Korean Dictionary
How to say "Work" in Korean
“Work” in Korean is 일 (pronounced "Il").
일
Il
Usage & Context
Can mean both 'work' and 'matter/thing.' Korea is known for its strong work ethic. '회사 (hoesa)' means company, and '직장 (jikjang)' means workplace.
Example Sentence
오늘 일이 많아요.
I have a lot of work today.
How to use 일 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Work” is 일, romanized as Il.
Usage tip
Practice this word inside a full daily-life sentence, because particles and sentence endings make the Korean sound natural.
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 일.
Pronunciation Guide
Pronounced 'il' — a single syllable. Start with a quick 'ee' vowel and end with a clean 'l.' Very short.
Formal & Casual Forms
Formal (존댓말)
업무
eommu
Formal Sino-Korean term for work tasks / duties, common in business
More Example Sentences
busy day at the office
오늘 일이 너무 많아요.
I have so much work today.
making plans with a coworker
일 끝나면 뭐 할 거예요?
What are you doing after work?
discussing domestic labor
집안일도 일이에요.
Housework is work too.
Cultural Context
일 is incredibly versatile — it means 'work,' 'job,' 'task,' 'event,' or even 'thing / matter.' 무슨 일이에요? literally means 'what is the matter?' and covers both 'what's up?' and 'what happened?'. Korean work culture is famously demanding, and phrases like 일이 많다 (lots of work) or 야근 (overtime) are daily conversation.
Editorial note
We review entries like 일 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
일 많아요.
There's a lot of work.
일 끝났어요.
Work is done.
무슨 일이에요?
What's going on?
Related Expressions
업무
eommu
business task / duty
직업
jigeop
occupation / job
야근
yageun
overtime work
회사
hoesa
company
More Daily Life Words
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