직업
jigeop[t͡ɕiɡʌ̹p̚]
The English phrase 'job' can be translated into Korean. The default form is 직업 (jigeop). Wiktionary also lists 일자리 (iljari) and 일 (il).
Meaning: economic role for which a person is paid (noun)
Ways to say it
| Korean | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 직업 | jigeop | [t͡ɕiɡʌ̹p̚] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) | |
| 일자리 | iljari | [ˈi(ː)ʎt͡ɕ͈a̠ɾi] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) | |
| 일 | il | [i(ː)ɭ] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) [iɭ] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) |
|
| 아르바이트 | areubaiteu | [a̠ɾɯba̠itʰɯ] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) | |
| 알바 | alba | [a̠ɭba̠] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) | abbreviation |
The terms used for 'job' in Korean depend on whether you are discussing a career, a physical task, a vacancy or part-time work.
Which one should you use?
The different forms of 'job' carry distinct nuances. 직업 refers to one's professional occupation or career path. In contrast, 일자리 refers specifically to a job vacancy or a 'job spot'. While 직업 is the profession itself, 일 refers to the actual work, labor or specific tasks being performed.
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
jigeop
Did you know?
- The common word for a part-time job, 아르바이트, is actually a loanword from the German word 'Arbeit' meaning 'work'. It entered the Korean language via Japanese usage.
- When asking someone's 직업, it is common to be very specific about the company or rank, as the profession alone is often considered too vague in Korean social contexts.
- In modern casual speech, 아르바이트 is almost always shortened to 알바. This shortened version is used both as a noun for the job and as a descriptor for the person working it.
Examples in context
- 나는 이 일이 좋다.I love this job.This sentence is useful for expressing a preference for a specific work or task using 일.Tatoeba #11106780 by intertime, translation #1887556 by CK
- 그는 일자리를 알아보고 있다.He is looking for a job.This sentence is useful for describing the act of looking for a job vacancy or position using 일자리.Tatoeba #11106367 by intertime, translation #297077 by CK
- 그는 그의 새 직업을 좋아한다.He likes his new job.This sentence is useful for talking about a new professional occupation using 직업.Tatoeba #9803448 by ST_Young, translation #7385452 by CH
- 저는 의사로 일하고 있어요. 제 직업은 의사입니다.I work as a doctor. My job is a doctor.
- 저는 이번에 일자리를 찾고 있어요.I am looking for a job opportunity this time.
- 32 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Minji and Minjun are talking about their careers at a cafe.
- 민지 Min-ji민준 씨는 직업이 뭐예요?Minjun ssi-neun jig-eob-i mwo-yeyo?Minjun, what is your job?
- 민준 Min-jun저는 엔지니어예요.Jeo-neun enjinieo-yeyo.I am an engineer.
- 민지 Min-ji정말 멋진 직업이네요!Jeongmal meotjin jig-eob-ineyo!That is a really cool job!
- 민준 Min-jun민지 씨의 직업은 무엇인가요?Minji ssi-ui jig-eob-eun mueosingayo?What is your job, Minji?
Sources
- Wiktionary, “job” translations and entries 직업, 일자리, 일, 아르바이트, 알바, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 아르바이트, 일, 일자리, 직업, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
