변호사
byeonhosa[ˈpjɘ(ː)nβo̞sʰa̠]
The English phrase attorney is translated into Korean as 변호사 (byeonhosa). Wiktionary also lists 변호인 (byeonhoin).
Meaning: lawyer (noun)
Ways to say it
| Korean | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 변호사 | byeonhosa | [ˈpjɘ(ː)nβo̞sʰa̠] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) |
| 변호인 | byeonhoin | [ˈpjɘ(ː)nβo̞in] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) |
The term 변호사 is the general term for a lawyer or attorney used in most professional and everyday contexts. When addressing an attorney directly, it is polite to add the honorific suffix –님 to the end of 변호사.
What does it mean word for word?
The word 변호사 is composed of 변호 (defense/advocacy) and 사 (professional/specialist).
Which one should you use?
While 변호사 is the general term for a lawyer or attorney, 변호인 is a specific legal term used to refer to a defense attorney or counsel in criminal proceedings.
How do you pronounce it?
byeonhosa
Did you know?
- The term 변호사 is an orthographic borrowing from the Japanese word 弁護士 (bengoshi).
- When referring to a lawyer in a highly formal or legal document, the word 법조인 is used to describe a 'legal professional', which includes judges and prosecutors as well as attorneys.
- The suffix 사 (sa) in 변호사 is used for many licensed professionals, such as 회계사 for accountants and 약사 for pharmacists.
Examples in context
- 제 친구는 유능한 변호사예요.je chin-gu-neun yu-neung-han byeon-ho-sa-ye-yo.My friend is a competent lawyer.
- 그 변호사는 아주 유명해요.geu byeon-ho-sa-neun a-ju yu-myeong-hae-yo.That lawyer is very famous.
- 변호사를 만나야 해요.byeon-ho-sa-reul man-na-ya hae-yo.I need to meet a lawyer.
Example conversation
Hyun-woo and Min-ji are talking about their future jobs.
- 현우 Hyeon-woo민지 씨는 나중에 뭐가 되고 싶어요?Min-ji ssi-neun na-jung-e mwo-ga doe-go sip-eo-yo?Min-ji, what do you want to be in the future?
- 민지 Min-ji저는 멋진 변호사가 되고 싶어요.Jeo-neun meot-jin byeon-ho-sa-ga doe-go sip-eo-yo.I want to be a great lawyer.
- 현우 Hyeon-woo정말 멋진 목표네요!Jeong-mal meot-jin mok-pyo-ne-yo!That is a really cool goal!
- 민지 Min-ji감사합니다, 현우 씨.Gam-sa-ham-ni-da, Hyun-woo ssi.Thank you, Hyun-woo.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “attorney” translations and entries 변호사, 변호인, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 변호사, 변호인, CC BY-SA 4.0.
