Could Jin Speak English Too?

[ColLocke]

I was just thinking about this. Jin is in Australia, and is on his way to LA, does it really make sense that he can't speak English? They were traveling with no discernible translator, so how is that possible? Any thoughts?

[Iphigenia W]

*I was just thinking about this. Jin is in Australia, and is on his way to LA, does it really make sense that he can't speak English? They were traveling with no discernible translator, so how is that possible? Any thoughts?*

People who don't speak a word of English travel to the US all the time, just like people from the US who don't speak foreign languages travel to other countries. Happens every day.

[Baron X]

Absolutely I. W., we all knowing Americans expect the rest of the world to figure us out when we visit their countries.

[JacksGirlfriend]

We're a bunch of selfish arrogant brats...

And we like it that way.

JacksGirl

[plokij]

I think he can.

When Hurley said "Your wife is hot" he looked up and i thought he was hiding his anger.

I think Jin and Sun both speak english and are hiding it from each other.

[GotLost88]

Yeah, I've thought for a while that he can. I think it would be great to find out that he and Sun were keeping the same secret from each other..... ;)

[Vicki]

I suspect that he may be able to also...

[SacKingsFX]

of course he can... at least some English.
99% of people in Asia who have any kind of education can speak English. Jin is apparently from a traditional Korean family, meaning he would have some degree of education, meaning he can speak at least some English.

[gertie]

Yes, I agree. Anyone (male) with any education speaks English, whether the Engish or American style. This is a stupid part of the story. Jin an Sun are apparently well-to-do. This indicates education, hence language capabilities.

The reason I emphasized male is so many parts of the world think that the only reason for a woman to live is to give birth to more boys.

[plokij]

So you are saying they are well off?

But remember in a flashback we saw Jin doing some shady work just to get along. This means he was not previously educated well enough.

We should find out soon..... or not.

[Akana]

Jin likely learned English while working for Sun's father...it isn't likely a businessman could successfully navigate international deals without at least basic knowledge of the world's 'top' language, or a translator. Since we weren't given any indication he had one of those in 'House of the Rising Sun' and a mafia type likely wouldn't trust second-hand dealings anyhow, it's safe to assume he knows a little and even a great deal.

I think he's probably hiding the fact from Sun because he knows she's learned English and doesn't want to cut away her last illusion of 'freedom'....lest she bolt completely. I don't think Jin is nearly as dumb and unaware as folks seem to give him credit for.

[InTooDeep0604]

I think it's possible that he speaks English, although I think he hids it very well. This might have already been answered somehow in early episodes, but I just started watching, so I was wondering: does anyone know why Sun can't tell Jin she speaks English? Is it just the way it is in Korea (I really don't have any idea about that), or is there another reason? Thanks.

[gertie]

Plokji - why do you think Jin wasn't well off? I thought his father-in-law was a mafia type, as someone else said. This means money and lots of it. I agree with the other poster that this means that Jin should know English, as it has become the 'international' language.

I don't have a clue about Korean culture. But it would seem to me that a family as well-to-do (sorry plokji) as Sun's family would educate daughters as well. But, I don't know.

[killbuckner]

ITD- sun doesn't want to tell Jin she speaks english because the only reason that she learned was so that she could leave him. Thats a pretty massive deception and she doesn't want him to know about it, especially since everything is going so well now that they are away from her father.

[gertie]

Okay, I understand that, killbuckner. But, how did Jin hide his knowledge of English (which I'm sure he had to know) for so long. This doesn't make sense.

[KissMESawyer]

I am not so sure that Jin speaks English (at least not fluently) but I am sure he can understand it well enough.

[Lost inside Kate]

I kinda hope Hurley and Jin hook up I think they would make a cute couple. The way this show is turning I wouldn't be surprised. Did you see the way Hurley looked at him when Jin handed him that gutted fish. I saw Love. I did.

[elizabethalcazar]

ia w/ kissmesawyer, i think that jin at least understands a good bit of english. even if he never learned it officially in school, i bet he's seen a lot of american movies, and he at least knew to yell "no!" at hurley, when hurley wanted him to pee on his foot.

[Lisa AR]

I don't know how well he understands but I would love it if someone would translate what he says to Hurley in their three scenes together and then what he says to Sun after he gives Hurley the fish, I would greatly appreciate it.

[plokij]

tenuc - i think he is not well off because just to have enough money to live he had to do business with the mafia dude who would of paid him. People with an education are not regulary hitmen.

