What does it mean word for word?
The phrase 직업이 뭐예요? is composed of 직업 (occupation/job), the subject marker 이 and 뭐예요? (is what?).
Which one should you use?
Depending on the situation, different forms are used. 직업이 어떻게 되세요? translates to "How do you do for a living?", while 직업은 어떻게 되시나요? means "What is your occupation?" Both are formal variations. On the other hand, 직업이 뭐야? is the casual version used to ask "What's your occupation?"
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
For highly formal settings like official interviews, you should use 직업이 무엇입니까? For close friends or people younger than you, use the informal 직업이 뭐야?
How do you pronounce it?
jigeobi mwoyeyo?
What mistakes should you avoid?
Do not use 뭐 해요? to ask about someone's profession. While it can be translated as "what do you do?" in some contexts, it actually asks "What are you doing?" regarding a person's current actions.
Did you know?
- Asking about someone's job in Korea is often a way to establish social hierarchy and age, rather than just a casual conversation starter. Knowing a person's occupation helps determine the appropriate level of honorifics to use.
- The phrase 어떻게 되세요? is a common way to ask for a job, but it literally translates to 'how does it become?' This indirectness is a hallmark of Korean politeness.
- In professional networking, Koreans may ask about your 'company' 회사 rather than your 'job' 직업 because the organization's prestige is often more significant than the specific role.
Examples in context
- 저는 프로그래머예요.I'm a programmer.
- 직업이 뭐예요?jigeobi mwoyeyo?What is your job?
- 실례지만, 직업이 뭐예요?sillyejiman, jigeobi mwoyeyo?Excuse me, but what do you do for a living?
- 그분은 직업이 뭐예요?geubuneun jigeobi mwoyeyo?What is his job?
Example conversation
Minji and Minjun are meeting for the first time at a social gathering.
- 민지 Min-ji민준 씨, 직업이 뭐예요?Minjun ssi, jigeobi mwoyeyo?Minjun, what do you do for a living?
- 민준 Min-jun저는 요리사예요.jeoneun yorisa-yeyo.I am a chef.
- 민지 Min-ji정말 멋진 직업이네요!jeongmal meotjin jigeobi-neyo!That is a really wonderful job!
- 민준 Min-jun감사합니다. 민지 씨는요?gamsahabnida. Minji ssineunyo?Thank you. How about you, Minji?
