru) = to become a father
- そして = and
- 父 = father
- なる = to become

Korea: 그렇게 아버지가 된다 = to become a father
- 그렇게 = like that, in that manner
- 아버지 = father
- 되다 = to become

Now You See Me / グランド・イリュージョン / 나우 유 씨 미 : 마술사기단

Now You See Me

Japan: グランド・イリュージョン = "Grand Illusion"

Korea: 나우 유 씨 미 : 마술사기단 = Now You See Me: Magic Swindler Gang
- 마술 = magic, witchcraft
- 사기 = fraud, swindle
- 단 = unit, group

Thailand: อาชญากลปล้นโลก
- อาชญากร = criminal
- กล = trick
- อาชญากล = (a made-up word combining the two words above together)
- ปล้น = steal, rob
- โลก = earth, world

Legally Blonde / キューティ・ブロンド / 금발이 너무해

Legally Blonde 

Japan: キューティ・ブロンド = "Cutie Blonde"

Korea: 금발이 너무해 = Blondie is too much! / Blondie's going too far!
- 금발 = blonde hair
- 너무하다 = (be) unreasonable; (too) bad; too hard

Thailand: สาวบลอนด์หัวใจดี๊ด๊า

The Devil Wears Prada / プラダを着た悪魔 / 악마는 프라다를 입는다

The Devil Wears Prada

Usually the JP and KO titles are pretty much parallel to each other, but for this movie, you can notice how they're grammatically different. :)

Japan: プラダを着た悪魔 = Prada Wearing Devil

• プラダ = "Prada"
• 着た (from 着る) = to wear
• 悪魔 = devil

Korea: 악마는 프라다를 입는다 = Devil Wears Prada

• 악마 = devil
• 프라다 = "Prada"
• 입는다 (from 입다) = to wear

Thailand: นางมารสวมปราด้า = Devil Wears Prada

• นางมาร = female devil, demoness 
• สวม = to wear
• ปราด้า = "Prada"

The Secret World of Arrietty 借りぐらしのアリエッティ 마루 밑 아리에티 อาริเอตี้ มหัศจรรย์ความลับคนตัวจิ๋ว

"The Secret World of Arrietty" is a film from Japan's famous animated movie maker, Studio Ghibli. It is based on a book, "The Borrowers", by Mary Norton.

Japan: 借りぐらしのアリエッティ = The Borrower, Arrietty

• 借りる = to borrow
• くらす(暮らす) = to live
• 借りるぐらし = leading a life by borrowing things
• アリエッティ = "Arrietty"

Korea:마루 밑 아리에티 = Arrietty under the floor

• 마루 = floor
• 밑 = under 
• 아리에티 = "Arrietty"

Thailand:อาริเอตี้ มหัศจรรย์ความลับคนตัวจิ๋ว = Arrietty, The secret wonder of the small people

• อาริเอตี้ = "Arrietty"
• มหัศจรรย์ = wonder, miracle
• ความลับ = secret
• คน = human, person
• ตัว = body
• จิ๋ว = small, minute
• คนตัวจิ๋ว = small person

Easy A / 小悪魔はなぜモテる?! / 이지 A

Easy A 

Japan: 小悪魔はなぜモテる?! = Why is the little devil popular?!

• 悪魔 = devil
• 小悪魔 = little devil
• なぜ = why
• モテる = popular (with the opposite sex)

Korea: 이지 A = "Easy A"

Thailand: อีนี่....แร๊งงงส์! = The bitch is fierce!

Memoirs of a Geisha / SAYURI / 게이샤의 추억

Memoirs of a Geisha 

Japan: SAYURI  

Korea: 게이샤의 추억 = Geisha's Memories  

Thailand: นางโลม โลกจารึก

• นางโลม = prostitute
• โลก = world
• จารึก = to inscribe

Despicable Me 2 / 怪盗グルーのミニオン危機一発 / 슈퍼배드 2

Despicable Me 2  

Japan: 怪盗グルーのミニオン危機一発 = Phantom Thief Gru's Minion Crisis

• ミニオン = "Minion"
• 危機一発 = by a hair's breath | in the nick of time | be touch and go | be a close call | critical moment