[immuneman]

jin says to hurley after hurley tries to get jin to teach him where the fish are
"no way am i playing with you, go over there(away)"
and
later it was just small talk to sun,
how was your day - type stuff

[immuneman]

it isnt that uncommon for adults to forget alot of english that they learned in their youth
i have cousins out of college who have forgotten nearly all their high school english and i need to revert to my bad korean to communicate with them
as for jin needing english in organized crime in korea, i find that highly unlikely. even in regular business, most employees of international companies may not necessarily know english. they will have employees who make the deals know english, but the bulk of them will not need it.
jin may understand yes and no, but i dont think he necessarily understands anything more than that.
he didnt understand, "you're wife's hot" or any thing else hurely was saying

[immuneman]

by the way
sun's korean is fluent and native
it is very obvious that jin is not a native speaker of korean
he speaks it like a foreigner does
but that is because the actor's/daniel's first language is not korean
i think the character of jin is supposed to be native all the way

[Lisa AR]

Thanks immuneman, how about when Jin pulled his net up on the beach, right before Hurley stepped on the urchin, what did Jin say to Hurley then? Also, what was he saying when Hurley was trying to get him to pee on his foot? Did he understand right away what Hurley wanted him to do? I know at the end of that scene Jin yelled "NO" in english but I wondered what he was saying in Korean. Thanks again.

[Yuke]

I'm pretty sure Jin speaks English. I saw him on an episode of "24" and he spoke English very well.

[Lisa AR]

You made Pepsi come out my nose Yuke.

[KingLancelot]

I think he can.

When Hurley said "Your wife is hot" he looked up and i thought he was hiding his anger.

I think Jin and Sun both speak english and are hiding it from each other.

Hello,

I think it would be highly interesting if they made it where Jin could speak english.

If he does, I wonder if Sun will ever find out?

Take Care,
KingLancelot

[chrisberni]

Well basically Korean is Daniel's first language, but his parents moved to the US when he was two. They spoke Korean at home, but of course outside he used mostly English, and Daniel said during a chat at the Fuselage that he considers his Korean to be of "household level". Apparently the area they come from, Pusan (Busan?), has a very strong accent/dialect, which he said was part of the reason why he sounds so different.

[gertie]

Plokij -

Did you see the Jin/Sun episode? Those people had money!!!

Immuneman -

Thank you for the insight. Tell me also how difficult it is for a Korean woman to leave her husband, especially if the woman has a notorious father.

[prutzgurl]

i dont think he did

[Lisa AR]

tenuc, Sun's family had money. Jin was a waiter at a party when we first saw him.

[gertie]

Thanks, Lisa.

[sing4themoment]

I'd have to say that Jin does speak English

[Kimber and Bunny]

They were on their way to LA for a business trip. Why would you send someone to the US for a business trip if they did not speak any english? I've worked for international companies for 10 years, when people come for business, at least one speaks English to some extent. As nobody knew Sun spoke English, that means Jin more probably does (or can at least understand some) and Sun would know this.

During the first few episodes she says something to him about how they should interact more with the other castaways...

And yes, it is very much to their advantage that everyone thinks they can talk around them without them knowing what is being said.

I just told my husband about this thread and HE thinks Jin cannot speak english. He said the business they were on their way to visit in LA probably had someone at the airport waiting for them that spoke Korean.

Would like to add:
Immuneman--Thank you very much for the translation!!!

[gertie]

I don't know how to convince anyone that Jin does know English. I'll just go on.

I like that someone said there are American movies, tv shows, etc. that Koreans see. Also, I think that you can't walk 5 feet without seeing or coming in contact with an American soldier. Don't these people also support the Coke/Pepsi/ McDonald's/Burger King conglomerates?

Okay, maybe 50 feet. But I know the American influence is very strong.

[dreamfall]

I've been thinking about this and Sun could already know that her husband speaks English and she just hasn't told any of the other castaways yet.

So if he does speak English, that doesn't mean it's a secret like how Sun knows english.

[Lisa AR]

jin says to hurley after hurley tries to get jin to teach him where the fish are, no way am i playing with you, go over there(away).

I think immuneman's translation pretty much tells us that Jin doesn't understand english so probably doesn't speak much of it.

[gertie]

I said

<<I like that someone said there are American movies, tv shows, etc. that Koreans see. Also, I think that you can't walk 5 feet without seeing or coming in contact with an American soldier. Don't these people also support the Coke/Pepsi/ McDonald's/Burger King conglomerates?

Okay, maybe 50 feet. But I know the American influence is very strong.
>>

Korea isn't anywhere near Pluto. Why do you dismiss this?

[anarane saralonde]

People travel throughout the US (and abroad) without any knowledge or understanding of the English language however difficult. For a second, during Hurley's incessant plea of "dude! pee on me!", I thought Jin understood what Hurley was asking him to do and answered "no no no" out of exasperation. I have a feeling that Jin knows some English, though perhaps not as fluently as his wife. We may have to wait for Jin's flashback episode, if there is one. After all, we only saw Sun's version of the events and history background. Unless this has been confirmed by the network/producers, we may also get Shannon's flashback episode that may explain her behavior patterns.

