Korean Dictionary
How to say "Burning the Midnight Oil" in Korean
“Burning the Midnight Oil” in Korean is 밤새워 일하다 (pronounced "Bamsaewo Ilhada").
밤새워 일하다
Bamsaewo Ilhada
Usage & Context
Burning the midnight oil means working or studying very late into the night. In Korean culture, this is common especially during exam seasons and work deadlines.
Example Sentence
시험 기간에는 밤새워 공부해요.
During exam season, I study burning the midnight oil.
How to use 밤새워 일하다 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Burning the Midnight Oil” is 밤새워 일하다, romanized as Bamsaewo Ilhada.
Usage tip
Learn this word together with a complete Korean sentence. Meaning often depends on particles, politeness level, and word order.
Common mistake
Do not rely only on the English meaning. Read the Korean example sentence and notice the particles, word order, and politeness level around 밤새워 일하다.
Pronunciation Guide
The phrase is pronounced 'Bahm-sae-woh Eel-hah-dah'. 'Bahm-sae-woh' sounds like 'bomb-say-woah'. 'Eel-hah-dah' is like 'ill-hah-dah'. The 'h' in 'hah' is soft, almost silent in fast speech.
Formal & Casual Forms
Formal (존댓말)
밤새워 일합니다
Bamsaewo ilhamnida
Formal polite form, often used in presentations or formal reports.
Casual (반말)
밤새워 일해
Bamsaewo ilhae
Casual form, used with close friends or subordinates.
More Example Sentences
Explaining working late due to a deadline.
마감 기한 때문에 어제 밤새워 일했어요.
I burned the midnight oil yesterday because of the deadline.
A student talking about their study habits during exams.
시험 기간이라 매일 밤새워 공부하고 있어요.
It's exam season, so I'm burning the midnight oil studying every day.
Advising someone to take care of their health while working late.
밤새워 일하는 건 건강에 안 좋으니 적당히 쉬어가면서 해.
Burning the midnight oil isn't good for your health, so take breaks and don't overdo it.
Cultural Context
Burning the midnight oil, or '밤샘' (bamsaem) in Korean, is a very common and often expected practice in both academic and professional settings in Korea. Students frequently pull all-nighters ('철야' cheorya) during exam periods, and employees often work late ('야근' yageun) to meet deadlines. While there's a growing awareness of work-life balance, the culture of dedication and hard work often translates into working long hours. This phrase is frequently heard in K-dramas depicting students preparing for college entrance exams or office workers striving for success.
Editorial note
We review entries like 밤새워 일하다 for pronunciation, example sentence fit, and learner mistakes so the page answers more than a direct dictionary lookup.
Reviewed by Min-jung Park, Korean Language Teacher. Updated May 31, 2026. See our editorial standards.
Common Phrases
밤새워 일하는 중이에요.
I'm in the middle of burning the midnight oil.
밤새워 일할 준비가 되어 있어요.
I'm ready to burn the midnight oil.
밤새워 일해야 할 것 같아요.
I think I'll have to burn the midnight oil.
Related Expressions
야근하다
Yageunhada
To work overtime (specifically late at night)
철야하다
Cheoryahada
To pull an all-nighter (work/study through the night)
밤샘
Bamsaem
All-nighter (noun)
늦게까지 일하다
Neutkkekkaji ilhada
To work until late
More Idioms & Proverbs Words
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