Korean · Everyday Verbs
"to work" in Korean: 일하다
일하다ilhada
to work in Korean is 일하다 (ilhada). 일하다 means work; 일 is the work noun and 어디에서 marks the workplace.
to work: an everyday statement
병원에서 일해요.byeongwoneseo ilhaeyo.
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How to pronounce 일하다
Say it
ilhada
/ilhata/
Read 일하다 as ilhada. The spoken form 일해요 is ilhaeyo; preserve its final 요 when addressing someone politely.
"to work" in Korean: quick reference
| Korean | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| 일하다ilhada | to work Dictionary form. | Dictionary form. |
| 일해요ilhaeyo | to work (polite present) Use 일해요 in an everyday polite sentence. | Use 일해요 in an everyday polite sentence. |
| 일했어요ilhaesseoyo | to work (polite past) Use 일했어요 for a completed past action or state. | Use 일했어요 for a completed past action or state. |
How to use 일하다 in real life
- 1to work: an everyday statement
병원에서 일해요.
byeongwoneseo ilhaeyo.
I work at a hospital.
일해요 is the present form of 일하다.
- 2to work: a different situation
어제 늦게까지 일했어요.
eoje neutgekkaji ilhaesseoyo.
I worked until late yesterday.
일했어요 is the past form of 일하다.
- 3to work: a question or request
어디에서 일해요?
eodieseo ilhaeyo?
Where do you work?
일해요 is the present form of 일하다.
Mistakes English speakers make with 일하다
Incorrect: 일하다.
Correct: 일해요.
When practicing to work, 일하다 names the dictionary entry. In polite speech, change the ending to 일해요.
Incorrect: 어제 일해요.
Correct: 어제 일했어요.
When practicing to work, for a completed event yesterday, use 일했어요; the present form 일해요 does not express that past event.
Good to know
일하다 means work; 일 is the work noun and 어디에서 marks the workplace. 일해요 is the polite conversational form of 일하다; 일했어요 gives a past-tense form.
Read this practice conversation aloud
Tutor-led everyday verbs study exercise: two sentences with 일하다
Partner
이 표현을 사용해서 한 문장 말해 볼까요?
i pyohyeoneul sayonghaeseo han munjang malhae bolkkayo?
Shall we say a sentence using this expression?
You
병원에서 일해요.
byeongwoneseo ilhaeyo.
I work at a hospital.
Partner
좋아요. 다른 문장으로도 연습해 볼까요?
joayo. dareun munjangeurodo yeonseupae bolkkayo?
Good. Shall we practice with another sentence too?
You
어제 늦게까지 일했어요.
eoje neutgekkaji ilhaesseoyo.
I worked until late yesterday.
This is a sample dialogue for reading aloud. Try both parts, then replace a detail with one from your own life.
Explore ChatPal"to work" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "to work" in Korean
How do I use 일하다 in polite speech?
일해요 is the polite conversational form of 일하다; 일했어요 gives a past-tense form.
How do I use 일하다 in a past-tense sentence?
일했어요 is the polite past form. 일하다 means work; 일 is the work noun and 어디에서 marks the workplace.
What does 일해요 mean here?
일해요 is used for to work. For example, 병원에서 일해요. means “I work at a hospital.”
What should I remember about 일하다?
일하다 means work; 일 is the work noun and 어디에서 marks the workplace.
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