Korea: 슈퍼배드 2 = "Super Bad 2"

Thailand: มิสเตอร์แสบ ร้ายเกินพิกัด 2 = Mr.wicked, evil beyond limit

Despicable Me

Despicable Me  

Japan: 怪盗グルーの月泥棒 = Phantom Thief Gru, the Moon Thief

• 怪盗 = mysterious(phantom) thief
• グルー = "Gru"
• 月 = moon
• 泥棒 = thief   

Korea: 슈퍼배드 = "Super Bad"  

Thailand: มิสเตอร์แสบ ร้ายเกินพิกัด = Mr.wicked, evil beyond limit

• มิสเตอร์ = "Mister"
• แสบ = sting, feel sharp pain, (naughty, wicked) 
• ร้าย = bad, evil, wicked
• เกิน = exceed
• พิกัด = coordinate, limit
• เกินพิกัด = overload, over the limit

Spirited Away

"Spirited Away"'s original Japanese name is 千と千尋の神隠し.

Japan: 千と千尋の神隠し = Sen and Chihiro's Spiriting Away

• 千 = "Sen"
• 千尋 = "Chihiro"
• 神 = god
• 隠し = hiding, concealment
• 神隠し = mysterious disappearance, spirited away

Korea: 센과 치히로의 행방불명  = Sen and Chihiro's Missing

• 센 = "Sen"
• 치히로 = "Chihiro"
• 행방불명(行方不明) = missing (行方=one's whereabouts, 不明=unknown,uncertain)

Thailand: มิติวิญญาณมหัศจรรย์ = The wondrous dimension of spirits

• มิติ = dimension
• วิญญาณ = spirit, soul
• มหัศจรรย์ = wondrous

From Up On Poppy Hill

"From Up On Poppy Hill" is the English title of the animated-movie "コクリコ坂から" from Studio Ghibli.

Japan: コクリコ坂から = from poppy hill

• コクリコ = coquelicot (French for "poppy")
• 坂 = slope, hill
• から = from

Korea: 코쿠리코 언덕에서 = from poppy hill

• 코쿠리코 = coquelicot (French for "poppy") 
• 언덕 = slope, hill
• 에서 = from

Thailand: ป๊อปปี้ ฮิลล์ ร่ำร้องขอปาฏิหาริย์  = Poppy Hill, Ask for a Miracle

• ป๊อปปี้ ฮิลล์ = "Poppy Hill"
• ร่ำร้อง = ask, request, beg
• ขอ = ask, request, beg
• ปาฏิหาริย์ = miracle

No Country for Old Men

Japan: ノーカントリー = "No Country" 

Korea: 노인을 위한 나라는 없다  = There's no country for old men

• 노인 = old man, old people
• -을 위한 = for
• 나라 = country
• 없다 = there is no

Thailand: ล่าคนดุในเมืองเดือด = Hunting the fierce guy in the boiling town

• ล่า = hunt
• คน = person
• ดุ = fierce
• ใน = in
• เมือง = town, city
• เดือด = boil (as in hot water, or with anger)

You Only Live Twice

The fifth Bond movie - You Only Live Twice 

Japan: 007は二度死ぬ = 007 dies twice

• 二度 = two times, twice
• 死ぬ = to die

*I have no idea why the Japaneses changed "live" to "die". very perplexing indeed.

Korea: 007 제5탄 - 두번 산다 = 007 the fifth - die twice

• 제5탄 = the fifth
• 두번 = two times, twice
• 산다 (conjugated from 살다 = to live)

Thailand: จอมมหากาฬ 007

The Karate Kid

The Karate Kid 

Japan: ベスト・キッド = "Best Kid"

Korea: 베스트 키드 = "Best Kid"

Thailand: เดอะ คาราเต้ คิด = The Karate Kid"

The Banquet

"The Banquet" is an international title of this Hamlet-adaptation Chinese movie whereas "Legend of the Black Scorpion" is the movie name used specifically for its U.S. release. 

The original Chinese title is 夜宴 (ye yan) which translates to "banquet".

While the Korean title is directly translated from the original Chinese title "夜宴", the Japanese title is newly named (and with a mistake?).

