Key Facts
- Hangul: 회의; Revised Romanization: hoeui
- Part of speech: noun
- Syllables: 2 (hoe-ui)
- Origin: Sino-Korean, hanja 會議 (會 meeting + 議 discuss)
- Register: Neutral, everyday word used in both spoken and written Korean. Used for work meetings; 회의하다 is the verb.
Meeting in Korean: What Does 회의 Mean?
회의 is a meeting or conference, mostly in a work or organisational setting. It is neutral and used in speech and writing. Add 하다 to get the verb 회의하다. A casual loanword, 미팅, is used informally and can also mean a student group blind date. For a social get-together, use 모임 instead.
How Do You Pronounce 회의?
회의 has two syllables, hoe and ui. The 회 vowel is written oe and is usually said like we. 의 is the vowel ui, which glides. Because 의 is not the first syllable, standard pronunciation also allows it to be said as a plain i, so you will often hear hoe-i. Revised Romanization writes hoeui.
Example Sentences with 회의
지금 회의 중이에요.
Jigeum hoeui jungieyo.
I'm in a meeting now.
지금 회의 중이에요 uses 중, "in the middle of", so it reads "I'm in a meeting now". 지금 is "now".
회의는 열 시에 시작해요.
Hoeuineun yeol sie sijakaeyo.
The meeting starts at ten.
회의는 열 시에 시작해요 gives a start time: 열 시에 is "at ten o'clock" and 시작해요 is "starts".
오후에 회의가 두 개 있어요.
Ohue hoeuiga du gae isseoyo.
I have two meetings in the afternoon.
오후에 회의가 두 개 있어요 counts meetings with 두 개, "two items". 오후에 is "in the afternoon".
Common Phrases and Collocations
| Korean | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 회의를 하다 | to hold a meeting |
| 회의실 | meeting room |
| 회의 시간 | meeting time |
회의를 하다 is to hold a meeting, 회의실 is a meeting room and 회의 시간 is the meeting time. The room word 회의실 simply glues 실 (room) onto the end.
The Mistake to Avoid
Wrong: ✗ 회의 for a social gathering, as in "a 회의 with friends at the cafe."
Correct: ✓ 모임 for a social gathering; 회의 for a work meeting.
Why: 회의 is for discussion and decisions, usually at work. A friendly gathering is 모임.
회의 Compared with Related Words
| Word | Meaning | How it differs |
|---|---|---|
| 회의 | meeting, conference | The word on this page. |
| 미팅 | meeting (loanword) | Informal and also used for group blind dates among students. |
| 모임 | gathering | A social gathering. |
미팅 is the casual loanword. It is common in speech but 회의 is the standard, safe word in a workplace.
Where Does the Word Come From?
회의 is Sino-Korean, written 會議 in hanja: 會 means meeting and 議 means discuss. The second character is the one that makes it a discussion, not just a gathering.
Finding the Right Meeting Room
Two coworkers are checking where their morning meeting will take place. The room has changed, so one confirms the details before leaving their desk.
Alex
오늘 회의는 어디에서 해요?
Oneul hoeuineun eodieseo haeyo?
Where are we having today’s meeting?
Jisu
삼 층 회의실에서 해요.
Sam cheung hoeuisireseo haeyo.
In the meeting room on the third floor.
Alex
열 시에 시작해요?
Yeol sie sijakaeyo?
Does it start at ten?
Jisu
네. 자료도 가져오세요.
Ne. Jaryodo gajyeooseyo.
Yes. Please bring the materials too.
회의는 names the event being discussed; 회의실에서 gives the place where it happens. 에서 marks the location of the activity. The final line asks the coworker to bring 자료, the materials for discussion. That request fits a scheduled workplace meeting rather than a casual gathering of friends.
Which Meeting Phrases Belong in Your Calendar?
회의에 참석하다 means “to attend a meeting”. The particle 에 connects the meeting to attendance. 회의를 열다 means “to hold” or “convene a meeting”: 열다 literally means “open”, but here it means arranging for the discussion to take place. An attendee and an organiser therefore describe different actions around the same 회의.
회의가 끝나다 means the meeting ends. 회의를 마치다 means finishing or concluding the meeting. The particles show the difference: with 가, the meeting is the thing that ends; with 를, someone brings it to a close. Both expressions help when explaining when you will be free to answer a call.
회의 중 is a useful short status label meaning “in a meeting”. You might see it in a workplace message or on a door. 중 says the activity is in progress, and it is written separately from 회의. The complete sentence 지금 회의 중이에요 above makes the status polite enough for a message to a coworker.
Where Will You See 회의 at Work?
회의실 appears on doors and room booking calendars. 회의 일정 is the meeting schedule, while 회의 자료 means the documents or other materials used during the discussion. A message about a changed 일정 concerns timing; a request for 자료 concerns what people need to prepare or bring.
화상 회의 is a video meeting. The people do not need to share a physical room for the event to be a 회의. On a calendar, the meeting entry may therefore give an online link instead of a room number. The word names the organised discussion, not the technology or location used to hold it.
Words for Preparing and Following Up
| Korean | Meaning | Useful note |
|---|---|---|
| 안건 | agenda item | A matter the group plans to discuss. |
| 자료 | materials | Documents, figures or other information for the meeting. |
| 회의록 | meeting minutes | A written record of the discussion and decisions. |
| 일정 | schedule | Helps you ask about the date or time. |
The office vocabulary lesson teaches more workplace terms. Keep 자료 and 회의록 apart: materials can be prepared before the meeting, while the minutes record what happened during it. If someone asks for the minutes, sending only the presentation may not answer the request.
Quick Self-Test
- Which word names the room rather than the event?
- In 회의 중, is the meeting finished or in progress?
- Which is a record of the discussion: 자료 or 회의록?
Show answers
- 회의실 is the meeting room; 회의 is the event.
- In progress. 중 means the activity is happening.
- 회의록 means meeting minutes. 자료 means materials.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you say "meeting" in Korean?
Meeting in Korean is 회의 (hoeui), a noun for a work meeting or conference.
How do I say "meeting room"?
Say 회의실.
Is 미팅 the same as 회의?
Not exactly. 미팅 is casual, and can mean a group blind date among students.
Can I use 회의 as a verb?
Yes. Add 하다 to make 회의하다.
How do I say "I am in a meeting"?
Say 지금 회의 중이에요.
Related Words and What to Learn Next
- Theme list: Korean office vocabulary groups 회의 with workplace words.
- Index: Korean words A to Z lists every single-word entry.
- See also: office is the place where meetings happen.
- Practice: vocabulary flashcard decks lets you add 회의 to a spaced-repetition set.