Korean · People & Family
"What do you do? (for work)" in Korean: 무슨 일을 하세요?
무슨 일을 하세요?museun ireul haseyo?
What do you do? (for work) in Korean is 무슨 일을 하세요? (museun ireul haseyo?). 무슨 일을 하세요? asks occupation in context; 지금 뭐 하세요? asks the current activity instead.
What do you do? (for work): starting the exchange
실례지만 무슨 일을 하세요?sillyejiman museun ireul haseyo?
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How to pronounce 무슨 일을 하세요?
Say it
museun ireul haseyo?
/musɯn iɾɯl hasejo/
무슨 일을 하세요? is read museun ireul haseyo?. In 직업이 뭐예요?, read the full phrase as jigeobi mwoyeyo?.
"What do you do? (for work)" in Korean: quick reference
| Korean | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| 무슨 일을 하세요?museun ireul haseyo? | What do you do? (for work) The inventory form for what do you do? (for work). | The inventory form for what do you do? (for work). |
| 직업이 뭐예요?jigeobi mwoyeyo? | what is your occupation? 무슨 일을 하세요? asks occupation in context; 지금 뭐 하세요? asks the current activity instead. | 무슨 일을 하세요? asks occupation in context; 지금 뭐 하세요? asks the current activity instead. |
How to use 무슨 일을 하세요? in real life
- 1What do you do? (for work): starting the exchange
실례지만 무슨 일을 하세요?
sillyejiman museun ireul haseyo?
Excuse me, what do you do for work?
무슨 일을 하세요? asks occupation in context; 지금 뭐 하세요? asks the current activity instead.
- 2What do you do? (for work): adding useful context
한국에서 무슨 일을 하세요?
hangugeseo museun ireul haseyo?
What work do you do in Korea?
This sentence places 무슨 일을 하세요? in a complete exchange.
- 3What do you do? (for work): a different conversation
회사에서 무슨 일을 하세요?
hoesaeseo museun ireul haseyo?
What work do you do at the company?
This sentence places 무슨 일을 하세요? in a complete exchange.
Mistakes English speakers make with 무슨 일을 하세요?
Incorrect: 실례지만 무슨 일을 해세요?
Correct: 실례지만 무슨 일을 하세요?
When practicing what do you do? (for work), attach the honorific ending to 하, not the contracted present form 해. The complete correction is 실례지만 무슨 일을 하세요?
Incorrect: 한국에서 무슨 일을 해세요?
Correct: 한국에서 무슨 일을 하세요?
When practicing what do you do? (for work), attach the honorific ending to 하, not the contracted present form 해. The complete correction is 한국에서 무슨 일을 하세요?
Good to know
무슨 일을 하세요? asks occupation in context; 지금 뭐 하세요? asks the current activity instead.
Read this practice conversation aloud
Tutor-led people and family study exercise: two sentences with 무슨 일을 하세요?
Partner
이 표현을 사용해서 한 문장 말해 볼까요?
i pyohyeoneul sayonghaeseo han munjang malhae bolkkayo?
Shall we say a sentence using this expression?
You
실례지만 무슨 일을 하세요?
sillyejiman museun ireul haseyo?
Excuse me, what do you do for work?
Partner
좋아요. 다른 문장으로도 연습해 볼까요?
joayo. dareun munjangeurodo yeonseupae bolkkayo?
Good. Shall we practice with another sentence too?
You
한국에서 무슨 일을 하세요?
hangugeseo museun ireul haseyo?
What work do you do in Korea?
This is a sample dialogue for reading aloud. Try both parts, then replace a detail with one from your own life.
Explore ChatPal"What do you do? (for work)" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "What do you do? (for work)" in Korean
What does 무슨 일을 하세요? mean?
What do you do? (for work) in Korean is 무슨 일을 하세요? (museun ireul haseyo?). 무슨 일을 하세요? asks occupation in context; 지금 뭐 하세요? asks the current activity instead.
When should I say 직업이 뭐예요??
무슨 일을 하세요? asks occupation in context; 지금 뭐 하세요? asks the current activity instead.
How does 직업이 뭐예요? differ from the basic expression?
직업이 뭐예요? means “what is your occupation?”. 무슨 일을 하세요? asks occupation in context; 지금 뭐 하세요? asks the current activity instead.
Can I use 무슨 일을 하세요? in a full sentence?
실례지만 무슨 일을 하세요? means “Excuse me, what do you do for work?” 무슨 일을 하세요? asks occupation in context; 지금 뭐 하세요? asks the current activity instead.
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