Japan: 女帝 [エンペラー]  = Empress[Emperor] 

• 女帝 = empress
• エンペラー = "emperor" written in katakana

(It's not just you! I'm lost too!)

Korea: 야연 = Korean reading of 夜宴

Thailand: ศึกสะท้านภพ สยบบัลลังก์มังกร  = Earth-shattering War, Conquer the Dragon Throne

• ศึก = war
• สะท้าน = shiver, tremble
• ภพ = world, earth
• สยบ = conquer, defeat
• บัลลังก์ = throne
• มังกร = dragon 

House of Flying Daggers

"House of Flying Daggers" is the English name of the Chinese movie whose original name is 十面埋伏 (shi mian mai fu) meaning ambush from ten sides.

Strangely, both the Japanese and Korean titles are drastically changed to market as a romance flick.

Japan: LOVERS <= Yes, it's not even written in katakana!

Korea:연인 = lover

Thailand: จอมใจ บ้านมีดบิน = Sweetheart, House of Flying Daggers

• จอมใจ = sweetheart, darling, honey
• บ้าน = house
• มีด = knife
• บิน = to fly

Home Alone

Japan: ホーム・アローン = "Home Alone" written in katakana

Korea: 나 홀로 집에 = At home by myself

• 나 = I
• 홀로 = alone
• 집에 = at home

Thailand: โดดเดี่ยวผู้น่ารัก = Lonely Cutie

• โดดเดี่ยว = alone
• ผู้ = one who, who, that
• น่ารัก = cute
• ผู้น่ารัก = the cute one

My Big Fat Greek Wedding

Japan: マイ・ビッグ・ファット・ウェディング = "My Big Fat Wedding" Yes!! Greek is missing from the title! XD

Korea: 나의 그리스식 웨딩 = My Greek-Style Wedding

Thailand: บ้านหรรษา วิวาห์อลเวง = Amusing Family (literally House), Chaotic Wedding

Runaway Bride

Japan : プリティ・ブライド = "Pretty Bride" written in katakana

Korea: 런어웨이 브라이드 = "Runaway Bride" written in hangul

Thailand: สาวกลัวฝน อลวนทุกวิวาห์ 

• สาว = (young) woman
• กลัว = afraid of, scare of
• ฝน = rain
• อลวน = chaotic
• ทุก = every
• วิวาห์ = wedding

There's a saying in Thai : เจ้าสาวที่กลัวฝน = The bride who is afraid of the rain ->  used to signify women who are afraid of marriage.

Point Break

Japan: ハートブルー = "Heart Blue"

Korea: 폭풍 속으로 = "Into the storm"

• 폭풍 = storm
• 속 = inside
• 속으로 = into

Thailand: คลื่นบ้ากระแทกคลื่นบ้า = "Crazy storm hit crazy storm"

The Bucket List

Japan: 最高の人生の見つけ方 = How to find the best life

• 最高 = the best
• 人生 = life
• 見つけ方 = how to find  

Korea: 버킷 리스트 - 죽기 전에 꼭 하고 싶은 것들 = Bucket List - Things you want to do before you die

• 버킷 리스트 = "Bucket List"
• 죽기 전에 = before dying
• 꼭 = definitely, by all means
• 하고 싶은 것들 = things one wants to do 

Thailand: คู่เกลอ กวนไม่เสร็จ can be loosely translated to "Two irritating/annoying buddies"

As Good As It Gets

Japan: 恋愛小説家 = Romance Novelist

• 恋愛 = love, romance
• 小説 = novel
• 小説家 = novelist  

Korea: 이보다 더 좋을 순 없다 = It cannot be better than this 

• 이 = this
• 보다 = than
• 더 = more
• 좋다 = good

Thailand: เพียงเธอ..รักนี้ดีสุดแล้ว = Just you... This love is the best

A Moment To Remember

"A Moment To Remember" is the English title of the Korean movie "내 머리 속의 지우개(Eraser in My Head).

