Korean Dictionary
How to say "Substitute Teacher" in Korean
“Substitute Teacher” in Korean is 대리 교사 (pronounced "daeri gyosa").
대리 교사
daeri gyosa
Usage & Context
A substitute teacher temporarily fills in for a regular teacher who is absent. Substitute teachers maintain classroom order and continue instruction. Students must show respect to substitute teachers as they do regular teachers.
Example Sentence
오늘 대리 교사가 수업을 했어요.
A substitute teacher taught the class today.
How to use 대리 교사 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Substitute Teacher” is 대리 교사, romanized as daeri gyosa.
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 대리 교사.
Pronunciation Guide
대리 (daeri) sounds like 'DAY-ree', with 'day' as in the English word 'day' and 'ree' as in 'tree'. 교사 (gyosa) sounds like 'GYO-sah', with 'gyo' similar to the 'gyo' in 'gyoza' and 'sah' like 'sa' in 'sahara'. Put it together: 'DAY-ree GYO-sah'.
More Example Sentences
A student observing a change in class dynamics.
오늘 대리 교사 선생님이 오셔서 수업 분위기가 좀 달랐어요.
A substitute teacher came today, so the class atmosphere was a bit different.
A teacher expressing their feelings about an unexpected assignment.
갑자기 대리 교사로 수업에 들어가게 돼서 좀 긴장돼요.
I suddenly have to go into class as a substitute teacher, so I'm a bit nervous.
A student praising a substitute teacher.
우리 반 대리 교사 선생님은 정말 친절하셨어요.
The substitute teacher for our class was really kind.
Cultural Context
In Korean schools, 대리 교사 (daeri gyosa) fills in for regular teachers who are absent for short periods. Students are generally expected to show the same respect to them as to their regular teachers. For longer-term absences, a '기간제 교사' (gigwanje gyosa, contract teacher) might be hired, which implies a more extended role. While K-dramas sometimes depict students testing the boundaries with substitutes, in reality, classrooms are usually quite orderly.
Editorial note
We review entries like 대리 교사 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
대리 교사가 오다
a substitute teacher comes
대리 교사 수업
substitute teacher's class
대리 교사 선생님
Mr./Ms. Substitute Teacher (polite address)
Related Expressions
교사
gyosa
teacher (general term)
선생님
seonsaengnim
teacher (polite address)
기간제 교사
gigwanje gyosa
contract teacher (longer-term substitute)
담임 선생님
damim seonsaengnim
homeroom teacher
More School Life Words
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