업
eop[ʌ̹p̚]
Karma in Korean is expressed as 업 (eop). Wiktionary also lists 카르마 (kareuma).
Meaning: the total effect of a person’s actions and conduct during the successive phases of his existence (noun)
Ways to say it
| Korean | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 업 | eop | [ʌ̹p̚] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) |
| 카르마 | kareuma | [kʰa̠ɾɯma̠] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) |
The term refers to the total effect of a person’s actions and conduct during the successive phases of their existence.
Which one should you use?
업 is the traditional Sino-Korean term for karma, often used in religious or philosophical contexts. In contrast, 카르마 is a phonetic loanword from English and is more commonly used in casual, modern conversation.
How do you pronounce it?
eop
Did you know?
- In some Korean dialects or older texts, 업 can refer to a household deity or a guardian spirit that brings fortune to a family.
- The Sino-Korean term 업 is written with the same Chinese character 業 used to mean 'industry' or 'profession'.
- The phrase 업을 씻다, meaning 'to wash away one's karma', is commonly used when someone seeks atonement or a fresh start in life.
Examples in context
- 잇따른 비운도 내 업이라 생각한다.I consider the continuing tragedies, too, to be my karma.This sentence shows how to use 업 when expressing that one's misfortunes are a result of their own karma.
- 우리는 자신의 행동에 대한 업보를 받는다.We receive the consequences of our own actions.
- 이 모든 것이 나의 업인가 보다.i modeun geosi naui eopinga boda.I guess all of this is my karma.
- 그의 불행은 과거의 업 때문이야.geuui bulhaeng-eun gwageo-ui eop ttaemuniya.His misfortune is due to his past karma.
Example conversation
Jieun and Hyunwoo are talking about a difficult situation in a movie.
- 지은 Ji-eun주인공이 겪는 시련은 정말 가혹해.juingong-i ggyeokneun siryeoneun jeongmal gahokhae.The trials the protagonist undergoes are truly harsh.
- 현우 Hyeon-woo그건 다 그 사람의 업이라고 생각해.geugeon da geu saram-ui eop-irago saenggakae.I think it is all that person's karma.
- 지은 Ji-eun현우 씨는 정말 운명론을 믿는구나.hyeon-u ssi-neun jeongmal unmyeong-ron-eul mitneunguna.Hyunwoo, you really believe in fatalism.
- 현우 Hyeon-woo인과응보라는 말도 있잖아.ingwa-eungbo-raneun maldo itjana.There is also the saying that cause leads to effect.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “karma” translations and entries 업, 카르마, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Wiktionary CC BY-SA 4.0.
