Key Facts
- Hangul: 간호사; Revised Romanization: ganhosa
- Part of speech: noun
- Origin: Sino-Korean, hanja 看護師 (看 watch + 護 protect + 師 master)
- Register: Neutral; the standard word. Nurses are addressed as 간호사님 or 선생님.
Nurse in Korean: What Does 간호사 Mean?
간호사 means nurse, the licensed professional who cares for patients in hospitals and clinics. It is a neutral job title. Patients call a nurse 간호사님 or 선생님 rather than plain 간호사.
Pronunciation
Say gan-ho-sa, three syllables. In careful speech the ㅎ is clear. In quick everyday speech it often weakens after ㄴ, so you may hear something close to ga-no-sa.
Example Sentences with 간호사
간호사는 병원에서 일해요.
ganhosaneun byeongwoneseo ilhaeyo.
The nurse works at the hospital.
A workplace statement. 병원에서 marks the hospital as the place of action, and 일해요 means 'work'.
제 어머니는 간호사예요.
je eomeonineun ganhosayeyo.
My mother is a nurse.
The speaker names a parent's job. 어머니 is the polite, standard word for mother, and 예요 follows a vowel-final noun.
간호사가 주사를 놓았어요.
ganhosaga jusareul noasseoyo.
The nurse gave an injection.
주사 is an injection. The nurse is the subject (간호사가), and 놓았어요, in the past tense, is the set verb used with 주사 for giving an injection.
Phrases That Use 간호사
간호사가 되다 is to become a nurse, 간호사 선생님 is the polite address, and 간호학과 is the nursing department.
| Korean | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 간호사가 되다 | to become a nurse |
| 간호사 선생님 | nurse (polite) |
| 간호학과 | nursing department |
The Mistake to Avoid
Learners think 간호사 is only for women. It is gender-neutral. A male nurse is 남자 간호사.
간호사 Compared with Similar Words
의사 is the doctor. 간병인 is a private caregiver, not a licensed nurse.
| Word | Meaning | How it differs |
|---|---|---|
| 간호사 | nurse | This page's word |
| 의사 | doctor | 의사 is the doctor. |
| 간병인 | caregiver | 간병인 is a private caregiver, not a licensed nurse. |
Where Does the Word Come From?
看護師 combines 看 (watch), 護 (protect) and 師 (master), so a nurse is 'a master who watches and protects'.
At the Clinic: Ask Where to Go
A patient has arrived at a clinic and needs to find reception. The nurse gives directions. The patient uses 간호사님 to get the nurse’s attention politely.
Patient
간호사님, 접수는 어디에서 해요?
Ganhosa-nim, jeopsuneun eodieseo haeyo?
Excuse me, nurse, where do I check in?
Nurse
저기에서 하세요.
Jeogieseo haseyo.
Please check in over there.
Patient
여기에서 기다려요?
Yeogieseo gidaryeoyo?
Do I wait here?
Nurse
네, 여기에서 기다리세요.
Ne, yeogieseo gidariseyo.
Yes, please wait here.
접수 means registration or check-in. The patient asks about the process before describing any symptoms. 저기 points to a place over there, while 여기 means here. Notice that the nurse replies with instructions ending in 세요. Those endings make the directions polite; the job title alone does not set the tone of the whole conversation.
Calling a Nurse and Describing a Nurse
간호사님 is useful when you are speaking directly to a nurse. 님 attaches to the job title without a space. You can call someone’s attention with the title, pause, and then ask your question, as the patient does in the dialogue. 간호사 선생님 is another respectful option; here 선생님 is a form of address, rather than a claim that the nurse teaches at a school.
When naming your own job, use plain 간호사. In the earlier sentence 제 어머니는 간호사예요, the speaker identifies a profession. Adding 님 to your own job title would sound as if you were honouring yourself. A patient talking about a particular nurse may use 간호사님 even when that nurse is not the person being addressed.
Where Will You See 간호사?
In a hospital drama, 간호사님 can be a call across a room. On a staff introduction or name badge, 간호사 identifies the person’s role. The title distinguishes a nurse from 의사, a doctor, even when both people are wearing medical clothing. 선생님 alone can address either person, so that word does not tell you which job someone has.
In university information, 간호학과 means the department of nursing: 간호 is nursing care, and 학과 is an academic department. The shorter 간호사 names the person. This difference helps when reading an introduction: someone studying in a nursing department is describing their course, while someone saying they are a 간호사 is naming their occupation.
Useful Combinations beyond the Job Title
간호사가 되다 means to become a nurse. The 가 belongs to the pattern for becoming something; it is attached to 간호사. Compare it with 간호사예요, which simply identifies someone as a nurse. One phrase describes a change or goal, and the other describes a present role.
주사를 놓다 literally uses a verb meaning to put or place, but the whole phrase means to give an injection. In the existing example, the nurse gives it. 주사를 맞다 means to receive an injection, so the patient would be the person receiving it. Remembering the pair helps you follow who does what in a clinic scene without translating 놓다 word by word.
Words for the Same Clinic Visit
| Korean | Meaning | When you need it |
|---|---|---|
| 병원 | hospital; clinic | A general word for the place you visit for medical care. |
| 환자 | patient | The person receiving care, rather than the staff member. |
| 접수 | registration; check-in | Look for it when you first arrive. |
| 주사 | injection | The noun in the set phrase 주사를 놓다. |
The jobs vocabulary lesson puts 간호사 alongside other occupations. At a clinic, the place, the staff role and the action are separate clues: 병원 tells you where, 간호사 tells you who, and 접수 tells you which step you are asking about.
Quick Self-Test
- Which form would you use to call a nurse politely: 간호사 or 간호사님?
- Does 간호학과 name a nurse or an academic department?
- In 주사를 놓다, is the person giving or receiving the injection?
Show answers
- Use 간호사님 when addressing the nurse.
- It names the department of nursing.
- Giving it. Receiving an injection is 주사를 맞다.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you say nurse in Korean?
Say 간호사 (ganhosa).
How do I address a nurse politely?
Use 간호사님 or 선생님.
Is 간호사 only for women?
No. A male nurse is 남자 간호사.
What is the word for doctor?
It is 의사. Doctors are also addressed as 선생님.
Related Words and What to Learn Next
- Theme list: job words groups 간호사 with its neighbours.
- Index: Korean words A to Z.
- Practice: the vocabulary flashcard decks take this word.
- Next in the list: office worker.
- Compare: doctor.