실업의
sireobui
The English word 'unemployed' can be expressed in Korean using 실업의 (sireobui). Wiktionary also lists 실직한 (siljikhan) and 실업자 (sireopja).
Meaning: having no job (adj)
Ways to say it
| Korean | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 실업의 | sireobui | |
| 실직한 | siljikhan | |
| 실업자 | sireopja | [ɕʰiɾʌ̹p̚t͡ɕ͈a̠] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) |
The term is used to describe the state of having no job.
What does it mean word for word?
The noun 실업자 is a combination of 실업, meaning unemployment and 자, meaning person or one.
Which one should you use?
실업의 is an adjective form used to describe nouns related to the state of unemployment, such as an unemployment rate. In contrast, 실직한 specifically describes a person who has lost their job, implying the action of losing employment. 실업 itself is a general term for the state of being without work.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
While English frequently uses the adjective 'unemployed' to describe a person, Korean often uses the noun 실업자 (unemployed person) to express this same idea in a sentence.
How do you pronounce it?
sireobui
Did you know?
- While 실업자 is the formal term, Koreans often use the slang term 백수 (baek-su) to describe someone without a job, which literally means 'white hands' to imply they have not worked.
- In Korea, the term 취준생 (chwi-jun-saeng) is used specifically for those who are 'unemployed' but actively preparing for an entrance exam or corporate hiring process.
- The Hanja component 실 in 실업 comes from a character meaning 'to lose' or 'to fail', meaning the word 'unemployment' is literally rooted in the concept of 'losing one's occupation'.
Examples in context
- 톰이 아직도 실업자인지 궁금해.I wonder if Tom is still unemployed.This sentence uses the form 실업자 to wonder about someone's employment status.Tatoeba #8396352 by Eunhee, translation #6344035 by CK
- 실업자 구제Helping an unemployed personThis sentence uses the form 실업자 to discuss aid for an unemployed person.
- 실업자들을 구제하다To give work to the unemployedThis sentence uses the form 실업자 to describe providing work to the unemployed.
- 그는 지난 주에 실직자가 되었다.He became unemployed last week.
- 그녀는 고용되지 않은 상태입니다.She is in an unemployed state.
- 요즘 남자 친구는 일 없는 상태야.Recently, my boyfriend is in an unemployed state.
Example conversation
Minji and Minjun are discussing the current job market.
- 민지 Min-ji요즘 실업의 고통이 정말 심해요.yo-jeum sil-eob-ui go-tong-i jeong-mal sim-hae-yo.The pain of being unemployed is really severe these days.
- 민준 Min-jun맞아요. 일자리를 찾기가 너무 힘들더라고요.ma-ja-yo. il-ja-ri-reul chat-gi-ga neo-mu him-deul-deo-ra-go-yo.That's true. It's been very hard to find a job.
- 민지 Min-ji정부에서 실업의 문제를 해결해야 해요.jeong-bu-e-seo sil-eob-ui mun-je-reul hae-gyeol-hae-ya hae-yo.The government needs to solve the problem of unemployment.
- 민준 Min-jun제 생각도 같아요. 대책이 필요해요.je saeng-gak-do gat-a-yo. dae-chaek-i pyo-ryo-hae-yo.I think so too. Measures are necessary.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “unemployed” translations and entries 실업자, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 실업자, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR, Wiktionary CC BY-SA 4.0.
