Key Facts
- Hangul: 목적; Revised Romanization: mokjeok (pronounced [mok-jjeok])
- Part of speech: noun
- Origin: Sino-Korean, hanja 目的 (目 eye + 的 target)
- Register: Neutral to formal; used in writing and explanations.
Purpose in Korean: What Does 목적 Mean?
목적 is the overall reason something is done: why you travel, why a group exists. It is neutral to formal and appears in writing and explanations. Common uses are 방문 목적 (purpose of visit), 목적을 이루다 (to achieve a purpose) and 목적지 (destination, the place the journey is for). Immigration forms ask for it as a purpose of travel.
How Do You Pronounce 목적?
The spelling is mokjeok, but the speech is [mok-jjeok]: after the final ㄱ, the ㅈ of the second syllable is pronounced tense, like a doubled j. The final ㄱ of mok is unreleased, closing the syllable without an audible vowel.
Example Sentences with 목적
여행의 목적이 뭐예요?
Yeohaengui mokjeogi mwoyeyo?
What is the purpose of your trip?
A question asked at borders or by friends. 여행의 목적이 means "the purpose of the trip" and 뭐예요 asks "what is it?".
이 모임의 목적은 친구를 사귀는 거예요.
I moimui mokjeogeun chingureul sagwineun geoyeyo.
The purpose of this gathering is making friends.
An explanation of what a group is for. The ending 거예요 turns the phrase "making friends" into a noun clause.
목적을 이루려고 열심히 노력해요.
Mokjeogeul iruryeogo yeolsimhi noryeokaeyo.
I work hard to achieve my aim.
목적을 이루려고 means "in order to achieve the purpose", and 노력해요 is "make an effort". The sentence packs intention and effort into one line.
Common Phrases and Collocations
These phrases appear on forms and in goal-setting talk.
| Korean | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 목적을 이루다 | to achieve a purpose |
| 방문 목적 | purpose of visit |
| 목적지 | destination |
The Mistake to Avoid
The pair 목적 and 목표 looks interchangeable but is not.
Wrong: Treating 목적 and 목표 as identical.
Correct: Use 목적 for the overall purpose and 목표 for a concrete target. Also tense the ㅈ in 목적: [mok-jjeok].
A trip has a 목적 (why you go), and a diet has a 목표 (the number you hope to reach).
목적 Compared with 목표 and 이유
Three words are all near "purpose" and are separated by what they point at.
| Word | Meaning | How it differs |
|---|---|---|
| 목표 | goal / target | A target to reach; more concrete than 목적. |
| 이유 | reason | The cause of something, not its purpose. |
| 의도 | intention | The intent behind an action. |
Where Does the Word Come From?
목적 is written 目的 in hanja: 目 (eye) plus 的 (target). The picture is of an eye fixed on a target, which is how the word came to mean aim.
Explaining a Visit at Reception
A visitor arrives at an office. The receptionist asks what the visit is for, rather than asking where the visitor traveled from or which route they took.
Receptionist
방문 목적이 뭐예요?
Bangmun mokjeogi mwoyeyo?
What is the purpose of your visit?
Visitor
면접을 보러 왔어요.
Myeonjeobeul boreo wasseoyo.
I’m here for an interview.
Receptionist
성함을 알려 주세요.
Seonghameul allyeo juseyo.
Please tell me your name.
The visitor answers with an action: 면접을 보러 왔어요. Korean uses 면접을 보다 for having an interview, and 보러 왔어요 explains what the person came to do. You do not need to repeat 목적 in the reply. 성함 is the respectful word for someone’s name, which suits a receptionist asking a visitor for personal details.
How Do You Read Purpose Labels on Forms?
방문 목적 is “purpose of visit”; 이용 목적 is “purpose of use”. On a form, the noun before 목적 tells you what action needs explaining. A visitor might write that they came for a meeting, while a service user might state what they plan to use the service for.
목적지 is different: it means “destination”. On a navigation screen, 목적지 asks where you are going. A 목적 question asks what you want to accomplish. For a trip to a language school, the school is the destination and studying Korean is the purpose. Giving only the address does not explain the purpose of the trip.
목적 can sound serious in a personal question. A receptionist asking 방문 목적 is doing an ordinary administrative task. Asking a friend their “purpose” in a casual meeting can sound more probing than asking what they would like to do. The noun is neutral, but the situation changes how direct the question feels.
Useful Patterns beyond the Dictionary Meaning
목적으로 means “for the purpose of”. 관광 목적으로 means “for tourism”, and 연구 목적으로 means “for research”. The phrase states the intended use or aim. It does not say whether the aim succeeded, so it differs from 목적을 이루다, “to achieve one’s purpose”.
목적을 달성하다 is another common way to say “achieve the purpose” or “accomplish the objective”. 달성하다 emphasizes reaching what was intended and often appears in reports. 목적이 분명하다 means “the purpose is clear”. This describes how well defined the purpose is, rather than whether someone has achieved it.
목적 and 목표 can overlap in real speech; the broad-purpose versus specific-target distinction is a useful starting point. For language study, communicating with relatives can be the 목적, while passing a particular exam can be a 목표. A target can serve a larger purpose without being the only possible route to it.
이유 asks for a reason more broadly. Bad weather can be the 이유 for canceling an outing, but it is not the 목적 of canceling. With 목적, look for an intended outcome: perhaps keeping participants safe. This is why translating every English “why” with 목적 can change the question.
Words for Explaining an Aim
| Korean | Meaning | Useful note |
|---|---|---|
| 목표 | goal / target | Often a specific result to reach. |
| 이유 | reason | Can explain a cause, including an unplanned one. |
| 의도 | intention | Focuses on what someone meant to do. |
| 계획 | plan | Describes how an action is arranged. |
The reasoning words lesson groups words for causes, aims and explanations. A plan explains your steps; a purpose explains what those steps are for.
Quick Self-Test
- Does 목적지 ask “where” or “what for”?
- What does 연구 목적으로 mean?
- Must you repeat 목적 when answering 방문 목적이 뭐예요?
Show answers
- “Where”: it names the destination.
- “For research” or “for research purposes”.
- No. State the activity, as in the interview reply above.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you say "purpose" in Korean?
Say 목적 (mokjeok). It is neutral to formal and used in writing and explanations.
How is 목적 pronounced?
The ㅈ is tense after the final ㄱ, so say [mok-jjeok].
What is the difference between 목적 and 목표?
목적 is the overall purpose, and 목표 is a concrete target.
How do you ask "what is the purpose of your trip"?
Say 여행의 목적이 뭐예요?
Related Words and What to Learn Next
- Words for reasoning are collected in the discourse nouns vocabulary list.
- The full list lives in Korean words A to Z.
- Add the purpose-versus-goal pair to your vocabulary flashcard decks.
- The cause of an action is on the reason page.