Korean Dictionary
How to say "Holiday Bonus" in Korean
“Holiday Bonus” in Korean is 명절 상여금 (pronounced "myeongjeol sangyeogeum").
명절 상여금
myeongjeol sangyeogeum
Usage & Context
명절 상여금 is a bonus paid by Korean companies to employees around 설날 and 추석. It is a widely expected part of Korean employment compensation and is often equivalent to a month's salary. The 명절 상여금 is used by many Koreans to purchase holiday gifts, travel, and food for family gatherings.
Example Sentence
추석 명절 상여금으로 부모님께 선물을 드렸어요.
I bought gifts for my parents with the Chuseok holiday bonus.
How to use 명절 상여금 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Holiday Bonus” is 명절 상여금, romanized as myeongjeol sangyeogeum.
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 명절 상여금.
Pronunciation Guide
명절 (myeongjeol) is 'myung-juhl', like 'myung' in 'myung-rang' and 'juhl' in 'jungle' without the 'n'. 상여금 (sangyeogeum) is 'sahng-yuh-geum', like 'sahng' in 'song', 'yuh' in 'yummy', and 'geum' in 'groom' (soft 'g').
More Example Sentences
A colleague asking about the timing of the bonus payment.
이번 설 명절 상여금은 언제 나와요?
When does this Seollal holiday bonus come out?
Expressing gratitude for the bonus's financial help.
명절 상여금 덕분에 부모님 용돈을 넉넉히 드릴 수 있었어요.
Thanks to the holiday bonus, I could give my parents generous pocket money.
Discussing company benefits with friends or colleagues.
우리 회사는 명절 상여금이 꽤 좋은 편이에요.
Our company's holiday bonus is quite good.
Cultural Context
명절 상여금 is a highly anticipated bonus paid by Korean companies around major holidays like Seollal and Chuseok. It's a significant part of employee compensation, often equivalent to a month's salary or more, and is seen as a gesture of appreciation. Koreans typically use this bonus to buy gifts for family, cover travel expenses, or prepare special holiday foods, making it a crucial element of holiday preparations.
Editorial note
We review entries like 명절 상여금 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
명절 상여금 받다
To receive a holiday bonus
명절 상여금 지급
Holiday bonus payment
설 상여금
Seollal bonus
Related Expressions
보너스
boneoseu
Bonus (general term)
성과급
seonggwageup
Performance bonus
월급
wolgeup
Monthly salary
용돈
yongtton
Pocket money
More Holidays & Festivals Words
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