Japan: 私の頭の中の消しゴム = Eraser in My Head

• 私の頭 = my head
• 私の頭の中 = in my head
• 消しゴム = eraser

Korea:내 머리 속의 지우개  = Eraser in My Head

• 내 머리 = my head
• 내 머리 속 = in my head
• 지우개 = eraser

Thailand: กาลครั้งหนึ่งของหัวใจ นานเท่าไหร่ก็ไม่ลืม = Once in my heart, never to be forgotten

No Strings Attached

Japan: 抱きたいカンケイ  

• 抱く = to hug, to embrace, ............, (to have sex)
• 抱きたい = to want to hug, to want to embrace,......., (to want to have sex)
• カンケイ = relationship, connection

Korea: 친구와 연인사이 Between Friend and Lover  

• 친구 = friend
• 와 = and
• 연인 = lover
• 사이 = gap, space between two points

Thailand: จะกิ๊กหรือกั๊ก ก็รักซะแล้ว Lover or not, I love you already

Be With You

Let's take a look at the original title of the Japanese movie "Be With You".  

Japan: いま、会いにゆきます  = "I'm going to meet you now."
いま = now, at this moment
会いに = (in order) to meet
ゆきます = (I) go, will go


Korea: 지금, 만나러 갑니다 is the literal translation of the original Japanese title.
지금 = now, at this moment
만나러 = (in order) to meet
갑니다 = (I) go, will go


Thailand: ปาฏิหาริย์รัก 6 สัปดาห์ เปลี่ยนฉันให้รักเธอ  = 6 weeks of love miracle, change me to love you
ปาฏิหาริย์ = miracle
รัก = love
สัปดาห์ = week
เปลี่ยน = to change


Extra (Chinese title): 現在，很想見你  = I want to see you very much right now.

Me, Myself & Irene

Japan: ふたりの男とひとりの女 = Two men and one woman

• ふたり = two persons
• 男 = man
• ひとり = one person
• 女 = woman

Korea: 미 마이셀프 앤드 아이린 = "Me, Myself & Irene" written in hangul

Thailand: เดี๋ยวดี…เดี๋ยวเพี้ยน เปลี่ยนร่างกัน = "Mentally unstable, bodies switched"

• เดี๋ยว = for a moment, momentarily, a minute
• ดี = good, normal
• เพี้ยน = crazy, insane
• เปลี่ยน = change
• ร่าง = body

Infernal Affairs

Infernal Affairs is a Hong Kong flick which "The Departed" is adapted from. Its original Chinese title is 無間道. 

無 = no
間 = space, gap, interval
道 = way, path, road

Literal translation would be "no gap path" or "endless road". However, 無間 is also the name of the most cruel hell, Avici. Hence, the English title "Infernal Affairs".


Japan: インファナル・アフェア = "Infernal Affair" written in katakana  

Korea: 무간도 = Korean way of reading "無間道".   

Thailand: สองคนสองคม = "Two Guys, Two Blades".

• สอง = two
• คน = human, person, classifier for counting persons
• คม = sharp (edge), clever 

Silver Linings Playbook

Japan: 世界にひとつのプレイブック = "The only playbook in the world"  

• 世界 = world
• ひとつ = one
• プレイブック = playbook

Korea: 실버라이닝 플레이북 = "Silver Linings Playbook" written in hangul

Thailand: ลุกขึ้นใหม่ หัวใจมีเธอ = "Get up again with you in my heart"

• ลุก = get up, rise
• ขึ้น = up
• ใหม่ = new, again
• หัวใจ = heart
• มี = have
• เธอ = third person pronoun for females 

Sex Is Zero

"Sex Is Zero" is the English title of the Korean movie "색즉시공" which is the Korean way to read the Chinese phrase "色即是空".

According to Chinese Wikipedia, "色即是空" originates from Buddhism, and while usually mistakenly perceived to mean "sex is zero"(lust is naught), the real meaning is "a lot is little".

To fully understand the philosophy behind these 4 words, one needs to look at the entire context, which is "色不異空，空不異色；色即是空，空即是色。" and translates to "a lot is not different from little, little is not different from a lot; a lot is little, little is a lot." meaning things change all the time.

