Korean word

직업

Pronunciation

Romanizationchigeop

Meaning

  • nounjob

Example

어떤 직업이 좋아요?eo tteon chi geo bi cho a yo

What kind of job do you like?

Illustration for 직업 (job)

More examples

지금 직업을 바꿀 생각이에요.chi geum chi geo beul pa kkul ssaeng ga gi e yo

I am thinking of changing jobs now.

Core concept

The kind of work someone takes on as an occupation or professional role.

Common phrases

  • 직업을 바꾸다chi geo beul pa kku da

    change jobs

  • 직업에 만족하다chi geo be man jo ka da

    be satisfied with one's job

  • 직업을 소개하다chi geo beul so gae ha da

    introduce an occupation

Similar words

일il: A task, errand, or matter that someone needs to handle.
직장chikjjang: The place or organization where someone regularly goes to work.
직무chingmu: The specific duties and responsibilities assigned to a role at work.
직종chikjjong: A category of work grouped by its roles and tasks.

Definition in Korean

개인이 맡아 수행하는 일의 종류나 전문 분야를 가리키는 말kae i ni ma ta su haeng ha neun i rui chong nyu na cheon mun pu nya reul ka ri ki neun mal

Word origin

The term is a Sino-Korean compound combining an element for an assigned role with one for work or business, forming the established sense of occupation.

Usage tips

  • In a career-choice question, 직업 (jigeop, "occupation") focuses on the kind of work someone prefers, while a question about present employment uses different Korean phrasing.

Other meanings

  • worknoun

Opposites

  • 무직mujikunemploymentnoun

Related words

  • 직업군chigeopkkunoccupational groupnoun
  • 직업병chigeopppyeongoccupational diseasenoun
  • 직업교육chigeopkkyoyukvocational educationnoun

Word lists with this word