Key Facts
- Hangul: 변호사; Revised Romanization: byeonhosa
- Part of speech: noun
- Syllables: 3 (byeon-ho-sa)
- Origin: Sino-Korean, hanja 辯護士 (辯 argue + 護 protect + 士 person)
- Register: Neutral; the standard word. As a title use 변호사님.
Lawyer in Korean: What Does 변호사 Mean?
변호사 is the neutral, standard word for a lawyer or attorney. The same word works in speech, news and formal writing. To address a lawyer politely, add 님 to make 변호사님, which is the usual title. Other legal jobs have their own names: a prosecutor is a 검사, and a judge is a 판사.
How Do You Pronounce 변호사?
변호사 has three syllables: byeon, ho and sa. The first syllable starts with a glide, so it sounds like "byuhn" rather than "bun". In the middle, the ㅎ in 호 comes after ㄴ and is often weakened in fast speech, but Revised Romanization still writes it as h. Keep all three beats even.
Example Sentences with 변호사
변호사는 법원에서 일해요.
Byeonhosaneun beobwoneseo ilhaeyo.
The lawyer works at the court.
법원에서 is "at the court" and 일해요 is "works", so the sentence places the lawyer in the courtroom world. The topic marker on 변호사는 makes the lawyer the subject of the statement.
제 친구는 변호사예요.
Je chinguneun byeonhosayeyo.
My friend is a lawyer.
제 친구는 means "my friend", and 변호사예요 means "is a lawyer", using the 예요 ending that follows a vowel. This is the model sentence for stating someone's job.
변호사를 만났어요.
Byeonhosareul mannasseoyo.
I met a lawyer.
만났어요 is the past of meeting, and 변호사를 takes the object marker. It tells you the speaker met a lawyer, not that they hired one.
Common Phrases and Collocations
| Korean | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 변호사를 선임하다 | to hire a lawyer |
| 변호사 사무실 | law office |
| 변호사 시험 | bar exam |
변호사를 선임하다 means to hire a lawyer, where 선임하다 is the verb for formally appointing someone. 변호사 사무실 is a law office and 변호사 시험 is the bar exam. Notice that 변호사 stays unchanged and simply sits in front of the next noun.
The Mistake to Avoid
Wrong: ✗ 변호사 for a prosecutor or a judge, as in "The 변호사 sentenced him."
Correct: ✓ 검사 for a prosecutor and 판사 for a judge; 변호사 for the lawyer who advises or defends.
Why: Learners treat 변호사 as a catch-all for anyone in a courtroom, but each role has its own word.
변호사 Compared with Related Words
| Word | Meaning | How it differs |
|---|---|---|
| 변호사 | lawyer, attorney | The word on this page. |
| 법무사 | legal scrivener | Handles paperwork, not courtroom defence. |
| 검사 | prosecutor | Brings the case against the accused. |
If the person argues for a client, use 변호사. If the job is filing documents, think 법무사.
Where Does the Word Come From?
변호사 is Sino-Korean, written 辯護士 in hanja: 辯 means argue, 護 means protect and 士 means a person of a profession. The pieces fit the job: someone who argues in order to protect.
At a Law Office: Asking for an Appointment
A visitor speaks to the receptionist. This exchange is about arranging a consultation; meeting a lawyer does not itself mean hiring one.
Visitor
변호사님과 상담하고 싶어요.
Byeonhosanimgwa sangdamhago sipeoyo.
I’d like to consult a lawyer.
Receptionist
예약하셨어요?
Yeyakhasyeosseoyo?
Do you have an appointment?
Visitor
아니요. 예약할 수 있어요?
Aniyo. Yeyakal su isseoyo?
No. Can I make one?
Receptionist
네, 언제가 편하세요?
Ne, eonjega pyeonhaseyo?
Yes. When would be convenient for you?
상담 means a consultation or discussion for advice. The visitor adds 님 to 변호사 when referring respectfully to the professional. The receptionist uses the honorific form 예약하셨어요 to ask about the visitor’s appointment. The professional title and the respectful verb endings do different jobs in the conversation.
A Job Description or a Form of Address?
변호사 is enough when stating an occupation, as in the existing sentence about a friend. When calling to the lawyer directly, 변호사님 is the polite title. You can put a surname before it when identifying a particular person. The title follows the name rather than coming before it as “Mr” or “Ms” does in English.
In news reports, a name followed by 변호사 identifies the person’s profession. The absence of 님 in a report is normal reporting style. A visitor speaking directly to the same person would usually choose the respectful title instead.
Where Will You See the Word?
Office signs, appointment pages and interview captions often include 변호사. 법률 상담 means legal consultation, so it can appear beside the professional’s name when the service is being described. 변호사 사무실 names the office; 상담 names an activity that takes place there.
In courtroom dramas, listen for who is speaking and whom they represent. A 변호사 can advise clients outside court as well as speak for them in a case. The existing example about working at court illustrates one setting; it does not mean that every lawyer spends every workday there.
변호사를 만나다 means to meet a lawyer. 변호사와 상담하다 means to consult with one, while 변호사를 선임하다 means formally appointing or hiring one. These collocations describe different stages. A sentence about an appointment does not tell you whether a client has retained that lawyer.
Words around a Consultation
| Korean | Meaning | What it names |
|---|---|---|
| 상담 | consultation | A discussion to seek advice. |
| 예약 | appointment or reservation | The arranged time for a visit. |
| 의뢰인 | client | The person requesting professional help. |
| 법원 | court | The institution or place where cases are heard. |
| 판사 | judge | The person who hears and decides a case. |
의뢰인 describes the client’s relationship to the professional; it is more specific than simply calling someone a visitor. 법원 names the court, while 판사 names a person working in that system. The jobs vocabulary lesson places 변호사 beside other profession names and helps you recognize the title pattern.
Quick Self-Test
- How would you address a lawyer politely?
- Does 변호사를 만났어요 prove that the speaker hired a lawyer?
- Which word names the judge?
Show answers
- Use 변호사님.
- No. It only says they met a lawyer.
- 판사.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you say "lawyer" in Korean?
Lawyer in Korean is 변호사 (byeonhosa), the standard neutral noun for an attorney.
How do I address a lawyer politely?
Add 님 to get 변호사님, the usual polite title.
What is the word for a prosecutor?
A prosecutor is a 검사, not a 변호사.
How do I say "hire a lawyer"?
Say 변호사를 선임하다.
What does 변호사 시험 mean?
It means the bar exam, the test a lawyer must pass.
Related Words and What to Learn Next
- Theme list: Korean jobs vocabulary places 변호사 among other professions.
- Index: Korean words A to Z lists every single-word entry.
- See also: nurse is another profession noun to learn next.
- Practice: vocabulary flashcard decks lets you add 변호사 to a spaced-repetition set.