Key Facts
- Word: 사회 (sahoe), noun, Sino-Korean origin
- Register: Neutral to formal; also a school subject.
- Hanja: 社會 (社 society + 會 meet)
- Senses: society; community
Society in Korean: What Does 사회 Mean?
사회 covers society at large, as in Korean society, and the working world one enters after school. It is also a subject name on timetables. It is not the word for a party or a casual get-together, which is 모임, and it is wider than 공동체 (a group sharing something).
How Do You Pronounce 사회?
The standard pronunciation is [사회], with ㅚ written as one vowel. In real speech you will often hear it as [사훼], with a we sound, and both are accepted. Keep the ㅎ light and the stress even across the two syllables.
Example Sentences with 사회
한국 사회는 빠르게 변하고 있어요.
hanguk sahoeneun ppareuge byeonhago isseoyo
Korean society is changing quickly.
빠르게 means "quickly" and 변하고 있어요 is a continuous form, "is changing". The sentence describes an ongoing trend across the whole country.
사회 시간에 지도를 봤어요.
sahoe sigane jidoreul bwasseoyo
We looked at a map in social studies.
사회 시간 is a class period called "social studies". The place or setting is the classroom, and 지도 means a map.
저는 사회에 나가고 싶어요.
jeoneun sahoee nagago sipeoyo
I want to go out into society.
나가고 싶어요 means "want to go out". The speaker wants to leave school and enter working life.
Common Phrases and Collocations
These phrases cover society, school and working life.
| Korean | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 사회 문제 | social problem |
| 사회생활 | social life / working life |
| 사회 시간 | social studies class |
The Mistake to Avoid: Society Versus Gathering
Wrong: ✗ 사회 for a party or a get-together
Correct: ✓ 모임 for a gathering
사회 is society as a whole, so it never names a single event. A party, club meeting or reunion is a 모임.
사회 Compared with Similar Words
Three words share the idea of a group of people, with different sizes.
| Word | Meaning | How it differs |
|---|---|---|
| 공동체 | community | Group of people sharing something. |
| 세상 | world / society | More casual, everyday 'the world'. |
| 국가 | nation | Country-level entity. |
Where Does the Word Come From?
사회 is Sino-Korean, written 社會 in hanja: 社 means "society" and 會 means "meet". Both characters point to people coming together, which fits the idea of a community.
Planning a Social Studies Presentation
Two classmates are discussing their next social studies lesson. The topic makes the school meaning of 사회 clear before they move to its broader meaning in society.
Jisu
내일 사회 시간에 뭐 해요?
Naeil sahoe sigane mwo haeyo?
What are we doing in social studies tomorrow?
Alex
한국 사회에 대해 발표해요.
Hanguk sahoee daehae balpyohaeyo.
We’re giving presentations about Korean society.
Jisu
저는 사회 문제를 조사하고 있어요.
Jeoneun sahoe munjereul josahago isseoyo.
I’m researching social issues.
사회 시간 names the class period. 한국 사회 names the wider society being discussed, and 사회 문제 names issues within it. The same noun works in all three lines, but the surrounding words tell you whether it is a subject on a timetable or the topic of a presentation.
Where Will You Hear 사회?
사회 appears in news about work, education, family life and public issues. In 한국 사회, the word groups people and their institutions together. It can introduce a discussion about how people live without referring to the government alone. 국가 puts the focus on the nation or state instead.
On a school timetable, 사회 is social studies. In a sentence about homework or a class period, this shorter subject name is usually enough. A learner who translates every occurrence as “society” may miss the classroom meaning. Look for nearby words such as 시간, “time” or “class period”, and the presentation context above.
After graduation, 사회에 나가다 literally suggests going out into society. In this setting it means entering adult working life. Someone saying this is discussing a change of life stage, rather than simply leaving the house. The existing sentence 저는 사회에 나가고 싶어요 expresses that wish.
What Does 사회생활 Include?
사회생활 can refer to life among other people, especially the relationships and expectations of working life. Advice about 사회생활 may concern getting along with colleagues, speaking appropriately at work or handling relationships outside the family. English “social life” often suggests leisure and friends, so that translation can be too narrow.
사회 문제 is a problem affecting society. The phrase could introduce an essay about unemployment or unequal access to education. It does not mean that a single party went badly. For a particular gathering, 모임 gives the listener the event rather than a broad social issue.
The adjective 사회적 means “social” or “societal”, as in 사회적 책임, social responsibility. This form helps you recognise the same topic in a longer written phrase. It describes a relationship to society; it does not automatically mean someone is friendly or enjoys parties.
Related Words for Society and Public Life
| Korean | Meaning | When it helps |
|---|---|---|
| 시민 | citizen | Names a person participating in civic life. |
| 문화 | culture | Focuses on shared practices, values and expression. |
| 공동체 | community | Highlights a group with shared ties. |
| 모임 | gathering | Names an occasion when people meet. |
The society vocabulary section connects these topics, and politics and government vocabulary covers the public institutions. Keep the scale of your sentence clear: a gathering, a community and a whole society give the reader different pictures even when some of the same people are involved.
Quick Self-Test
- What does 사회 mean in 사회 시간?
- Does 사회에 나가다 usually mean stepping outdoors in a graduation conversation?
- Which word would you use for a reunion or club gathering?
Show answers
- Social studies, the school subject.
- No. It means entering adult working life in that context.
- 모임. 사회 refers to society rather than the particular event.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is society in Korean?
It is 사회 (sahoe), a neutral-to-formal noun.
Is 사회 also a school subject?
Yes. 사회 시간 is the social studies class.
How do I say "social problem"?
Say 사회 문제.
What is the difference between 사회 and 공동체?
사회 is society overall; 공동체 is a community sharing something specific.
Related Words and What to Learn Next
- Theme list: browse the society vocabulary section for topic lists such as politics and government.
- Index: the Korean words A to Z page lists every word entry, including society.
- Practice: put 사회 on your cards with the vocabulary flashcard decks.