TOPIK II Core Vocabulary · Work & the Office ①

At the office — 기업, 출근하다, 회의, 업무, 동료

These are workplace words, and they start a new category. Several of them are the written forms of beginner words you already know.

01기업gieop

company, enterprise · an organization that is set up to make a profit.

Note 기업 is the formal word. You see it in writing, news reports, and business or policy texts. 회사 is the word people say in conversation.

Examples 대기업 (a large corporation) · 중소기업 (a small or mid-sized firm) · 기업이 성장하다 (a company grows)

저는 작은 회사에 다녀요. I work at a small company.  |  In conversation it's 회사, not 기업

최근 많은 기업들이 재택근무를 도입하고 있다. Many companies have been introducing remote work lately.  |  재택근무 = working from home · 도입하다 = to introduce

02출근하다chulgeunhada

to go to work · to travel from home to your workplace. The opposite is 퇴근하다.

Note 출근하다 means going in to work. 퇴근하다 means leaving at the end of the day.

Examples 회사에 출근하다 (to go in to work) · 출근 시간 (the time you start work) · 출근길 (the commute to work)

매일 여덟 시에 출근해요. I go to work at eight every day.  |  Clock times take 에.

출근 시간대의 혼잡을 줄이려는 시도가 이어지고 있다. Attempts to ease congestion during the morning commute continue.  |  시간대 = time slot · 혼잡 = congestion

03회의hoeui

meeting · a time when people come together to talk about something.

Note 회의를 하다 means "to have a meeting." 회의에 들어가다 means "to go into a meeting." 회의 중 means "in a meeting."

Examples 회의를 하다 (to have a meeting) · 회의에 들어가다 (to go into one) · 회의실 (a meeting room)

지금 회의 중이라 나중에 연락드릴게요. I'm in a meeting, so I'll get back to you.  |  연락드리다 is a modest form that lowers yourself. You use it when you will contact someone you should show respect to

불필요한 회의를 줄이자는 목소리가 커지고 있다. More people are calling for fewer unnecessary meetings.  |  Here, 목소리 means an opinion or demand

04업무eommu🔊 [엄무]

work, duties · the tasks that make up your job.

Pronunciation [엄무]. The final consonant (patchim) ㅂ becomes ㅁ before ㅁ.

Note 일 can mean work in general. 업무 means the duties you are given at a job. People use 일 in speech. 업무 is common in emails, contracts, and announcements.

Examples 업무를 맡다 (to take on duties) · 업무가 많다 (to have a heavy workload) · 업무 시간 (working hours)

이번 주는 업무가 좀 많아요. My workload is a bit heavy this week.  |  In everyday conversation, you'd more often say 일이 많아요.

업무의 효율을 높이려면 우선순위를 정해야 한다. Improving efficiency at work starts with setting priorities.  |  효율 = efficiency · 우선순위 = priority order

05동료dongnyo🔊 [동뇨]

colleague · a person who works together with you.

Pronunciation [동뇨]. When ㄹ follows the final consonant ㅇ, it is said as ㄴ. You also see this in 정류장.

Examples 회사 동료 (a work colleague) · 동료와 함께 (together with colleagues) · 동료에게 묻다 (to ask a colleague)

회사 동료들과 점심을 먹었어요. I had lunch with colleagues from work.  |  -들 marks the plural

동료와의 신뢰가 업무 성과에 큰 영향을 미친다. Trust between colleagues has a real effect on results.  |  신뢰 = trust · 영향을 미치다 = to have an effect

Quick check3 questions

Fill in each blank in Korean. Every answer appears above.

1. 최근 많은 __________들이 재택근무를 도입하고 있다. (many ______)
2. __________의 효율을 높이려면 우선순위를 정해야 한다. (efficiency at ______)
3. __________와의 신뢰가 업무 성과에 큰 영향을 미친다. (trust between ______)

Show answers

1. 기업   2. 업무   3. 동료

Study tip Spoken and written Korean often use different words for the same idea: 회사 / 기업 and 일 / 업무. Learn both forms. Then you can recognize them in conversation and in formal writing.