무슨 일을 하세요? moseul il-eul haseyo? Talking about Jobs and Professions in Korean
In this post you’ll learn how to talk about jobs, professions, and working in Korean. First you’ll learn how to ask someone what their job is. Next you’ll learn how to say what you do for a living with Korean vocabulary for many common jobs. Finally you’ll learn how to talk about where you work, or whether you’re retired or looking for a job.
Asking about Jobs and Professions in Korean
If you want to ask what kind of work someone does in Korean, these expressions will be handy:
- 무슨 일을 하세요?
moseul il-eul haseyo?
What do you do? - 직업이 있어요?
jigeob-i isseoyo?
Do you have a job? - 어디서 일해요?
eodi-seo ilhaeyo?
Where do you work?
Common Jobs and Professions in Korean
When saying what you do in Korean, just use the copula (be-verb) 입니다 imnida (formal high) or 예요 / 이에요 yeyo/ieyo (informal high). You can drop the pronoun 저 jeo or 나 na (I).
- (저는) 선생님입니다.
(jeo-neun) seonsaengnim imnida.
I’m a teacher. - (나는) 학생이에요.
(na-neun) haksaeng ieyo.
I’m a student. - 간호사입니다.
ganhosa imnida.
I’m a nurse. - 의사입니다.
uisa imnida.
I’m a doctor. - 치과의사입니다.
chigwauisa imnida.
I’m a dentist. - 경찰관입니다.
gyeongchalgwan imnida.
I’m a police officer. - 소방관입니다.
sobanggwan imnida.
I’m a fireman. - 판매원입니다.
panmaewon imnida.
I’m a salesperson. - 종업원입니다.
jongeobwon imnida.
I’m a server. (waiter/waitress) - 바텐더입니다.
batendeo imnida.
I’m a bar tender. - 요리사입니다.
yorisa imnida.
I’m a cook. - 연기자입니다.
yeongija imnida.
I’m an actor. - 작가입니다.
jagkka imnida.
I’m a writer. - 기자입니다.
gija imnida.
I’m a journalist. - 예술가입니다.
yesulga imnida.
I’m an artist. - 가수입니다.
gasu imnida.
I’m a singer. - 댄서입니다.
daenseo imnida.
I’m a dancer.
More Jobs and Professions in Korean
- 건설 노동자입니다.
geonseol nodongja imnida.
I’m a construction worker. - 배관공입니다.
baegwangong-imnida.
I’m a plumber. - 전기 기술자입니다.
jeongi gisulja imnida.
I’m an electrician. - 엔지니어입니다.
enjinieo imnida.
I’m an engineer. - 목수입니다.
mogsu imnida.
I’m a carpenter. - 변호사입니다.
byeonhosa imnida.
I’m a lawyer. - 건축가입니다.
geonchugkka imnida.
I’m an architect. - 웹 디자이너입니다.
web dijaineo imnida.
I’m a web designer. - 비서입니다.
biseo imnida.
I’m a secretary. - 정신과 의사입니다.
jeongshingwa uisa imnida.
I’m a psychiatrist. - 심리학자입니다.
shimlihagja imnida.
I’m a psychologist. - 사회복지사 입니다.
sahoebogjisa imnida.
I’m a social worker. - 요가 강사 입니다.
yoga gangsa imnida.
yoga instructor. - 출납원입니다.
chulnabwon imnida.
I’m a cashier. - 우편 배달부입니다.
upyeon baedalbu imnida.
I’m a mail carrier. - 사무실 감독관입니다.
samushil gamdoggwan-imnida.
I’m an office supervisor. - 공무원입니다.
gongmuwon imnida.
I’m a civil servant.
Talking about Companies and Working in Korean
Here are a few other expressions that you can use to describe where, or whether, you work.
- 사무실에서 일해요.
samushil-eseo ilhaeyo.
I work in an office. - 큰/작은 회에서 일해요.
keun/jageun hoe-eseo ilhaeyo.
I work for a big/small company. - 집에서 일해요.
jib-eseo ilhaeyo.
I work at home. - 개인 사업을 해요.
gaein saeob-eul haeyo.
I have my own business. - 직업이 있어요.
jigeob-i isseoyo.
I have a job. - 직업이 없어요.
jigeob-i eobseoyo.
I don’t have a job. - 직업을 찾고 있어요.
jigeob-eul chajgo isseoyo.
I’m looking for a job. - 퇴직했어요.
toejig haesseoyo.
I’m retired. - 실업자예요.
shileobja yeyo.
I’m on unemployment.
Get on the road to speaking Korean with the Language Garage!
We hope you’ve enjoyed learning how to talk about jobs, professions, and working in Korean. Now you know how to talk about work, and you’ve learned Korean vocabulary for many common jobs and professions. If you’d like to learn more, check out our other posts on Korean language, culture, and more. And if you’re looking for convenient and affordable live Korean lessons with a real teacher, check out The Language Garage. Our lessons are given online in a virtual classroom, so it doesn’t matter where you live or work – we can come to you. And we have flexible options, with a free trial so that you can decide if there’s a fit. Check us out!
Image by Tran Mau Tri Tam from Pixabay.
