Korean Dictionary
How to say "Thesis" in Korean
“Thesis” in Korean is 논문 (pronounced "Nonmun").
논문
Nonmun
Usage & Context
Writing a thesis (논문) is a major milestone for Korean undergraduate and graduate students. Bachelor's theses are optional at some universities, but a master's thesis is usually mandatory. The 논문 process involves extensive research, writing, and a formal defense before a committee. Publishing in academic journals is encouraged and adds to a professor's reputation.
Example Sentence
졸업 논문을 쓰고 있어요.
I'm writing my graduation thesis.
How to use 논문 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Thesis” is 논문, romanized as Nonmun.
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 논문.
Pronunciation Guide
Say "Non-moon." "Non" sounds like the 'non' in 'non-stop.' "Moon" is pronounced just like the celestial body, 'moon.'
More Example Sentences
A graduate student talking about an upcoming defense.
졸업 논문 심사가 다음 주에 있어서 너무 긴장돼요.
My graduation thesis defense is next week, so I'm very nervous.
A student discussing their thesis with a peer.
교수님께서 제 논문에 대한 피드백을 자세히 주셨어요.
The professor gave me detailed feedback on my thesis.
A researcher talking about career aspirations.
학술지에 논문을 게재하는 것이 연구자의 큰 목표 중 하나예요.
Publishing a thesis in an academic journal is one of a researcher's big goals.
Cultural Context
Writing a 논문 (nonmun) is a significant academic undertaking in Korea, especially for master's and doctoral degrees. The '논문 심사' (thesis defense/review) is a formal process where students present and defend their research before a committee. Successfully completing a 논문 is a major milestone for graduation and career advancement in academia.
Editorial note
We review entries like 논문 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
논문을 쓰다
to write a thesis
논문 심사
thesis defense/review
졸업 논문
graduation thesis
Related Expressions
학위논문
hagwi nonmun
dissertation (specifically for a degree)
연구
yeongu
research
보고서
bogoseo
report
초록
chorok
abstract (of a paper/thesis)
More Education Words
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