Korean Job WordsJobs & occupation words with romanization — free list
To talk about jobs in Korean, you pair the occupation with 이다 (to be): 저는 학생이에요 (“I am a student”). This free list covers the most common occupations — 선생님 (teacher), 의사 (doctor), 회사원 (office worker) — each with romanization and meaning.
| Korean | Romanization | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 직업 | jigeop | job / occupation |
| 일 | il | work |
| 학생 | haksaeng | student |
| 선생님 | seonsaengnim | teacher (respectful) |
| 교사 | gyosa | teacher (one’s own job) |
| 교수 | gyosu | professor |
| 의사 | uisa | doctor |
| 간호사 | ganhosa | nurse |
| 회사원 | hoesawon | office worker |
| 사장님 | sajangnim | company boss / CEO |
| 변호사 | byeonhosa | lawyer |
| 경찰관 | gyeongchalgwan | police officer |
| 소방관 | sobanggwan | firefighter |
| 요리사 | yorisa | cook / chef |
| 가수 | gasu | singer |
| 배우 | baeu | actor |
| 운동선수 | undongseonsu | athlete |
| 군인 | gunin | soldier |
| 농부 | nongbu | farmer |
| 기자 | gija | reporter / journalist |
| 작가 | jakga | writer / author |
| 디자이너 | dijaineo | designer |
| 공무원 | gongmuwon | civil servant |
| 주부 | jubu | homemaker |
| 사업가 | saeopga | businessperson / entrepreneur |
💡 Good to know
Ask what someone does with 무슨 일을 하세요? (“what work do you do?”) or 직업이 뭐예요? (“what is your job?”). Note 선생님 (teacher) already includes the respectful 님, so you never call yourself 선생님 — for “I am a teacher”, say 저는 교사예요.
FAQ
- How do you say jobs in Korean?
- 선생님 teacher, 의사 doctor, 학생 student, 회사원 office worker, 요리사 cook, 가수 singer. To say your job, add 이에요/예요: 저는 학생이에요. The full list with romanization is above.
- How do you ask someone’s job in Korean?
- 직업이 뭐예요? (“what is your job?”) or more politely 무슨 일을 하세요? (“what work do you do?”).
- Why can’t I call myself 선생님?
- 선생님 already contains the honorific 님, so it is used for others, not yourself. For “I am a teacher”, use 교사 (저는 교사예요) — 교사 is the plain occupation word.
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Written by Alvin Lim Certified Korean Language Teacher (Level 2)