Ways to say it
| Korean | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 운전사 | unjeonsa | [ˈu(ː)ɲd͡ʑʌ̹nsʰa̠] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) |
| 운전자 | unjeonja | [ˈu(ː)ɲd͡ʑʌ̹ɲd͡ʑa̠] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) |
| 기사 | gisa | [kisʰa̠] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) |
| 운전기사 | unjeon'gisa | [ˈu(ː)ɲd͡ʑʌ̹nɡisʰa̠] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) |
| 드라이버 | deuraibeo | [tɯɾa̠ibʌ̹] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) |
The term for 'driver' changes based on whether you are talking about a person's job, the person currently operating a vehicle or a piece of technology. Use 운전사 when referring to a person's occupation. Use 운전자 when referring to the person currently operating a vehicle, such as in the context of traffic laws or accidents. 기사 and 운전기사 are used for professional drivers. Finally, 드라이버 is a loanword used for tools like screwdrivers or computer software drivers, rather than for people.
What does it mean word for word?
The word 운전사 is composed of 운전 meaning driving and 사 meaning person. The compound 운전기사 combines 운전 (driving) and 기사 (technician/driver).
Which one should you use?
운전사 describes a person's profession or job. In contrast, 운전자 refers specifically to the person currently operating a vehicle. While 기사 and 운전기사 are used for professional drivers, 드라이버 is a phonetic loanword from English used for computer software or tools.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
운전사 is a formal term for a driver. 기사 is a common and respectful way to refer to professional drivers, such as taxi or bus drivers. 운전기사 serves as a neutral way to describe professional drivers.
How do you pronounce it?
unjeonsa
Did you know?
- The term 기사 is a linguistic chameleon. Depending on the Hanja characters used, it can mean a 'driver', a 'journalist', a 'chess professional', or even a 'knight'.
- If you refer to a taxi driver as 운전사, it might sound overly clinical or like a textbook definition. In daily life, it is much more natural and respectful to call them 기사님.
- The component 士 in 운전사 is the same character used to denote a person of high status or a scholar, such as in the word for 'soldier' or 'scholar'.
Examples in context
- 메리는 존과 함께 일했던 버스 기사의 옆집에 사나요?Does Mary live next door to the bus driver that John worked with?This sentence is useful for seeing how to refer to a bus driver using 기사.Tatoeba #11110788 by intertime, translation #1042596 by CN
- 그는 수년간 택시 운전사로 일해 왔기에 이 도시를 잘 안다.Having worked for several years as a taxi driver, he knows the city well.This sentence shows the use of 운전사 to describe a person's occupation.Tatoeba #11104558 by intertime, translation #10324476 by sundown
- 고양이를 비켜가기 위해 버스가 방향을 틀었을 때, 운전기사는 "큰일날 뻔했네"라고 말했다.When the bus swerved to miss a cat, the driver said, "That was close."This sentence demonstrates the use of 운전기사 for a professional driver.Tatoeba #11106630 by intertime, translation #917236 by CK
- 내일 출장 때문에 기사를 부를게요.I will call a driver tomorrow due to the business trip.
- 저번 주말에 운전자로 일하러 갔어요.I went to work as a driver last weekend.
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Subin and Dohyun are talking about a taxi ride.
- 수빈 Su-bin도현 씨, 택시 운전사가 친절했나요?Dohyeon ssi, taeksi unjeonsaga chinjeolhaennayo?Dohyun, was the taxi driver kind?
- 도현 Do-hyeon네, 운전사 분이 길을 잘 알려주셨어요.Ne, unjeonsa buni gireul jal allyeojusyeosseoyo.Yes, the driver gave me great directions.
- 수빈 Su-bin다행이네요. 운전사 덕분에 빨리 도착했겠어요.Dahaeng-ineyo. unjeonsa deokbune ppalli dochakaess-eoyo.That's a relief. You must have arrived quickly thanks to the driver.
- 도현 Do-hyeon맞아요. 정말 베테랑 운전사 같았어요.Majayo. jeongmal beterang unjeonsa gatasseoyo.Right. He seemed like a real veteran driver.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “driver” translations and entries 운전사, 운전자, 기사, 운전기사, 드라이버, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 기사, 운전기사, 운전사, 운전자, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
