Korean edit

Etymology edit

인(人) (in, human) +‎ (-ui, genitive marker) +‎ 장막(帳幕) (jangmak, curtain). Probably by analogy with 철의 장막 ( 帳幕, Cheor-ui jangmak, “Iron Curtain”).

Pronunciation edit

  • (SK Standard/Seoul) IPA(key): [inɰi t͡ɕa̠ŋma̠k̚] ~ [ine̞ t͡ɕa̠ŋma̠k̚]
  • Phonetic hangul: [ / ]
Romanizations
Revised Romanization?inui jangmak
Revised Romanization (translit.)?in'ui jangmag
McCune–Reischauer?inŭi changmak
Yale Romanization?in.uy cangmak

Noun edit

장막 (in-ui jangmak) (hanja 人의 帳幕) (idiomatic)

  1. (literally) a human wall; a human barricade
    • 2015 April 15, “'어벤져스2' 경호원만 150명..공항부터 인의 장막 [eobenjeoseu2 gyeonghowonman 150myeong..gonghangbuteo inui jangmak]”, in Starnews[1]:
      '어벤져스2' 공항 경호원 100 이상 보내 없는 인의 장막 계획이다.
      "Eobenjeoseu Tu" cheug-eun gonghang-e gyeonghowon-eul baeg-yeo myeong isang bonae mul sael teum eomneun in-ui jangmag-eul chil gyehoeg-ida.
      [The production company] behind Avengers: Age of Ultron plans to deploy over a hundred bodyguards at the airport to form an impervious human barricade.
  2. (figuratively, politics) close aides and advisors who render a person oblivious to reality or different opinions (e.g. by falsely conveying popular sentiment so as not to upset their superior and jeopardize their privileged position as aide or advisor)

Synonyms edit

  • 인의 장벽 (in-ui jangbyeok) (especially for the literal sense)