Korean Dictionary
How to say "Emotional Exhaustion" in Korean
“Emotional Exhaustion” in Korean is 감정 소진 (pronounced "gamjeong sojin").
감정 소진
gamjeong sojin
Usage & Context
Emotional exhaustion is feeling drained of emotional energy. It is common among Korean service workers, teachers, and caregivers who provide constant emotional support to others.
Example Sentence
감정 소진은 지속적인 정서적 요구로 인해 발생한다.
Emotional exhaustion occurs due to constant emotional demands.
How to use 감정 소진 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Emotional Exhaustion” is 감정 소진, romanized as gamjeong sojin.
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 감정 소진.
Pronunciation Guide
감 (gam) sounds like 'gum'. 정 (jeong) sounds like 'jung' in 'jungle' but with a slightly softer 'j'. 소 (so) sounds like 'so'. 진 (jin) sounds like 'jin' in 'jingle'. The stress is fairly even, with a slight emphasis on 'gam' and 'so'.
More Example Sentences
Identifying a common group affected.
서비스직에 종사하는 사람들은 감정 소진을 겪기 쉽습니다.
People working in service industries are prone to experiencing emotional exhaustion.
Discussing parental burnout.
육아로 인한 감정 소진 때문에 힘들어하는 부모들이 많아요.
Many parents struggle due to emotional exhaustion from childcare.
Suggesting a preventative measure.
감정 소진을 예방하기 위해 충분한 휴식이 필요해요.
Sufficient rest is needed to prevent emotional exhaustion.
Cultural Context
In Korea, the concept of 'emotional labor' (감정 노동, gamjeong nodong) is widely recognized, especially for those in service industries who are expected to maintain a pleasant demeanor regardless of their personal feelings. This often leads to 감정 소진. The pressure to always be polite and accommodating, even when facing difficult customers, contributes significantly to this phenomenon, and it's a topic often discussed in news and social commentaries.
Editorial note
We review entries like 감정 소진 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
감정 소진을 겪다
to experience emotional exhaustion
감정 소진 예방
prevention of emotional exhaustion
감정 노동
emotional labor
Related Expressions
번아웃
beona-ut
burnout (loanword)
피로감
pirogam
feeling of fatigue
스트레스
seuteureseu
stress (loanword)
정신적 고통
jeongsinsjeok gotong
mental suffering
More Mental Health & Wellness Words
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