Key Facts
- Hangul: 휴가; Revised Romanization: hyuga
- Part of speech: noun
- Origin: Sino-Korean, hanja 休暇 (休 rest + 暇 leisure)
- Register: Neutral; used for time off from work or military service.
Vacation in Korean: What Does 휴가 Mean?
휴가 means a vacation or leave from work, and it is also used for leave from military service. The register is neutral. 휴가를 내다 means to take days off, the phrase you use when you ask your manager for leave. Students on a school break use a different word.
How Do You Pronounce It?
Say hyu-ga, two syllables. The first begins with hy and the second is a plain ga.
Example Sentences with 휴가
저는 다음 주에 휴가예요.
Jeoneun daeum jue hyugayeyo.
I am on vacation next week.
예요 means "is", and 다음 주에 sets next week. The sentence says you are on vacation then, not that you are going somewhere.
휴가 때 제주도에 가요.
Hyuga ttae Jejudoe gayo.
I'm going to Jeju Island for my vacation.
휴가 때 means during vacation time. 제주도에 가요 gives the place, so this is a plan for the break.
휴가를 내고 싶어요.
Hyugareul naego sipeoyo.
I want to take time off.
내고 싶어요 combines 내다 (to take leave) with -고 싶어요 (want to), so the sentence says you want to take time off. The sentence suits a conversation with a manager or a colleague.
Collocations
휴가를 가다 is to go on vacation, 휴가를 내다 is to take leave, and 여름휴가 is a summer vacation.
| Korean | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 휴가를 가다 | go on vacation |
| 휴가를 내다 | take leave |
| 여름휴가 | summer vacation |
The Mistake to Avoid
Learners use one word for every kind of break.
- Wrong: 휴가 for a student's school break.
- Correct: 방학 for school vacations. 휴가 is for workers and soldiers.
휴가 Compared with 방학 and 휴일
방학 is the school vacation for students. 휴일 is a day off or holiday, a single day rather than a stretch of leave.
| Word | Meaning | How it differs |
|---|---|---|
| 방학 | school vacation | A school or university break for students. |
| 휴일 | day off | A single day off or a public holiday. |
Where Does the Word Come From?
휴가 is Sino-Korean, written 休暇: 休 (rest) plus 暇 (leisure).
Talking about Leave with a Coworker
Two coworkers discuss the coming week. One has arranged time off and plans to spend it at home.
Jisu
다음 주에 휴가예요?
Daeum jue hyugayeyo?
Are you on vacation next week?
Alex
네. 사흘 동안 쉬어요.
Ne. Saheul dongan swieoyo.
Yes. I am taking three days off.
Jisu
휴가 때 어디 가요?
Hyuga ttae eodi gayo?
Where are you going during your vacation?
Alex
이번에는 집에서 쉬어요.
Ibeoneneun jibeseo swieoyo.
This time I am resting at home.
사흘 means three days, and 동안 means “for / during” a period of time. The reply tells the coworker how long the break lasts. 휴가 때 asks about the time during leave; it does not specify a destination. Alex's answer shows that 휴가 can be spent at home.
The phrase 어디 가요? asks where someone is going, so Jisu's question assumes there may be a trip. The answer gently corrects that assumption. English “vacation” often brings travel to mind, but the central idea of 휴가 is time away from duties. Resting, visiting family, or taking care of personal matters can all fit that time.
How Do You Distinguish Leave from a Trip?
휴가를 내다 focuses on taking leave from work. 휴가를 가다 focuses on going on vacation, while 여행을 가다 explicitly describes going on a trip. Someone can take leave without traveling, or travel during an ordinary weekend without taking leave. The nouns identify different parts of the plan.
휴가 중 means “on leave / on vacation”. 중 places someone in the middle of that period. In a workplace conversation, a message saying someone is 휴가 중 explains their absence; it does not tell you whether they are at a beach or at home. 휴가 중이에요 makes the phrase a polite sentence.
잘 다녀오세요 is a common send-off to someone leaving on a trip. Its wording wishes them a good journey and return. It fits a coworker traveling during leave, while a wish for a good rest better matches someone who has said they will stay home. The person's plan helps you choose the response.
Where Will You See 휴가 at Work or in a Drama?
A workplace calendar or absence message may show 휴가, followed by dates. A leave request may use 휴가 신청, literally “leave application”. 신청 here concerns arranging the absence. It says nothing about a flight reservation or hotel booking, which are separate arrangements.
연차 is another word you may hear in office conversations about time off. In that setting it refers to annual leave. 휴가 is the broader word, while 연차 identifies a particular kind of leave. The vocabulary alone does not tell you an employer's procedures, the person's remaining days, or whether a request has been approved.
In a military scene, 휴가 can describe a soldier's leave. The word is the same neutral noun used at work. Nearby references to a unit, a return date, or family waiting at home make the military setting clear. You do not need a separate word meaning “military vacation” to understand that use.
Words for Planning Time Away
| Korean | Meaning | Useful distinction |
|---|---|---|
| 여행 | trip / travel | Names travel, which may or may not happen during leave. |
| 방학 | school vacation | Describes the school break in a student's calendar. |
| 연차 | annual leave | Appears in workplace discussions of leave days. |
| 복귀 | return to duties | Names the return after an absence, including leave. |
The office and business vocabulary lesson teaches words for workplace schedules and conversations. When arranging cover with a colleague, the dates of your 휴가 and your return are more useful than naming a holiday destination.
Quick Self-Test
- Can you say you have 휴가 if you stay home throughout it?
- What does 휴가 중 tell you about a coworker's absence?
- Which word explicitly names travel: 휴가 or 여행?
Show answers
- Yes. 휴가 is time off; a trip is optional.
- They are currently on leave or vacation. It gives no destination.
- 여행. 휴가 names leave or vacation time.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you say "vacation" in Korean?
Say 휴가 (hyuga). It means vacation or leave from work.
What is the difference between 휴가 and 방학?
방학 is school vacation for students. 휴가 is time off for workers and soldiers.
How do you say "take time off"?
휴가를 내다. For example, 휴가를 내고 싶어요 means "I want to take time off."
When do many Koreans take a summer break?
Many Koreans take a short summer vacation, 여름휴가, in late July or early August.
Related Words and What to Learn Next
- Theme list: Office and business words lists 휴가 with office and business words.
- Index: Korean words A to Z.