Korean Dictionary
How to say "Karma" in Korean
“Karma” in Korean is 업 (pronounced "Eop").
업
Eop
Usage & Context
Karma is the law of cause and effect in Buddhism. Koreans understand karma as the consequences of one's actions affecting future lives.
Example Sentence
좋은 업을 쌓아야 합니다.
We must accumulate good karma.
How to use 업 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Karma” is 업, romanized as Eop.
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 업.
Pronunciation Guide
The single syllable, 업 (eop), sounds like 'up' but with a slightly more rounded 'o' sound, similar to 'op' in 'stop,' and the 'p' sound at the end is unreleased, meaning you stop the air without fully pronouncing the 'p' sound.
More Example Sentences
Attributing current difficulties to past actions.
그의 불행은 전생의 업 때문이라고 생각했어요.
I thought his misfortune was due to karma from a past life.
Explaining a common belief about good deeds.
좋은 업을 쌓으면 복을 받아요.
If you accumulate good karma, you receive blessings.
Expressing resignation or acceptance of one's difficult situation.
이 모든 것이 다 내 업보인가 봐요.
It seems all of this is my karma/fate.
Cultural Context
'업' (eop) is a core concept in Korean Buddhism, referring to the sum of a person's actions and their consequences in this or previous lives. It's often used interchangeably with '업보' (eopbo), which specifically implies karmic retribution or fate. Koreans frequently use '업' in daily conversation to explain good or bad fortune, sometimes with a sense of fatalism, like in K-dramas where characters might lament, '이게 다 내 업보인가?' (Is this all my karma?). It highlights the belief in cause and effect that permeates the culture.
Editorial note
We review entries like 업 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
업을 쌓다
to accumulate karma (good or bad)
업이 깊다
to have deep karma (often negative)
업보를 받다
to receive karmic retribution
Related Expressions
업보
eopbo
karmic retribution, fate
인과응보
in-gwa-eung-bo
cause and effect, retribution
전생
jeon-saeng
previous life
현생
hyeon-saeng
present life
More Religion Words
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