Korean Dictionary
How to say "Counseling" in Korean
“Counseling” in Korean is 상담 (pronounced "sangdam").
상담
sangdam
Usage & Context
Counseling involves talking with a trained professional to work through personal or emotional issues. Korean universities and workplaces increasingly offer 상담 services for students and employees.
Example Sentence
학교 상담 선생님과 이야기를 나눴다.
I talked with the school counseling teacher.
How to use 상담 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Counseling” is 상담, romanized as sangdam.
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 상담.
Pronunciation Guide
Pronounced 'sahng-dam' — 상 like 'sahng' (rhymes with 'song' with 'ah'), and 담 like 'dahm' with closed 'm'. Literally 'mutual talk'.
More Example Sentences
A friend giving gentle advice.
전문가와 상담을 받아보는 게 좋을 것 같아요.
I think it would be good to get counseling from a professional.
A college student thanking their advisor.
진로 상담 덕분에 방향을 정할 수 있었어요.
Thanks to career counseling, I was able to find a direction.
An HR rep introducing benefits to new hires.
회사에 무료 심리 상담 서비스가 있어요.
Our company offers free psychological counseling.
Cultural Context
상담 is a surprisingly flexible word in Korean — it covers mental health counseling (심리 상담), career counseling (진로 상담), and even customer service consultations (고객 상담). Schools routinely offer 진로 상담 starting in middle school, and tech-forward companies now provide subsidized 심리 상담 via EAP programs. Because directly saying '병원' can still feel heavy, many Koreans prefer easing into mental health support through 상담 centers first.
Editorial note
We review entries like 상담 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
상담 받고 싶어요.
I'd like to receive counseling.
상담 예약할 수 있을까요?
Can I book a counseling session?
상담이 정말 도움이 됐어요.
The counseling really helped me.
Related Expressions
상담사
sangdamsa
Counselor
심리 상담
simni sangdam
Psychological counseling
진로 상담
jinro sangdam
Career counseling
고객 상담
gogaek sangdam
Customer consultation
More Mental Health & Wellness Words
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