Korean Dictionary
How to say "Semester" in Korean
“Semester” in Korean is 학기 (pronounced "Hakgi").
학기
Hakgi
Usage & Context
Korean schools and universities operate on a two-semester system (학기). The first semester runs March through June and the second runs September through December, with summer and winter breaks in between. Final exams (기말고사) at the end of each 학기 are major academic milestones that students prepare for intensively.
Example Sentence
한국 학교는 보통 1학기와 2학기로 나뉘어요.
Korean schools are usually divided into the 1st and 2nd semesters.
How to use 학기 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Semester” is 학기, romanized as Hakgi.
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 학기.
Pronunciation Guide
For 학기 (Hakgi), 'Hak' sounds like 'hack' in 'hacker'. 'gi' sounds like 'gee' in 'geese'. The stress is fairly even across both syllables.
More Example Sentences
A student discussing their course load.
이번 학기에는 전공 과목을 세 개 들어요.
This semester, I'm taking three major courses.
A student asking about university administrative dates.
다음 학기 등록금 납부 기간이 언제인지 아세요?
Do you know when the tuition payment period for next semester is?
Explaining the academic calendar to someone.
1학기 기말고사가 끝나면 여름 방학이 시작돼요.
Summer vacation begins after the first semester's final exams.
Cultural Context
The two-semester system (1학기, 2학기) is a cornerstone of Korean education. Each semester culminates in intense study periods for midterms (중간고사) and finals (기말고사), which are high-stakes for students. The breaks between semesters, known as 방학, are often not for pure relaxation but for supplemental learning, like attending hagwons or preparing for standardized tests, reflecting Korea's highly competitive academic environment.
Editorial note
We review entries like 학기 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
이번 학기
This semester
다음 학기
Next semester
1학기 / 2학기
First semester / Second semester
Related Expressions
학년도
Hangnyeondo
Academic year
중간고사
Junggangosa
Midterm exam
기말고사
Gimalgosa
Final exam
방학
Banghak
Vacation (school break)
More Education Words
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