[azteclady]

Moving this to Jin's forum.





Beto

[nexgod]

Everyone knows how to say "no" or "yes" or "hello and bye"

But I did like the way DDk had to force an accent on the "no no no"

[anarane saralonde]

It's a big generalization to assume everyone on this planet knows 'yes', 'no', etc. Granted, the pleading in Hurley's voice leads us to believe Jin understood Hurley was telling him to do something but we don't know anything about Jin so far, apart from Sun's flashback episode. We have no background information on him except that he was a waiter before he and Sun got married.

[nexgod]

No it isn't a big generalization that everyone knows what yes and no means.

I don't think Jin ACTUALLY (if he doesnt know english) knows what Hurley was trying to do except point at his private area :lol

[anarane saralonde]

There is some form of a "yes" and a "no" for every spoken and written language. If Jin does not have any basic level of the English language and how it's applied, how could he have known that it was a request (plea)? Why did he feel the need to acknowledge or reply in someway to Hurley? Hurley was insisting that Jin urinate on his injury and Jin, in frustration and annoyance, seemed to have replied. I'm not saying Jin knows how to speak English. I just think it's a possible theory, like everything posted on this site.

[3lguys]

I think he can but I'm not too sure if knows how to speak in a complete sentence. Or certain words probably. Such as Yes or NO.

[anarane saralonde]

Yes 31, I think he has the basic knowledge of the English language too but isn't as fluent as his wife. I hope they do a flashback episode for him so we'll know.

[chrisberni]

His flashback episode will come soon. Next is another one for Charlie, then another Sawyer I think, and then it's finally Jin's turn!

[KatesBoyfriend]

Ok. His flashback episode has come and gone. The only English word he spoke was "boat".

Still, the episode leaves open the possibility that Jin may know a little more English than he lets on. After all, he may have been planning on staying in the United States permanently.

[anarane saralonde]

Katesboyfriend says: After all, he may have been planning on staying in the United States permanently.

This could be a possibility as Jin's father suggested he start over somewhere new or something to that effect.

[azteclady]

Jin may have made the decision to flee his father-in-law's clutches, with Sun - but we the audience do not know this! It's implied, but not declared, and like many things in LOST, it may turn out to be the exact opposite way it seems (remember Kate and how we were thinking she was innocent, and now it seems she's a hardened criminal?).

Depending on how much time passed between Jin's visit to his father, he may have learned a bit of English - probably nothing like what Sun clearly has, but at least a bit. He could have even explained to his father-in-law as a good thing for him (Jin) to know, in order to improve/promote their business in the US.

However, my take on ... in Translation is that Jin has very little - if any - English. The way the words were becoming more and more distorted as the argument in the beach progressed (right before Michael started beating the crap out of Jin), seemed like a device to show us the utter isolation Jin's feeling.


Beto
Got a question/problem/complaint? Follow the link in my signature first, read the entire Welcome forum second, then PM me

[anarane saralonde]

Az says: The way the words were becoming more and more distorted as the argument in the beach progressed ...seemed like a device to show us the utter isolation Jin's feeling.

I have a feeling his feeling of isolation will intensify as the show progresses.

[azteclady]

I'm locking this because there's an ongoing discussion already in this forum: Can Jin speak English? (http://p073.ezboard.com/flosttheunofficalforumfortheabcseriesfrm19.showMes sage?topicID=25.topic)

Please continue the discussion there!


Beto
see the sig? follow the link first, then PM me!

[Akishi]

I'm pretty sure Jin does speak english and he does understand any words but it was kinda shock for him to know his wife does speak it. We can see the expression in his face when Hurley visited him to go fishing, asked him to relax. I guess he's just confused about the fact of his wife.

Hopefully, we'll see Jin's character progress in the incoming series...:D

[azteclady]

Akishi, it's been said in interviews, by both Daniel Dae Kim and one or another of the producers, that Jin didn't know English and that that is why in ... in Translation the voices of the other survivors become gibberish in that scene on the beach when Michael was pounding on Jin.

[nexgod]

Well he definately would have spoken English in this epi!

[anarane saralonde]

Jin may know some basics of English and probably enough to get around but I doubt he's as fluent as his wife. If he learned any English, it was most likely while working for Sun's father. Remember, Jin grew up in a modest fishing village environment. Does anyone remember how he was ashamed of his father and told Sun he was dead?
He wasn't "well off" until he married Sun and started working for her father.

[Hersh]

Koreans use some English in their everyday language. To name some things: coffee, wife, music.. (it's just that when they say it to someone who speaks fluent english, it doesn't sound like it ie. coffee - Cupee, etc).

