열심히 일하다
yeolsimhi ilhada
To work hard in Korean is to say 열심히 일하다 (yeolsimhi ilhada).
The phrase is used to express putting a lot of effort and energy into a job or a task. While 열심히 일하다 specifically uses the verb for work, you can use the structure 열심히 하다 (to do [something] hard/diligently) to describe other tasks, such as studying hard or practicing hard, by replacing the verb with the specific action.
What does it mean word for word?
The adverb 열심히 (yeolsimhi) literally means 'with heart' or 'with sincerity', or 'diligently'.
How does it change in a sentence?
To say 'I work hard' or 'I am working hard', you use the polite form 열심히 일해요 or the informal form 열심히 일해.
How do you pronounce it?
yeolsimhi ilhada
When do people say it?
To motivate or cheer someone on, you might say 잘 하자, which means 'let's do well'.
Did you know?
- The adverb 열심히 is actually a combination of the characters for 'heat' and 'heart'. It suggests that to do something well, you must apply heat to your heart.
- In Korea, it is common to say 열심히 하겠습니다 ('I will do my best') during job interviews or first meetings. This is often treated as a formal social pledge of loyalty rather than a literal description of effort.
- While 열심히 일하다 means working hard, Koreans often use the term 과로 ('overwork') to describe the state of working too hard. This has led to the recognized medical term 'death by overwork' known as 과로사.
Examples in context
- 열심히 해봐요Try your best.
- 저는 열심히 일해요I work hard.
- 노력하는 편이에요I am the type who makes an effort.
- 더 열심히 해봐요Try even harder.
- 열심히 일해서 목표를 달성해요Work hard to achieve your goals.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 열심히, 일하다, CC BY-SA 4.0.
