Korean Dictionary
How to say "Essay" in Korean
“Essay” in Korean is 에세이 (pronounced "Esei").
에세이
Esei
Usage & Context
Essays (에세이) are an important form of academic writing in Korean universities, testing students' ability to argue, analyze, and communicate ideas in writing. Korean high school students also write personal essays (자기소개서) for university applications. Writing-intensive 에세이 assignments are becoming more common as Korean education shifts toward critical thinking.
Example Sentence
에세이 주제를 아직 못 정했어요.
I haven't decided on an essay topic yet.
How to use 에세이 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Essay” is 에세이, romanized as Esei.
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 에세이.
Pronunciation Guide
Pronounce it as "Eh-seh-ee." The first part, "Eh," sounds like the 'e' in 'bed.' "Seh" is similar to 'say' but without the 'y' sound at the end. "Ee" is like the 'ee' in 'see.'
More Example Sentences
A university student complaining about their workload.
대학교 에세이 과제가 너무 많아서 힘들어요.
University essay assignments are too much, so I'm having a hard time.
Describing a book to a friend.
이 책은 작가의 개인적인 경험을 담은 에세이 모음집이에요.
This book is a collection of essays containing the author's personal experiences.
A high school student preparing for university applications.
자기소개서 에세이를 잘 쓰는 법을 배우고 싶어요.
I want to learn how to write a good self-introduction essay.
Cultural Context
In Korea, 에세이 (esei) is commonly used for personal essays or reflective pieces, often seen in literature or for university applications (자기소개서, jagisogaeseo). For academic argumentative essays, especially in exams, the term 논술 (nonsul) is often used. Writing a compelling 자기소개서 is crucial for university admissions, requiring students to articulate their experiences and aspirations effectively.
Editorial note
We review entries like 에세이 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
에세이를 쓰다
to write an essay
에세이 과제
essay assignment
에세이 주제
essay topic
Related Expressions
수필
supil
essay, prose (more literary)
작문
jakmun
composition, writing
글쓰기
geulsseugi
writing (the act of)
논술
nonsul
essay writing (often argumentative, for exams)
More Education Words
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