Pop culture wise, teenage koreans use a lot of english in their language as English has become a requirement in their curriculum (I think... or if not, strongly recommended and offered in schools). If you ever listen to any Korean pop music, English speakers often think they hear English words... and this is true.

So you saw Jin say "Jack. Doctor" - some might have been surprised. But a normal everyday Korean men and women would know 'Jack' as it is like a often used children's books/stories and Doctor... most definitely.

Also, just because someone is going on a business trip to a foreign country doesn't mean they will be able to communicate in the foreign language (although for all I know, Jin might be completely fluent in the story). For example, Los Angeles has a very high Korean population (like Chicago, Atlanta, Washington DC - You will find Korean towns etc in these cities). So Jin's business trip doesn't necessarily have to be with an American company.

Last thing I have to mention is that Daniel Kim might be Korean-born but speaks fluent English in real life. He probably moved from Korea to the States when he was very young. (Or maybe he was born in the States?). All I know is, that some Korean friends that I have do not like the fact that an actor, who can't speak perfect Korean (he has an Americanized accent in his Korean), was picked to play a role as a completely Korean citizen. I'm not saying he doesn't know Korean, per se - but his Korean vocabulary is probably limited to that of everyday normal conversations and can't get into any complex conversations. (Again, for all we know, there might be something strange going on in Jin's future in the Lost story).

Kim Yoon-Jin, on the other hand, does speak perfect Korean and lived most of her life in Korea. Her role in this ABC series has been published in Korean newspapers last year because she acted in Korean films (most famous being Shiri [www.imdb.com/title/tt0192657/ (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0192657/)]).

[Apprentice Talker]

Yes, He does. Back in first episode, He spoke only Korean.

[chrisberni]

You're right Hersh, Daniel's parents moved to America when he was two years old, and he said himself at the Fuselage that his vocabulary is limited to "household" Korean. He's working on his accent, and mentioned that Yunjin is a big help. I'm sure that the more the series goes on, the less you'll hear the "American" accent.

[kev7161]

As an English teacher living in China, I can tell you that it is not necessarily so what some of you are saying. It is mandatory for students to take English lessons. Some of my students have studied English for 5 or 6 years and are quite fluent. Some have studied for the same length of time and barely speak a single sentence. Some just don't like the language or find it too difficult or maybe even too boring.

Some of you are making assumptions about Jin. It has been said that his father was/is a poor fisherman, probably raising his family in a small Korean village where there may have been very little education. Perhaps English wasn't quite so important there. Jin eventually moved away and became a waiter. It looks as if he worked for Sun's father for maybe a 2 or 3 years before that fateful journey on flight 815.

Also, the writers are making it very clear that he is "picking up" words here and there ("Jack" "doctor") and that is very clear when they are building and then on the raft. I think that if there is someone speaking and you are the only one there, you are naturally going to look at that person with some sort of expression. If they are smiling, maybe you will smile as well. If they are yelling at you, you are going to look angry . . . etc.

How many of you took French or Spanish or (shudder) Latin in school? How many of you can speak the language fluently? How many of you can understand when a native uses that language quickly? Sure, Jin may have a modicum of English inside him but, if it was never used regularly or he never practiced using it, it fades away. I took piano lessons about 15 years ago, for about a year. I sure as heck can't play the piano and can barely read sheet music!

[Mattie]

But Jin isn't Chinese, he's Korean. Is it mandatory in Korea also?

I'm in the boat that thinks Jin cannot speak English.

[Hodgepodge]

Kathy Fan 2 says:I'm in the boat that thinks Jin cannot speak English.I thought this was settled awhile back? When Jin only heard gibberish during the fight on the beach, I thought that clarified the matter. Also, didn't DDK in an interview state Jin didn't speak any English?

[Brianna4 8 15 16 23 42]

I read that article also that Jin doesn't speak English. He may

understand some that's spoken to him but not enough to

communicate effectively. Jin wanted to isolate himself from

the group at the beginning. Later we all see him try and learn

thanks in part to Sun and part to a self admission that he

must interact with the rest of the group to survive. Isn't it

obvious he's at a disadvantage by not trying to learn?

I think it's a great and about time. I hope his role expands

significantly in season 2 as he learns english. Not speaking

English makes the character interesting but think of the

possibilities and light hearted humor:D that could happen as

he interacts with all the others. What kind of fascinating

coversations could he have with Locke? Sayid? Sawyer?

Kate? Charlie? Claire? Shannon?lol. Think of all the

possibilities. The writers need to make him be part of the

intrigue, humor, and drama that the rest of the group shares.

In some ways Jin has the most potential for growth out of all

the characters.