Korean Dictionary
How to say "Profit" in Korean
“Profit” in Korean is 이익 (pronounced "iik").
이익
iik
Usage & Context
The financial gain after expenses are deducted. Profit margins in Korean companies are important for investor confidence. Companies aim to maximize profit while maintaining quality.
Example Sentence
이익이 감소했습니다.
Profit has decreased.
How to use 이익 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Profit” is 이익, romanized as iik.
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 이익.
Pronunciation Guide
Pronounce "이익" as "Ee-ik." "Ee" sounds like the "ee" in "see," and "ik" like "ick" in "pick." The two 'i' sounds are distinct, creating a slight pause or emphasis between them.
More Example Sentences
Announcing financial results to stakeholders.
회사는 올해 큰 이익을 냈습니다.
The company made a large profit this year.
Discussing corporate social responsibility.
이익을 사회에 환원하는 것이 중요합니다.
It's important to return profits to society.
Sharing personal financial news with a friend.
투자 이익이 예상보다 높았어요.
The investment profit was higher than expected.
Cultural Context
"이익" (iik) refers to profit or gain, a crucial concept in both business and personal finance in Korea. While "매출" (maechul, revenue) indicates sales volume, "이익" is what truly determines a company's financial health and sustainability. The pursuit of "이익" is a primary driver for businesses, and discussions about "이익률" (iik-nyul, profit margin) are common in corporate boardrooms and financial news. In a broader sense, "이익" can also refer to personal benefit or advantage, as in "나에게 이익이 된다" (na-ege iigi doenda, it benefits me), highlighting its versatile usage in daily life.
Editorial note
We review business terms like 이익 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
이익 창출
Profit generation
이익 극대화
Profit maximization
이익 배분
Profit distribution
Related Expressions
수익
suek
Earnings, revenue (broader term, can be gross or net)
순이익
sun-iik
Net profit
손실
sonsil
Loss (antonym)
이윤
iyun
Profit, margin (often used interchangeably with 이익 in business)
More Business Words
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