집안일
jibanil[t͡ɕiba̠niɭ]
The English word 'chore' is translated into Korean as 집안일 (jibanil).
집안일 refers specifically to household chores and domestic tasks such as cleaning, cooking or laundry, rather than general work or errands.
Meaning: a difficult, unpleasant, or routine task (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The word is a compound of 집 (house), 안 (inside) and 일 (work or task).
How does it change in a sentence?
To express the action of 'doing chores', you use the phrase 집안일을 하다, which combines the noun with the object marker 를 and the verb 하다 (to do).
How do you pronounce it?
jibanil
Did you know?
- In Korea, the concept of chores is often tied to the word 살림, which comes from a root meaning 'to make live' or 'to keep alive'. This frames domestic work not as a set of tasks, but as the act of sustaining the life of the household.
- If you want to complain that a chore is a 'burden', you might use the word 짐 (jim), which literally means 'luggage' or 'cargo'. This metaphorically frames a boring task as a physical weight one must carry.
- The term 가사 노동 (domestic labor) is frequently used in social and political activism in Korea to argue that 집안일 should be quantified as an economic contribution to the GDP.
Examples in context
- 청소일을 해야 해요.You have to do the cleaning chore.
- 집안일은 정말 귀찮아요.jiban-ireun jeongmal gwichan-ayo.Chores are really bothersome.
- 주말에는 집안일이 너무 많아요.jumal-eneun jiban-iri neomu man-ayo.There are too many chores on the weekend.
- 저는 집안일을 빨리 끝내고 싶어요.jeoneun jiban-ireul ppalli kkeun-naego sipeoyo.I want to finish the chores quickly.
Example conversation
A couple is talking about their weekend plans at home.
- 서연 Seo-yeon현우 씨, 오늘 집안일 좀 도와줄래요?Hyeon-u ssi, oneul jiban-il jom dowajullaeyo?Hyeon-u, can you help with the chores today?
- 현우 Hyeon-woo네, 어떤 집안일을 하면 돼요?Ne, eotteon jiban-ireul hamyeon dwaeyo?Yes, what chores should I do?
- 서연 Seo-yeon먼저 청소기 좀 돌려주세요.meonjeo cheongso-gi jom dollyeo-juseyo.Please vacuum the floor first.
- 현우 Hyeon-woo알겠어요, 금방 할게요.Algesseoyo, geumbang halgeyo.Okay, I'll do it right away.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry 집안일, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
