Chapter 4: The Keeper of the Keys
| Simplified Chinese (Mandarin: China) | ||
| 钥匙保管员 Yàoshi bǎoguǎn-yuán |
钥匙 yàoshi = 'key'. 保管 bǎoguǎn = 'keep, guard'. 员 -yuán = 'official'. |
Key-keeper |
| Traditional Chinese (Mandarin: Taiwan) | ||
| 鑰匙管理員 Yàoshi guǎnlǐ-yuán |
鑰匙
yàoshi = 'key'. 管理 guǎnlǐ = 'manage, control, be in charge of'. 員 -yuán = 'official' |
Key-manager |
| Japanese | ||
| 鍵の番人 Kagi no bannin |
鍵 kagi = 'key'. の no = connecting particle 番人 bannin = 'guard/watchman'. |
Guard of the Key(s) |
| Korean | ||
| 사냥터지기 해그리드 Sanyang-teo-jigi Haegeulideu |
사냥터 sanyang-teo 'hunting ground'. -지기 -jigi 'keeper, guard'. 해그리드 Haegeulideu = 'Hagrid'. |
Hagrid the Gamekeeper |
| Vietnamese (Chinese characters show etymology) | ||
| Người giữ khóa | người = 'person'. giữ = 'guard'. khóa = 'key'. |
Key-guard |
| Mongolian (previous) | ||
| Түлхүүр хадгалагч Tülkhüür khadgalagch |
түлхүүр tülkhüür = 'key'. хадгалагч khadgalagch = 'keeper' (from хадгалах 'to keep, maintain, preserve' khadgalakh 'guard, keep' + -гч -gch, suffix indicating an agent). |
Key Keeper |
| Mongolian (new) | ||
| Түлхүүр хадгалагч Tülkhüür khadgalagch |
түлхүүр tülkhüür = 'key'. хадгалагч khadgalagch = 'keeper' (from хадгалах 'to keep, maintain, preserve' khadgalakh 'guard, keep' + -гч -gch, suffix indicating an agent). |
Key Keeper |
The keeper of the keys at Hogwarts was Hagrid, who had a large ring of keys to lock or unlock any door on the grounds. At the end of the chapter and in later books his title is usually 'Gamekeeper', which involved looking after the creatures in the Forbidden Forest as well as farm animals.
How is 'keeper of the keys' translated?
All translations but the Korean use a word meaning 'key' followed by a characterisation of 'keeper' as a job. The Korean translation jumps ahead to Hagrid's title in later volumes ('gamekeeper').
- Both Chinese-language versions give Hagrid a title with 員 (Trad.) / 员 (Simpl.) -yuán, indicating that he is a member of staff with a specific role or position.
- The Mainland edition suggests that Hagrid has the keys in storage or safekeeping (保管 bǎoguǎn 'storage, custody, safekeeping').
- The translation from Taiwan suggests that he is charged with managing or controlling the keys (管理 guǎnlǐ 'manage, supervise, administer').
- The Mainland edition suggests that Hagrid has the keys in storage or safekeeping (保管 bǎoguǎn 'storage, custody, safekeeping').
- The Vietnamese edition suggests that Hagrid is charged with guarding or holding the keys (giữ 'guard, hold'). Người simply means 'person'.
- Both Mongolian editions use хадгалагч khadgalagch 'keeper, custodian', which similarly suggest that he is looking after the keys. The ending -гч -gch indicates a person or thing that performs a particular function.
- The Japanese gives him a more menial position as the 'watchman' of the keys (番人 bannin 'guard/watchman', where 人 nin is used in compound words -- not on its own -- and means 'person').
- The Korean translation uses 사냥터지기 sanyangteo-jigi 'hunting-ground keeper', that is, a 'gamekeeper', a title that appears at the very end of the chapter. 지기 -jigi 'keeper, guardian', is used in terms like 등대지기 deungdae-jigi 'lighthouse keeper' and 산지기 san-jigi 'mountain/forest ranger'.
(Korean appears thanks to "Hiro".)
(Detailed notes on the chapter can be found at Harry Potter Lexicon)
| ⇚ Chapter 3 |  |