Korean for work

Titles instead of names, the formal style in meetings and the phrases for arriving and leaving: Korean at the office.

35 sentences · 3 dialogues · 20 words

Why this field

Working with Korean colleagues — in Korea or in an office abroad — goes more smoothly with a little Korean. Above all, the polite formulas for greeting, thanking and leaving are noticed and appreciated.

Office Korean has a clear hierarchy. People are addressed by job title, reports and meetings use the formal -습니다 style, and there are set phrases for leaving before your boss. This page shows them in everyday situations.

What you will be able to do

Goals by level. Tick what you can already do — the tick stays in this browser only.

1I can say where I work and when I start and finish.
2I can greet colleagues, address them by title and leave the office politely.
2I can arrange a meeting time and say when I will send something.
3I can report on a task to a superior in the formal style.
4I can talk about approvals, clients and working from home.

Core vocabulary

20 words from the word lists, ordered by level. A coloured edge shows what you have already practised.

회사company; the office1
회사원office worker; company employee1
직장workplace; job2
사무실office (the room)2
회의meeting2
동료colleague2
출근하다to go to work; to get to work2
퇴근하다to leave work; to finish for the day2
월급monthly pay; salary2
휴가leave; holiday (from work)2
회의실meeting room2
업무work; duties; business3
상사boss; superior3
보고서report3
마감deadline; closing3
명함business card3
부서department3
팀장team leader3
야근working late; overtime at night3
면접interview (for a job or a school)3

Practise as flashcards Card box Mixed round

Typical situations

Short dialogues to read along and repeat. Say one part first, then the other.

First day at the office

You meet your team leader on your first morning.

New employee
안녕하십니까. 새로 온 샘입니다.Good morning. I’m Sam, the new member of staff.
Team leader
반가워요. 우리 팀에 온 걸 환영해요.Nice to meet you. Welcome to the team.
New employee
잘 부탁드립니다.I look forward to working with you.
Team leader
자리는 저기 창가예요. 모르는 게 있으면 언제든지 물어보세요.Your desk is over there by the window. If there’s anything you don’t know, just ask.
New employee
감사합니다. 열심히 하겠습니다.Thank you. I’ll do my best.
Team leader
점심은 같이 먹어요. 열두 시에 나가요.Let’s have lunch together. We go out at twelve.

Moving a meeting

A colleague asks to change the time of a meeting.

Colleague
샘 씨, 내일 회의 시간 좀 바꿀 수 있을까요?Sam, could we change the time of tomorrow’s meeting?
You
네, 몇 시가 좋으세요?Sure — what time suits you?
Colleague
오후 세 시는 어때요?How about three in the afternoon?
You
세 시에는 다른 회의가 있어서요. 네 시는 괜찮으세요?I have another meeting at three. Would four be all right?
Colleague
네, 좋아요. 회의실은 제가 다시 예약할게요.Yes, fine. I’ll rebook the meeting room.
You
감사합니다. 자료는 오늘까지 보내 드리겠습니다.Thank you. I’ll send you the materials by today.

Leaving before the boss

Your work is done, but your manager is still at the desk.

You
부장님, 오늘 일은 다 끝났습니다.I’ve finished everything for today.
Manager
그래요? 수고 많았어요.Have you? Thanks for all your work.
You
그럼 먼저 들어가 보겠습니다.Then I’ll be off, if that’s all right.
Manager
네, 조심히 들어가요. 내일 봐요.Yes, get home safely. See you tomorrow.
You
내일 뵙겠습니다.See you tomorrow.

Sentences to say aloud

The label says where a sentence belongs. The speaker next to it reads it aloud.