Japan: セックス イズ ゼロ  = "Sex Is Zero" written in katakana

Korea: 색즉시공, 色即是空  

Thailand: ขบวนการปิ๊ิด ปี้ ปิ๊ด

• ขบวนการ = movement, gang, organization, campaign
• ปิ๊ด ปี้ ปิ๊ด = whistle sound usually used in military training

Please allow me to refrain myself from translating the Thai title to English. ^^;

The Day After Tomorrow

Japan: デイ・アフター・トゥモロー = "Day After Tomorrow" written in katakana

Korea: 투모로우 = "Tomorrow" written in hangul

Thailand: วิกฤติวันสิ้นโลก = "Apocalypse Crisis"

• วิกฤติ = crisis
• วัน = day
• สิ้น = come to an end
• โลก = the earth, the world

Miss Congeniality

Japan: デンジャラス・ビューティー = "Dangerous Beauty" written in katakana

Korea: 미스 에이전트 = "Miss Agent" written in hangul

Thailand: พยัคฆ์สาวนางงามยุกยิก

• พยัคฆ์ = (poetic,archaic) tiger
• สาว = young woman
• พยัคฆ์สาว = female fighter/agent
• นางงาม = beauty queen, beauty contestant
• ยุกยิก = moving/shifting about, cannot stay put

Life of Pi

Japan: ライフ・オブ・パイ/トラと漂流した227日 = "Life of Pi/227 days of drifting with a tiger"

• トラ = tiger
• 漂流 = drift

Korea: 라이프 오브 파이  = "Life of Pi" written in hangul.

Thailand: ชีวิตอัศจรรย์ของพาย = "Wondrous Life of Pi"

• ชีวิต = life
• อัศจรรย์ = wondrous

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind

"Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind" is taken from the poem Eloisa to Abelard byAlexander Pope.

How happy is the blameless vestal's lot!

The world forgetting, by the world forgot.

Eternal sunshine of the spotless mind! 

Each pray'r accepted, and each wish resign'd;

Since the movie title is so long, the corresponding Japanese and Korean titles are abbreviated to only "Eternal Sunshine" written in katakana and hangul respectively.

Japan: エターナル・サンシャイン

Korea: 이터널 선샤인

Thailand: ลบเธอ...ให้ไม่ลืม = "Forget... to remember". A more literal translation is "Erase her... so as not to forget"

• ลบ = erase
• เธอ = second person pronoun signifying both male and female, third person pronoun signifying female
• ให้ = 1. so that..., for 2.give, grant 3.allow, consent (1st meaning in this case)
• ไม่ = no, not
• ลืม = forget

I guess the Thai tile is a bit spoiler-ish? :P

Friends with Benefits

Friends with Benefits

Japan: ステイ・フレンズ "Stay Friends" written in katakana

Korea: 프렌즈 위드 베네핏 "Friends with Benefits" written in hangul

Thailand: เพื่อนกัน มันส์กระจาย "Friends, fun to the max"

• เพื่อน = friend
• มันส์ = fun, enjoy
• กระจาย = disperse, spread

Alice in Wonderland

Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland  

Japan: アリス・イン・ワンダーランド => Just "Alice in Wonderland" written in katakana.

Note that in Japan, Alice in Wonderland(Alice's Adventures in Wonderland to be exact) is widely known as "不思議の国のアリス".

• 不思議(fushigi) = wonder, strange
• 国 = country
• アリス = Alice

Korea: 이상한 나라의 앨리스 = Alice in Wonderland

• 이상 = strangeness
• 나라 = country
• 앨리스 = Alice  

Thailand : อลิซในแดนมหัศจรรย์ = Alice in Wonderland

• อลิซ = Alice
• ใน = in
• แดน = land, country, territory
• มหัศจรรย์ = wondrous, miraculous

Being John Malkovich

"Being John Malkovich" is one weird movie. Let's see how well the weirdness got translated in the movie titles of each country.

Japan:マルコヴィッチの穴 = Malkovich's hole

• マルコヴィッチ = Malkovich
• 穴 = hole

Korea:존 말코비치 되기 = Being John Malkovich

• 존 말코비치 = John Malkovich
• 되기 = becoming, being (from the verb 되다 to be, to become)

Thailand:ตายละหว่า...ดูดคนเข้าสมองคน = My goodness!...Men suck into a human's brain!

