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How to Say Work in Korean: Essential EPS-TOPIK Verb Quiz

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Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. How do Koreans say "Work"?

일하다([il-ha-da/work]) is the basic verb for working at a job. In polite speech, say 일해요([il-hae-yo]). Example: 공장에서 일해요 (I work at a factory).

Q2. What does "무슨 일을 해요?" mean?

일([il]) is a noun that means "work", "job", or "task". 무슨 일을 해요? (mu-seun i-reul hae-yo?) means "What kind of work do you do?". You can answer with 건설 일을 해요 (I do construction work).

Q3. How do I say my working hours?

Use -부터 (from) and -까지 (until). Say 아홉 시부터 여섯 시까지 일해요 (a-hop si-bu-teo yeo-seot si-kka-ji il-hae-yo) for "I work from nine to six".

EPS TOPIK Learn More: How to Say "Work" in Korean - 일하다([il-ha-da/work])

What does "일하다([il-ha-da/work])" mean?

일하다([il-ha-da/work]) means "to work". It is the basic verb for doing your job at a factory, a farm, a site, or an office.

Casual: 일해 (il-hae)
Polite: 일해요 (il-hae-yo)
Formal: 일합니다 (il-ham-ni-da)

Grammar Breakdown

일하다([il-ha-da/work]) = 일 (work, job, task) + 하다 (to do)
하다 verb: 하 + 여요 → 해요 (일하 → 일해요)
일했어요([il-hae-sseo-yo/worked]) = 일하 + 였어요 → 일했어요 (work + past)
일하고 있어요([il-ha-go i-sseo-yo/am working]) = 일하 + 고 있어요 (work + am doing)
일해야 해요([il-hae-ya hae-yo/have to work]) = 일해 + 야 해요 (work + have to)
일하지 마세요([il-ha-ji ma-se-yo/don't work]) = 일하 + 지 마세요 (work + please don't)

When to Use It (EPS-TOPIK Style)

1. Place: “어디에서 일해요? (eo-di-e-seo il-hae-yo?)”
2. Past: 일했어요([il-hae-sseo-yo/worked]) worked.
3. Now: 일하고 있어요([il-ha-go i-sseo-yo/am working]) am working.
4. Duty: 일해야 해요([il-hae-ya hae-yo/have to work]) have to work.
5. Warning: 일하지 마세요([il-ha-ji ma-se-yo/don't work]) don't work.

Real-Life Examples - A-B-A-B Dialogue (EPS-TOPIK)

A: 어디에서 일해요? A: eo-di-e-seo il-hae-yo?

A: Where do you work?

B: 공장에서 일해요. B: gong-jang-e-seo il-hae-yo.

B: I work at a factory.

A: 무슨 일을 해요? A: mu-seun i-reul hae-yo?

A: What kind of work do you do?

B: 건설 일을 해요. B: geon-seol i-reul hae-yo.

B: I do construction work. - 일하다([il-ha-da/work])

A: 어제 몇 시간 일했어요? A: eo-je myeot si-gan il-hae-sseo-yo?

A: How many hours did you work yesterday?

B: 여덟 시간 일했어요. B: yeo-deol si-gan il-hae-sseo-yo.

B: I worked eight hours.

A: 힘들었어요? A: him-deu-reo-sseo-yo?

A: Was it hard?

B: 네, 많이 힘들었어요. B: ne, ma-ni him-deu-reo-sseo-yo.

B: Yes, it was very hard. - 일했어요([il-hae-sseo-yo/worked])

A: 아프면 일하지 마세요. A: a-peu-myeon il-ha-ji ma-se-yo.

A: Don't work if you are sick.

B: 병원에 가도 돼요? B: byeong-wo-ne ga-do dwae-yo?

B: May I go to the hospital?

A: 네, 가세요. A: ne, ga-se-yo.

A: Yes, please go.

B: 감사합니다. B: gam-sa-ham-ni-da.

B: Thank you. - 일하지 마세요([il-ha-ji ma-se-yo/don't work])

Similar Expressions (EPS-TOPIK)

• 일하다([il-ha-da/work]) work
- 일했어요([il-hae-sseo-yo/worked]) worked
- 일하고 있어요([il-ha-go i-sseo-yo/am working]) am working
- 일해야 해요([il-hae-ya hae-yo/have to work]) have to work
- 일하지 마세요([il-ha-ji ma-se-yo/don't work]) don't work

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