Korean Dictionary
How to say "School Counselor" in Korean
“School Counselor” in Korean is 상담선생님 (pronounced "sangdam seonsaengnim").
상담선생님
sangdam seonsaengnim
Usage & Context
A professional who provides counseling and guidance to students. School counselors help with academic planning, personal issues, and career guidance. This role has become increasingly important in Korean schools.
Example Sentence
상담선생님과 진로에 대해 이야기했다.
I talked with the school counselor about my career path.
How to use 상담선생님 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “School Counselor” is 상담선생님, romanized as sangdam seonsaengnim.
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 상담선생님.
Pronunciation Guide
Pronounced 'sang-dam seon-saeng-nim' — 'sangdam' is 'sahng-dahm' with both 'a' vowels open, and 'seonsaengnim' flows as 'suhn-saeng-neem'. Five syllables said as one smooth phrase.
Formal & Casual Forms
Formal (존댓말)
상담 선생님
sangdam seonsaengnim
Standard respectful form; used by students and parents when addressing or referring to the counselor.
Casual (반말)
상담사
sangdamsa
More clinical/professional term for 'counselor' used in private counseling contexts, not typical school usage.
More Example Sentences
After a tough week at school
상담 선생님이랑 고민을 나눴어요.
I shared my worries with the school counselor.
Transfer student asking directions
학교 상담실이 어디예요?
Where is the school counseling room?
Reassuring a friend who hesitates to go
상담 선생님이 정말 잘 들어 주세요.
The school counselor really listens well.
Cultural Context
Until the 2010s, Korean schools rarely had dedicated counselors, but after rising concerns about student stress and bullying (학교 폭력), the role of 상담 선생님 expanded significantly and many schools now have a 위클래스 (Wee Class) — a counseling room staffed by a professional. Students sometimes still hesitate to visit due to lingering stigma, but younger generations increasingly see 상담 as a healthy resource for stress, career planning (진로 상담), and relationship issues.
Editorial note
We review entries like 상담선생님 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
상담 선생님과 만나 보세요.
Try meeting with the school counselor.
상담 예약하고 싶어요.
I'd like to book a counseling session.
상담 선생님이 비밀을 지켜 주세요.
The counselor keeps things confidential.
Related Expressions
상담실
sangdamsil
counseling room / office
위클래스
wiklaeseu
Wee Class (school counseling program)
진로 상담
jinro sangdam
career counseling
심리 상담
simni sangdam
psychological counseling
More School Life Words
Master Korean with AI-Powered Learning
Practice School Counselor and 10,000+ words with native pronunciation and AI conversation.
