Korean Dictionary
How to say "Commute" in Korean
“Commute” in Korean is 출퇴근 (pronounced "Chultoegeun").
출퇴근
Chultoegeun
Usage & Context
Going to and from work. 출근 (chulgeun) is going to work, 퇴근 (toegeun) is leaving work. Seoul's subway is packed during rush hour (7-9 AM, 6-8 PM). 지각 (jigak, being late) is taken very seriously in Korean work culture.
Example Sentence
출퇴근 시간에 지하철이 너무 붐벼요.
The subway is too crowded during commuting hours.
How to use 출퇴근 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Commute” is 출퇴근, romanized as Chultoegeun.
Usage tip
Practice this word inside a full daily-life sentence, because particles and sentence endings make the Korean sound natural.
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 출퇴근.
Pronunciation Guide
Pronounced 'chul-twe-geun' — 'chul' rhymes with 'chool,' 'toe' sounds like 'twe,' and 'geun' rhymes with 'guhn.' Four sounds flowing quickly.
More Example Sentences
complaining about work life
출퇴근 시간이 너무 길어요.
My commute is so long.
discussing transportation
출퇴근은 지하철로 해요.
I commute by subway.
daily routine
출퇴근길에 팟캐스트 들어요.
I listen to podcasts on my commute.
Cultural Context
출퇴근 is a compound: 출근 (go to work) + 퇴근 (leave work). Korean commutes in Seoul often exceed 1 hour, and 지옥철 ('hell subway') is slang for packed rush-hour trains. 칼퇴근 ('knife-clock leaving') means leaving exactly on time — a coveted thing in overtime-heavy Korean offices.
Editorial note
We review entries like 출퇴근 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
출퇴근 시간이 길어요.
My commute is long.
출근해요.
I'm heading to work.
퇴근했어요.
I'm off work.
Related Expressions
출근
chulgeun
going to work
퇴근
toegeun
leaving work
칼퇴근
kaltoegeun
leaving work exactly on time
지옥철
jiokcheol
hell subway (rush hour)
More Daily Life Words
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