사무실
samusil[ˈsʰa̠(ː)muɕʰiɭ]
The English word 'office' can be translated into Korean using several terms, most commonly 사무실 (samusil). Wiktionary also lists 사무소 (samuso) and 오피스 (opiseu).
Meaning: room(s) or building used for non-manual work (noun)
Ways to say it
| Korean | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 사무실 | samusil | [ˈsʰa̠(ː)muɕʰiɭ] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) |
| 사무소 | samuso | [ˈsʰa̠(ː)musʰo̞] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) |
| 오피스 | opiseu | [o̞pʰisʰɯ] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) |
In Korean, the word for 'office' changes depending on whether you are referring to a physical workspace or a formal institution or agency.
What does it mean word for word?
The term 사무실 is composed of 사무, meaning office work or business and 실, meaning room.
Which one should you use?
사무실 typically refers to the physical room or the specific workspace where people perform their jobs. In contrast, 사무소 is used to describe a more formal or institutional entity, such as a branch office, a representative office or a government agency.
How do you pronounce it?
samusil
Did you know?
- While 오피스 comes from the English word 'office', it is often used in modern Korean to refer specifically to a 'studio apartment' or a combined residential and commercial space called an 오피스텔.
- In Korean corporate culture, the size and location of one's 사무실 or desk are often strictly tied to their rank in the company hierarchy.
- The term 오피스 is often used in modern Korean marketing or for high-end architectural spaces, making it sound more stylish and Western than the traditional 사무실.
Examples in context
- 톰과 메리는 같은 사무실에서 일한다.Tom and Mary work in the same office.This sentence is useful for describing people working in the same workspace with 사무실.Tatoeba #11104828 by intertime, translation #3975728 by CK
- 그녀는 지금쯤 사무실에 도착해 있어야 해.She ought to be at the office by now.This sentence is useful for expressing the expectation of someone being at the 사무실 by a certain time.Tatoeba #13756483 by qlTmalffk, translation #312326 by CM
- 그는 사람들에게 말 한 마디 없이 사무실을 떠났다.He left the office without saying a word to anyone.This sentence is useful for describing the action of leaving the 사무실.Tatoeba #4963294 by rainbow4us, translation #301395 by CK
- 오늘은 사무실에서 많은 업무를 처리해야 해요.Today, I have to handle many tasks at the office.
- 저 회사에서 직장 생활하기 너무 힘들어.Working at that office is really tough.
- 2 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Do-hyeon and Seo-yeon are talking on the phone about work.
- 도현 Do-hyeon서연 씨, 지금 사무실이에요?Seo-yeon ssi, jigeum samusirieyo?Seo-yeon, are you in the office now?
- 서연 Seo-yeon아니요, 사무실에 아직 안 왔어요.Aniyo, samusire ajik an wasseoyo.No, I haven't arrived at the office yet.
- 도현 Do-hyeon그럼 어디예요?Geureom eodiyeyo?Then where are you?
- 서연 Seo-yeon집에서 준비하고 있어요.Jibeseo junbihago isseoyo.I am getting ready at home.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “office” translations and entries 사무실, 사무소, 오피스, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
