Korean Dictionary
How to say "Client" in Korean
“Client” in Korean is 클라이언트 (pronounced "keullaieonteu").
클라이언트
keullaieonteu
Usage & Context
A person or organization that uses professional services. Clients in Korea expect high-quality service and communication. Long-term client relationships are valued.
Example Sentence
새로운 클라이언트를 확보했습니다.
We acquired a new client.
How to use 클라이언트 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Client” is 클라이언트, romanized as keullaieonteu.
Usage tip
Business Korean usually needs polite or formal endings, especially in emails, meetings, and customer situations.
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 클라이언트.
Pronunciation Guide
Pronounced 'keul-lah-ee-uhn-teu' — it's a Korean transliteration of English 'client,' so five short syllables: 'keul' (like 'cool' cut short) + 'la' + 'i' + 'eon' + 'teu.' Run them together quickly.
More Example Sentences
mentioning your schedule at a team stand-up
내일 클라이언트 미팅이 있어요.
I have a client meeting tomorrow.
venting to a freelancer friend
클라이언트 요구 사항이 계속 바뀌어서 힘들어요.
The client keeps changing the requirements, which is exhausting.
briefing a new team member
이번 프로젝트는 해외 클라이언트예요.
This project is for an overseas client.
Cultural Context
Korean workplaces use 클라이언트 and 고객 somewhat interchangeably, but there's a subtle distinction — 고객 (customer/guest) is preferred in retail and service industries, while 클라이언트 is the go-to word in advertising, consulting, design, and legal fields. You'll also hear the full English loanword in agency slang like 클라 (short for client), 클라이언트 브리프 (client brief), and 갑을 관계 — a loaded term describing the power imbalance between 갑 (the client / upper party) and 을 (the vendor / lower party) in Korean contracts. Because of this 갑을 culture, younger Korean freelancers sometimes joke bitterly about being '을 중의 을' ('the lowest of the lows') when dealing with demanding clients.
Editorial note
We review business terms like 클라이언트 for formality, so the example fits emails, meetings, or workplace conversations instead of casual speech.
Reviewed by Min-jung Park, Korean Language Teacher. Updated May 31, 2026. See our editorial standards.
Common Phrases
클라이언트한테 컨펌 받았어요.
I got confirmation from the client.
새로운 클라이언트를 맡게 됐어요.
I've been assigned a new client.
클라이언트가 까다로워요.
The client is picky.
Related Expressions
고객
go-gaek
customer / client (general)
거래처
geo-rae-cheo
business partner / account
갑
gap
upper/contracting party (often the client)
의뢰인
ui-roe-in
client (esp. legal or professional services)
More Business Words
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