Key Facts
- Hangul: 일; Revised Romanization: il
- Part of speech: noun
- Origin: native
- Register: Neutral, very common everyday word.
Work in Korean: What Does 일 Mean?
일 is a very common native word with two senses: work or a job, and a task or thing to do. That second sense explains 오늘 일이 있어요, which means "I have something to do today" and not necessarily a job. The verb form 일하다 means to work.
How Do You Pronounce 일?
The romanization is il, one syllable. Before a vowel the ㄹ links forward as a light r sound, so 일이 sounds like iri.
Example Sentences with 일
저는 일이 많아요.
jeoneun iri manayo.
I have a lot of work.
A workload sentence. 많아요 means there is a lot, and 일이 is the subject.
무슨 일을 해요?
museun ireul haeyo?
What do you do for work?
The standard job question. 무슨 asks "what kind of", and 을 marks 일 as the object of 해요.
오늘 일이 있어요.
oneul iri isseoyo.
I have something to do today.
The task sense. 있어요 says something exists, so the sentence signals a prior commitment.
Common Phrases with 일
Beginning and ending work are the useful verbs after 일.
| Korean | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 일하다 | to work |
| 일을 시작하다 | start work |
| 일이 끝나다 | work ends |
The Mistake to Avoid
Wrong: reading every 일 as "work", for example taking the 일 in 월요일 (Monday) as the work word.
Correct: in dates and day names, 일 is the Sino-Korean 日 "day", and in counting it is the number one. The native 일 on this page means work or a task, as in 일하다 and 일이 많아요. All three sound the same, so context decides.
일 Compared with Its Neighbours
Three neighbours separate the homophone, the job word and the workplace.
| Word | Meaning | How it differs |
|---|---|---|
| 일 (日) | day | day, a homophone in Sino-Korean compounds such as 월요일; different word |
| 직업 | occupation | occupation |
| 회사 | company | company |
Where Does 일 Come From?
The 일 on this page is native Korean, with no hanja form. A different 일, the Sino-Korean 日 for day, is a separate word that only sounds the same.
Making Plans after Work
Two coworkers are arranging dinner. One needs to finish work first, so 일 refers to the tasks keeping that person busy rather than an occupation.
Jisu
오늘 일이 많아요?
Oneul iri manayo?
Do you have a lot of work today?
Alex
네, 아직 할 일이 있어요.
Ne, ajik hal iri isseoyo.
Yes, I still have things to do.
Jisu
일이 끝나면 같이 저녁 먹어요.
Iri kkeunnamyeon gachi jeonyeok meogeoyo.
Let’s have dinner together when work is finished.
Alex
좋아요. 끝나면 연락할게요.
Joayo. Kkeunnamyeon yeollakalgeyo.
Sounds good. I’ll contact you when I’m done.
할 일 means something to do. The 할 part describes the task that remains, so the phrase works for an office assignment, a household chore or a personal errand. In this scene, the coworkers’ situation makes it paid work. The phrase itself does not require an employer or a salary.
일이 끝나다 describes work finishing. 일을 끝내다 describes someone finishing the work. The subject and object particles give you a clue: 일이 presents the work as what ends, while 일을 presents it as what someone completes. Both phrases are useful when arranging a meeting after a task is done.
What Does 무슨 일이에요 Mean?
무슨 일이에요? often means “What’s going on?” or “What’s the matter?” The literal pieces ask what kind of matter or event it is. A character arriving after a loud noise might ask this question. In that situation, the speaker is asking about what happened, not interviewing someone about their job.
무슨 일을 해요? adds the verb “do” and the object particle 을. In an introduction, it can ask what someone does for work. Even this question can concern a current task when the setting makes that clear. Listen to the whole sentence and the situation before choosing between “work”, “task” and “matter” in English.
별일 없어요 is another common expression: “Nothing much is happening” or “Everything is fine.” 별일 refers to something special or out of the ordinary. After a question about how things are going, the phrase reports that there is no particular news or problem. It does not mean the speaker has no job.
How Are 일, 직업 and 직장 Different?
일 can name the activity or the tasks. 직업 names an occupation, such as teacher or designer. 직장 is a workplace or place of employment. 회사 names a company. These words overlap in conversations about employment, but each supplies a different piece of information.
For example, a person’s 직업 might stay the same when they move to a different 회사. Their daily 일 can change from one project to the next without changing their occupation. In a personal introduction, asking about work leaves room for the person to describe what they actually do, rather than only supplying a job title.
일하다 is written as one verb. 일을 하다 is a noun plus an object particle and a separate verb. Both can describe working. 할 일 has a space because it is a noun phrase meaning “something to do”. These forms share the same work or task meaning; the different spacing follows their different structures.
Where Will You Hear 일 outside an Office?
집안일 means housework, so you can hear 일 in a conversation about cleaning or chores. 볼일 means business or an errand to attend to. A speaker who says they have 볼일 may be explaining why they need to go out, without giving details of the errand. Neither word necessarily concerns paid employment.
일이 있어요 can also explain why someone cannot accept an invitation. It gives a reason without specifying the commitment. In a drama or ordinary conversation, translating it as “I have a job” may miss that social purpose. The person may simply have plans. The noun is neutral; the ending and surrounding wording establish the politeness of the reply.
Words for Work and Commitments
| Korean | Meaning | Useful note |
|---|---|---|
| 직장 | workplace | A place of employment rather than an occupation. |
| 업무 | work duties | Common in office instructions and work messages. |
| 집안일 | housework | Work done around the home. |
| 볼일 | business / errand | Something to attend to, often without further detail. |
The office vocabulary lesson builds the set for discussing duties and the workplace.
Quick Self-Test
- Does 할 일 have to be paid work?
- What might 무슨 일이에요? mean after a sudden noise?
- Which names an occupation: 직업 or 회사?
Show answers
- No. It can be any task or thing to do.
- “What’s going on?” or “What’s the matter?”
- 직업. 회사 means a company.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you say "work" in Korean?
Say 일 (il).
How do I ask what someone does for work?
Ask 무슨 일을 해요?
Is 일 the same as 日?
No. The sound is the same, but 日 (day) is a separate Sino-Korean word, as in 월요일.
What is 직업?
It means occupation.
Related Words and What to Learn Next
- Theme list: Office vocabulary groups 일 with its neighbours.
- Index: Korean words A to Z.
- Practice: add the word to the vocabulary flashcard decks.
- Related page: Job in Korean.
- Related page: Company in Korean.