Korean Dictionary
How to say "Expense" in Korean
“Expense” in Korean is 지출 (pronounced "jichul").
지출
jichul
Usage & Context
Money spent on business operations and activities. Expenses in Korean companies must be documented and approved. They are tracked for tax purposes and financial reporting.
Example Sentence
출장 지출을 보고했습니다.
I reported my business trip expenses.
How to use 지출 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Expense” is 지출, romanized as jichul.
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 지출.
Pronunciation Guide
The first syllable, '지' (ji), sounds like 'jee' (as in 'jeep' without the 'p'). The second syllable, '출' (chul), sounds like 'chool' (like 'choo-l', similar to 'chute' but with an 'l' sound at the end). The stress is fairly even.
More Example Sentences
Discussing cost-cutting measures in a company meeting.
불필요한 지출을 줄여야 합니다.
We need to reduce unnecessary expenses.
Reflecting on personal spending with a family member.
이번 달 가계 지출이 너무 많았어요.
Household expenses were too high this month.
Explaining accounting procedures for reimbursement.
영수증을 모아서 지출 증빙을 해야 해요.
You need to collect receipts to prove your expenses.
Cultural Context
'지출' is a fundamental term in both business and personal finance in Korea. In corporate settings, meticulous record-keeping of '지출' is crucial for tax purposes and internal auditing, with employees often needing to submit detailed expense reports with receipts (영수증) for reimbursement. On a personal level, tracking '지출' is a common practice for budgeting and financial planning, reflecting a general emphasis on financial responsibility.
Editorial note
We review business terms like 지출 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
지출을 줄이다
To reduce expenses
지출 내역
Expense details/history
고정 지출
Fixed expenses
Related Expressions
수입
suip
Income (Antonym)
비용
biyong
Cost, expense (Very similar, often interchangeable)
경비
gyeongbi
Expenses, charges (Often for business expenses)
소비
sobi
Consumption, spending (Broader, often for personal use)
More Business Words
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