How to Say “What is Your Occupation” in Korean – Learn!

If you want to ask someone about their occupation in Korean, the direct phrase you would use is:

공업이 무엇이에요? (gong-eop-i mu-eot-ieyo?)

This translates directly to “What is your occupation?” in English. It’s polite, neutral, and suitable for most situations.

Now, let’s dive deeper into this phrase, explore alternative ways to ask about occupations, and understand how to respond effectively.

---

Breaking Down the Phrase

To understand and use 공업이 무엇이에요? effectively, let’s break it down:

• 공업 (gong-eop): Occupation or job.
• 이 (-i): A subject marker, linking “occupation” to the rest of the sentence.
• 무엇 (mu-eot): What.
• 이에요 (-ieyo): A polite ending that means “is.”

When combined, the phrase asks, “What is [your] occupation?”

Examples:

1. 공업이 무엇이에요? – What is your occupation?
2. 아빠의 공업은 무엇이에요? – What is your father’s occupation?
3. 반가웠어요. 공업이 무엇이에요? – Nice to meet you. What is your occupation?

---

Alternative Ways to Ask About Occupations

Depending on formality and the context, there are several alternative ways to inquire about someone’s job in Korean.

Formal Version:

공업이 무엇입니까? (gong-eop-i mu-eot-ib-ni-kka?)

This is a formal way to ask about someone’s occupation, suitable for professional settings or when speaking to someone older or in a higher position.

Examples:

1. 공업이 무엇입니까? – What is your occupation? (formal)
2. 이름이 무엇입니까? – What is the name of your job? (formal)
3. 전공이 무엇입니까? – What is your specialization? (formal)

Informal Version:

공업이 무엇이어? (gong-eop-i mu-eot-ieo?)

This is a casual way to ask, often used with friends or peers of the same age.

Examples:

1. 공업이 무엇이어? – What’s your job? (informal)
2. 아이디가 무엇이어? – What is your role? (informal)
3. 남자 공업이 무엇이어? – What does the man do for work?

---

How to Respond to “What is Your Occupation?”

When responding to the question, you can use the structure:

저는 [공업을] 합니다. (jeo-neun [gong-eop-eul] hap-ni-da.)

Breaking It Down:

• 저는 (jeo-neun): I (humble).
• [공업을] ([gong-eop-eul]): The object marker and the word for “occupation.”
• 합니다 (-hap-ni-da): A formal verb ending, meaning “I do/am.”

Examples:

1. 저는 경영자입니다. – I am a manager.
2. 저는 교수입니다. – I am a professor.
3. 저는 학생입니다. – I am a student.
4. 저는 테트위스팀입니다. – I am part of a tech team.

---

Common Occupations in Korean

Here are some common job titles you might encounter:

Vocabulary List:

• 전자 공학자 (jeonja gong-hak-ja): Engineer
• 경영자 (gyeong-yeong-ja): Manager
• 강의자 (gang-ui-ja): Lecturer
• 교수 (gyo-su): Professor
• 교사 (gyo-sa): Teacher
• 학생 (hak-saeng): Student
• 아파트 (a-pa-teu): Architect
• 화가 (hwa-ga): Artist

Examples:

1. 저는 교사입니다. – I am a teacher.
2. 저는 학생입니다. – I am a student.
3. 저는 강의자입니다. – I am a lecturer.

---

Cultural Insights

In Korean culture, talking about occupations can sometimes be formal or polite, depending on the setting. Using honorifics or appropriate speech levels shows respect.

Tips:

1. Use formal speech when speaking to strangers or elders.
2. Be prepared to share your own occupation when you ask about others’.
3. Listen for key occupation-related terms in their response.

---

Practice Time

Let’s practice what you’ve learned! Try asking and answering questions about occupations in Korean:

1. Practice asking:
   • 공업이 무엇이에요?
   • 교사입니까?
2. Practice answering:
   • 저는 경영자입니다.
   • 저는 교수입니다.
3. Share your experience in the comments below. What is your occupation? Did you face any challenges in practicing? Let’s help each other improve!