저는 회사원이에요.I work for a company.
1neutral
회사가 어디에 있어요?Where is your company?
1neutral
아침 아홉 시에 일을 시작해요.I start work at nine.
1neutral
오늘은 일이 많아요.I’ve got a lot of work today.
1neutral
처음 뵙겠습니다. 잘 부탁드립니다.How do you do? I look forward to working with you.
1formal The standard pair of phrases when you meet a new colleague or client.
내일은 회사에 안 가요.I’m not going to work tomorrow.
1neutral
회의가 몇 시에 있어요?What time is the meeting?
2neutral
사무실이 몇 층이에요?Which floor is the office on?
2neutral
지하철로 출근해요.I go to work by metro.
2neutral
보통 여섯 시에 퇴근해요.I usually finish work at six.
2neutral
이번 주 금요일에 휴가를 내려고 해요.I’m planning to take Friday off this week.
2neutral
동료들하고 점심을 같이 먹어요.I have lunch with my colleagues.
2neutral
김 과장님, 잠깐 시간 괜찮으세요?Mr Kim, do you have a moment?
2polite Surname plus title plus 님 — never the given name alone.
자료를 메일로 보내 드리겠습니다.I will send you the materials by email.
2formal
지금 통화 가능하세요?Is now a good time to talk?
2polite
죄송하지만 다시 한 번 말씀해 주시겠어요?I’m sorry, could you say that once more?
2polite
먼저 들어가 보겠습니다.I’ll be going now, if I may.
2formal Said when you leave before your superior.
먼저 퇴근하겠습니다. 수고하셨습니다.I’m off home now. Thank you for today’s work.
2formal
이번 달 월급이 들어왔어요.This month’s salary has come in.
2neutral
이 업무는 제가 맡겠습니다.I will take on this task.
3formal
보고서는 내일까지 드리겠습니다.I will give you the report by tomorrow.
3formal
마감이 언제까지예요?When is the deadline?
3neutral
오늘도 야근해야 할 것 같아요.It looks like I’ll have to work late again today.
3neutral
팀장님께 보고드렸습니다.I have reported it to the team leader.
3formal 께 and 보고드리다 lower yourself and raise the person you report to.
명함 한 장 받을 수 있을까요?Could I have one of your business cards?
3polite
저희 부서는 다섯 명이에요.There are five of us in our department.
3polite 저희 is the humble "our" — used when speaking to people outside your group.
신입 사원이라서 아직 배우는 중이에요.I’m a new employee, so I’m still learning.
3neutral
회의실을 예약해 두었습니다.I have booked the meeting room.
3formal
오늘 회식이 있는데 같이 가실 거죠?There’s a team dinner tonight — you’re coming, aren’t you?
3polite
말씀하신 내용은 확인해 보고 연락드리겠습니다.I will check what you mentioned and get back to you.
3formal
면접에서 자기소개를 한국어로 했어요.I introduced myself in Korean at the interview.
3neutral
상사가 퇴근하기 전에는 퇴근하기가 좀 어려워요.It’s a bit hard to leave before your boss does.
3neutral
재택근무를 하는 날에는 화상 회의로 참석합니다.On the days I work from home, I join by video call.
4formal
결재가 나면 바로 진행하겠습니다.As soon as it is approved, I will go ahead.
4formal
거래처에 견적서를 보내 드렸습니다.I have sent the quotation to the client.
4formal

What matters here

Colleagues are addressed by title, with 님: 과장님, 팀장님, or surname plus title, 김 과장님.
A first name alone is too familiar.
님과장님팀장님김 과장님
In meetings, reports and with clients the formal -습니다 style is usual; among colleagues the polite -요 style is enough.
-습니다-요
Leaving before your boss, say 먼저 들어가 보겠습니다.
Some people feel 수고하세요 should not be said to a superior; 수고하셨습니다 or a simple goodbye is safer.
먼저 들어가 보겠습니다수고하세요수고하셨습니다
Business cards are given and received with both hands.

Quick quiz

6 questions on the words and sentences of this field. The word questions count in your progress like any other exercise.

Try it yourself

Read the meaning, say the sentence aloud in Korean, then open it to compare.

I work for a company.
저는 회사원이에요.
I go to work by metro.
지하철로 출근해요.
I’ll be going now, if I may.
먼저 들어가 보겠습니다.
Could I have one of your business cards?
명함 한 장 받을 수 있을까요?

Keep learning

The grammar behind it

Word lists that go with it

Practise

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Every sentence on this page was written for EveryLingua. There are no quotations from films, series, books or songs here, and no titles or names of artists — the page shows how people talk in this field, not what somebody once said.