• ดูด = to suck, to draw
• คน = human, man, person
• สมอง = brain
• 
  

Don't you just love the Thai titles? They are never lazy.

There's Something About Mary

Japan:メリーに首ったけ = head over heels for Mary

• メリー = Mary
• 首ったけ(kubittake) = head over heels, madly in love   

Korea: 메리에겐 뭔가 특별한 것이 있다 = There's something special about Mary

• 메리 = Mary
• 뭔가 = something
• 특별한 것 = special things
• 있다 = there is, there are     

Thailand: มะรุมมะตุ้มรุมรักแมรี่ = Flocking after Mary, loving her

• มะรุมมะตุ้ม = to besiege someone closely
• รุม = to crowd, to flock
• รัก = to love
• แมรี่ = Mary

My Best Friend's Wedding

My Best Friend's Wedding, one of the most memorable films ever. It's been over ten years but the "I say a little prayer for you" musical scene, the jello vs. Crème brûlée dialog, and the karaoke from hell scene are still clear in my mind. That's saying a lot considering the kind of brain I have. :P

Japan : "ベスト・フレンズ・ウェディング" = "Best Friend's Wedding" written in katakana. Appearently, keeping "My" in the title would make it too long in Japan. :P

Korea : "내 남자친구의 결혼식" means "My Boyfriend's Wedding". For some unknown reason, Koreans decided to change "best friend" to "boyfriend"!

• 남자친구 = boyfriend
• 결혼 = marriage
• 결혼식 = wedding ceremony

Thailand : "เจอกลเกลอ วิวาห์อลเวง" literally means "meet friend's tricks, chaotic wedding".

• เจอ = to meet, to face, to encounter
• กล = trick
• เกลอ = friend (a little archaic)
• วิวาห์ = wedding
• อลเวง = chaotic

I swear Thai movie titles are the hardest to translate ever!! grrrgh

Lost in Translation

This is one movie that this blog can't do without. :P

In Japan, there's no change in the title. "ロスト・イン・トランスレーション" is just "Lost in Translation" written in katakana.

The Korean title "사랑도 통역이 되나요?" means "Can love be translated too?"

• 사랑 = love
• 통역 = translate, interpret

In Thailand, the full movie name is "Lost in Translation หลง/เหงา/รัก".

• หลง = lost (but can also mean infatuate)
• เหงา = lonely
• รัก = love

Yes, we seem to love stringing words together in Thailand. :P

In my opinion, we should not alter the movie title in this case because the original meaning might get lost in translation. (sorry for the lame pun. can't help myself.)

The Shawshank Redemption

"The Shawshank Redemption" is another of my all time favorites. Let's see how they name it in the 3 countries.

Japan : "ショーシャンクの空に" means "To Shawshank's sky" signifying the main character's hope and freedom.

• ショーシャンク = Shawshank
• 空 = sky

Korea : "쇼생크 탈출" means "Shawshank Escape". 

• 쇼생크 = Shawshank
• 탈출 = escape

Thailand : "ชอว์แชงค์ มิตรภาพ ความหวัง ความรุนแรง" means "Shawshank Friendship Hope Violence". 


Isn't the Japanese title so beautiful for this one? It gives off a happy yet sad vibe which is very fitting to the movie. :)

The Korean title sounds like an action movie. Don't you agree?

Dead Poets Society

Let me celebrate the start of this new blog with one of my favorite movies of all times, Dead Poets Society!

In Japan, they decided to go for a softer image and titled it "いまを生きる(ima wo ikiru)" which means "Live the present". 

• いま = now
• 生きる = to live

In Korea, however, the title is literally translated to "죽은 시인의 사회".

• 시인 = poet
• 죽은 시인 = dead poet
• 사회 = society

In Thailand, the title sounds like that of an evening-slot TV drama targeted to preteens. "ครูครับ เราจะสู้เพื่อฝัน" means "Teacher, we will fight for our dreams".

I personally love the original English title. It's very unique, memorable and makes one curious about the movie. So, among all these, which one do you prefer?