Korean Dictionary
How to say "Qualification" in Korean
“Qualification” in Korean is 자격 (pronounced "Jagyeok").
자격
Jagyeok
Usage & Context
Qualifications (자격) in Korea encompass degrees, certificates, licenses, and experiences that make a person eligible for a position or role. Korean employers carefully check 자격 requirements, and many professional roles such as nursing, law, and engineering require specific 자격 credentials. Korean culture places high importance on formal qualifications.
Example Sentence
이 직업에는 특별한 자격이 필요해요.
This job requires special qualifications.
How to use 자격 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Qualification” is 자격, romanized as Jagyeok.
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 자격.
Pronunciation Guide
The first syllable, 자 (ja), sounds like "ja" in "jar." The second syllable, 격 (gyeok), sounds like "gyuk" in "yuk," but with a soft 'g' sound at the beginning. The 'eo' vowel is similar to the 'o' in "got." Pronounce it smoothly as "jah-gyuk."
More Example Sentences
Asking about job application requirements during an interview or inquiry.
이 회사에 지원하려면 어떤 자격이 필요해요?
What qualifications are needed to apply for this company?
Describing someone's effort to become a professional in a specific field.
그는 변호사 자격을 취득하기 위해 열심히 공부했어요.
He studied hard to obtain his lawyer's qualification.
Discussing advantages in the competitive Korean job market.
외국어 자격증이 있으면 취업에 도움이 돼요.
Having a foreign language qualification helps with employment.
Cultural Context
'자격' holds immense importance in Korean society, reflecting a strong emphasis on formal credentials. Degrees, licenses, and certifications are often seen as direct indicators of competence and social status. This cultural value drives many Koreans to pursue higher education and specialized '자격증' (qualification certificates) to enhance their career prospects and social standing, often spending years preparing for them.
Editorial note
We review entries like 자격 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
자격을 갖추다
to meet the qualifications
자격이 되다
to be qualified
자격증을 따다
to get a certificate/license
Related Expressions
자격증
jagyeokjeung
certificate, license
학력
haknyeok
educational background/qualification
경력
gyeongnyeok
career, work experience
요건
yogeon
requirement, condition
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