변호사
byeonhosa[ˈpjɘ(ː)nβo̞sʰa̠]
The Korean word for lawyer is 변호사 (byeonhosa).
변호사 refers to a professional person qualified to practice law, such as an attorney, solicitor or advocate, who represents parties in lawsuits or provides legal advice.
Meaning: professional person qualified (as by a law degree or bar exam) and authorized to practice law as an attorney-at-law, solicitor, advocate, barrister or equivalent, i.e. represent parties in lawsuits or trials and give legal advice (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The word is composed of 변호, meaning defense or protection and 사, meaning professional or specialist.
How do you pronounce it?
byeonhosa
Did you know?
- The Korean term 변호사 is a direct orthographic borrowing from the Japanese word 弁護士.
- Korean has a distinct word for a 'court-appointed lawyer', called 국선변호사, which differentiates them from 'private lawyers' or 사선변호사.
- The suffix 사 in 변호사 is used for many high-status professionals, such as 의사 for doctor and 약사 for pharmacist.
Examples in context
- 나는 변호사다.I'm a lawyer.This sentence is useful for stating your own profession using 변호사.Tatoeba #11106035 by intertime, translation #3573699 by CK
- 톰은 변호사야.Tom is a lawyer.This sentence is useful for stating someone else's profession using 변호사.Tatoeba #13756555 by qlTmalffk, translation #2272819 by CK
- 저는 나중에 변호사가 되고 싶습니다.As for me, I would like to become a lawyer someday.This sentence is useful for expressing a future aspiration to become a 변호사.Tatoeba #10643741 by Markiplier, translation #10643742 by Markiplier
- 그 분은 변호사입니까?Is that person a lawyer?
- 변호사님, 이 문제에 대해 조언을 구할 수 있을까요?Lawyer, may I seek your advice regarding this issue?
- 요즘 변호사 일 잘 되세요?How's your lawyer job going these days?
- 지현 씨는 변호사니?Ji-hyeon, are you a lawyer?
- 3 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Seoyeon and Jihun are talking about Jihun's job.
- 서연 Seo-yeon지훈 씨는 직업이 뭐예요?Jihun ssi-neun jig-eobi mwo-yeyo?Jihun, what is your job?
- 지훈 Ji-hun저는 변호사예요.jeoneun byeonhosa-yeyo.I am a lawyer.
- 서연 Seo-yeon정말 멋진 변호사님이시네요!jeongmal meotjin byeonhosa-nim-isineyo!You are a truly wonderful lawyer!
- 지훈 Ji-hun감사합니다, 서연 씨.gamsahamnida, Seoyeon ssi.Thank you, Seoyeon.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “lawyer” translations and entries 변호사, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 변호사, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
