Korean · People & Family
"Teacher" in Korean: 선생님
선생님seonsaengnim
Teacher in Korean is 선생님 (seonsaengnim). 선생님 is the Korean noun for teacher; use the role to identify someone; when speaking to that person, choose an appropriate title or name.
Introducing someone
저분은 선생님이에요.jeobuneun seonsaengnimieyo.
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How to pronounce 선생님
Say it
seonsaengnim
/sʌnsɛŋnim/
선생님 (seonsaengnim) has 3 Hangul syllables. 선생님 ends with a nasal m sound. Keep that ending when reading the noun alone.
"Teacher" in Korean: quick reference
| Korean | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| 선생님seonsaengnim | Teacher Basic dictionary noun. | Basic dictionary noun. |
| 선생님과 상담seonsaengnimgwa sangdam | consultation with a teacher A useful combination with 선생님. | A useful combination with 선생님. |
| 선생님을seonsaengnimeul | Teacher (as an object) Use 을 when 선생님 is the object of an action. | Use 을 when 선생님 is the object of an action. |
How to use 선생님 in real life
- 1Introducing someone
저분은 선생님이에요.
jeobuneun seonsaengnimieyo.
That person is a teacher.
선생님이 marks 선생님 as the subject.
- 2Finding someone
선생님이 여기 있어요.
seonsaengnimi yeogi isseoyo.
The teacher is here.
선생님이 marks 선생님 as the subject.
- 3Asking to speak
선생님과 이야기하고 싶어요.
seonsaengnimgwa iyagihago sipeoyo.
I would like to talk with the teacher.
선생님 appears in a complete sentence for teacher.
Mistakes English speakers make with 선생님
Incorrect: 저분은 선생님가에요.
Correct: 저분은 선생님이에요.
When practicing teacher, use the correct particle or copula after 선생님; the final sound determines whether a linking consonant is needed.
Incorrect: 선생님예요.
Correct: 선생님이에요.
When practicing teacher, when identifying something as 선생님, use 선생님이에요. The linking 이 follows a consonant-final noun.
Good to know
선생님 is the Korean noun for teacher; use the role to identify someone; when speaking to that person, choose an appropriate title or name. The combination 선생님과 상담 (seonsaengnimgwa sangdam) means consultation with a teacher.
Read this practice conversation aloud
Tutor-led people and family study exercise: two sentences with 선생님
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 선생님이에요.
jeobuneun seonsaengnimieyo.
That person is a teacher.
Partner
좋아요. 다른 문장으로도 연습해 볼까요?
joayo. dareun munjangeurodo yeonseupae bolkkayo?
Good. Shall we practice with another sentence too?
You
선생님이 여기 있어요.
seonsaengnimi yeogi isseoyo.
The teacher 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"Teacher" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "Teacher" in Korean
What does 선생님 mean in Korean?
Teacher in Korean is 선생님 (seonsaengnim). 선생님 is the Korean noun for teacher; use the role to identify someone; when speaking to that person, choose an appropriate title or name.
How do I use 선생님과 상담?
선생님과 상담 (seonsaengnimgwa sangdam) means consultation with a teacher. 선생님 is the Korean noun for teacher; use the role to identify someone; when speaking to that person, choose an appropriate title or name.
Which object particle goes after 선생님?
The object form is 선생님을 because 선생님 ends in a consonant.
How is 선생님 pronounced?
선생님 (seonsaengnim) has 3 Hangul syllables. 선생님 ends with a nasal m sound. Keep that ending when reading the noun alone.
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