Korean Dictionary
How to say "School" in Korean
“School” in Korean is 학교 (pronounced "Hakgyo").
학교
Hakgyo
Usage & Context
Education is extremely valued in Korean society. Students often attend school from early morning until late at night including private academies called '학원 (hagwon)'.
Example Sentence
학교에 몇 시에 가요?
What time do you go to school?
How to use 학교 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “School” is 학교, romanized as Hakgyo.
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 학교.
Pronunciation Guide
Pronounced 'hak-gyo' — 'hak' rhymes with 'hock' but cut short, and 'gyo' sounds like 'gyoh.' The 'k' and 'g' flow as a tensed sound.
More Example Sentences
describing your job
저는 초등학교 교사예요.
I'm an elementary school teacher.
texting a friend
학교 끝나고 만나요.
Let's meet after school.
a student venting
학교 다니는 게 힘들어요.
Going to school is tough.
Cultural Context
학교 in Korea carries immense weight — Korean education culture is highly competitive, with 학원 (private academies) supplementing regular school. The hierarchy goes 유치원 → 초등학교 → 중학교 → 고등학교 → 대학교. 학교 폭력 (school violence) is a major social issue and frequent K-drama subject.
Editorial note
We review entries like 학교 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
학교에 가요.
I'm going to school.
어느 학교 다녀요?
Which school do you attend?
학교 끝났어요.
School is over.
Related Expressions
대학교
daehakgyo
university
학원
hagwon
private academy
초등학교
chodeunghakgyo
elementary school
학생
haksaeng
student
Frequently asked questions
How do you correctly pronounce 학교 (hakgyo) to sound more natural in Korean?+
To pronounce 학교 (hakgyo) naturally, focus on the 'ㅎ' sound at the beginning, which is a soft aspiration. The 'ㄲ' (kk) in '학교' is a 'tense' or 'fortis' consonant, pronounced with more tension in your throat than a regular 'ㄱ'. The 'ㅛ' (yo) is a simple 'yo' sound. Practice saying 'hak-gyo' with a slight emphasis on the 'kk' sound to achieve a more native pronunciation.
What are the different types of educational institutions related to '학교' in Korea?+
In Korea, '학교' is the general term for 'school'. Specific types include 초등학교 (chodeunghakgyo) for elementary school, 중학교 (junghakgyo) for middle school, and 고등학교 (godeunghakgyo) for high school. Beyond these, there are also universities (대학교, daehakgyo). It's important to distinguish '학교' from '학원' (hagwon), which are private academies for supplementary education, common due to Korea's high value on academics.
Is '학교' a formal or informal word, and can it be used in all social contexts?+
'학교' is a neutral and standard word for 'school' in Korean, suitable for almost all social contexts, regardless of formality. It doesn't carry a specific formal or informal connotation itself. The level of formality in a conversation is usually determined by the sentence endings (e.g., -습니다/ㅂ니다 for formal, -아요/어요 for polite, -아/어 for informal) rather than the noun '학교' itself. You can use it freely.
What are some common Korean phrases or expressions that use the word '학교'?+
Several common phrases use '학교'. For example, '학교 가다' (hakgyo gada) means 'to go to school', '학교 마치다' (hakgyo machida) means 'to finish school' or 'school is over'. '학교 생활' (hakgyo saenghwal) refers to 'school life', often implying the demanding academic environment in Korea. Another common phrase is '학교 폭력' (hakgyo pongnyeok), meaning 'school violence', a serious social issue. These phrases reflect the central role of education.
Are there any common mistakes learners make when using '학교' in Korean conversation?+
A common mistake is confusing '학교' (hakgyo), the official educational institution, with '학원' (hagwon), which are private academies. While both relate to education, '학원' is for supplementary learning outside regular school hours. Another potential mistake is mispronouncing the 'ㄲ' in '학교', making it sound like a regular 'ㄱ'. Ensuring you use the tense 'ㄲ' sound and understand the distinction between '학교' and '학원' will improve your accuracy.
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