Standard Lemma guide

songbun

noun · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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  • /ˈsɒŋbuːn/

1

noun

Meaning 1

A system of ascribed status in North Korea, based on one's political, social, and economic background and the behaviour of relatives.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: uncountable

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

Borrowed from Korean 성분(成分) (seongbun), ellipsis of 출신성분(出身成分) (chulsinseongbun).

Across languages

Translations

5 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Chinese Mandarin: 出身成分 (chūshēn chéngfèn) — a system of ascribed status in North Korea
  • Japanese: 出身成分 (shusshin seibun) — a system of ascribed status in North Korea
  • Korean: 출신성분 (chulsinseongbun) — a system of ascribed status in North Korea
  • Polish: songbun — a system of ascribed status in North Korea
  • Russian: сонбу́н (sonbún) — a system of ascribed status in North Korea