Korean · People & Family
"Guest" in Korean: 손님
손님sonnim
Guest in Korean is 손님 (sonnim). 손님 is the Korean noun for guest; use the role to identify someone; when speaking to that person, choose an appropriate title or name.
Introducing someone
저분은 손님이에요.jeobuneun sonnimieyo.
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How to pronounce 손님
Say it
sonnim
/sonnim/
손님 (sonnim) has 2 Hangul syllables. 손님 ends with a nasal m sound. Keep that ending when reading the noun alone.
"Guest" in Korean: quick reference
| Korean | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| 손님sonnim | Guest Basic dictionary noun. | Basic dictionary noun. |
| 손님과 상담sonnimgwa sangdam | consultation with a guest A useful combination with 손님. | A useful combination with 손님. |
| 손님을sonnimeul | Guest (as an object) Use 을 when 손님 is the object of an action. | Use 을 when 손님 is the object of an action. |
How to use 손님 in real life
- 1Introducing someone
저분은 손님이에요.
jeobuneun sonnimieyo.
That person is a guest.
손님이 marks 손님 as the subject.
- 2Finding someone
손님이 여기 있어요.
sonnimi yeogi isseoyo.
The guest is here.
손님이 marks 손님 as the subject.
- 3Asking to speak
손님과 이야기하고 싶어요.
sonnimgwa iyagihago sipeoyo.
I would like to talk with the guest.
손님 appears in a complete sentence for guest.
Mistakes English speakers make with 손님
Incorrect: 저분은 손님가에요.
Correct: 저분은 손님이에요.
When practicing guest, use the correct particle or copula after 손님; the final sound determines whether a linking consonant is needed.
Incorrect: 손님예요.
Correct: 손님이에요.
When practicing guest, when identifying something as 손님, use 손님이에요. The linking 이 follows a consonant-final noun.
Good to know
손님 is the Korean noun for guest; use the role to identify someone; when speaking to that person, choose an appropriate title or name. The combination 손님과 상담 (sonnimgwa sangdam) means consultation with a guest.
Read this practice conversation aloud
Tutor-led people and family study exercise: two sentences with 손님
Partner
이 표현을 사용해서 한 문장 말해 볼까요?
i pyohyeoneul sayonghaeseo han munjang malhae bolkkayo?
Shall we say a sentence using this expression?
You
저분은 손님이에요.
jeobuneun sonnimieyo.
That person is a guest.
Partner
좋아요. 다른 문장으로도 연습해 볼까요?
joayo. dareun munjangeurodo yeonseupae bolkkayo?
Good. Shall we practice with another sentence too?
You
손님이 여기 있어요.
sonnimi yeogi isseoyo.
The guest is here.
This is a sample dialogue for reading aloud. Try both parts, then replace a detail with one from your own life.
Explore ChatPal"Guest" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "Guest" in Korean
What does 손님 mean in Korean?
Guest in Korean is 손님 (sonnim). 손님 is the Korean noun for guest; use the role to identify someone; when speaking to that person, choose an appropriate title or name.
How do I use 손님과 상담?
손님과 상담 (sonnimgwa sangdam) means consultation with a guest. 손님 is the Korean noun for guest; use the role to identify someone; when speaking to that person, choose an appropriate title or name.
Which object particle goes after 손님?
The object form is 손님을 because 손님 ends in a consonant.
How is 손님 pronounced?
손님 (sonnim) has 2 Hangul syllables. 손님 ends with a nasal m sound. Keep that ending when reading the noun alone.
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