Introduction
Hello! This is [Daily Korean], here to upgrade your Korean skills! 👋
Today, we are going to learn how to ask about someone’s profession. Have you been watching recent K-Dramas? 📺 Whether it’s a cool doctor, a busy office worker, or a famous YouTuber, knowing someone’s job is essential for understanding them!
Especially these days in Korea, the “N-jobber” (N-잡러) trend is huge—meaning people often have more than one job! So, asking “What do you do?” has become an even more exciting conversation starter. Let’s learn how to ask about “her” job and understand basic possession and identification!
Key Expressions
Here are 3 essential expressions to talk about jobs and identity.
1. 그녀는 누구예요?
- Pronunciation: [Geunyeoneun nuguyeyo?]
- English Meaning: Who is she?
- Explanation: This is the standard way to ask “Who is she?” using the pronoun ‘그녀’ (she).
- Note: While textbooks teach ‘그녀’ as ‘she’, in real spoken Korean, people often use the person’s name or “저분” (that person) because ‘그녀’ sounds a bit literary or dramatic.
- 💡 Pronunciation Tip:
- Linking Sound (Liaison): When you say 누구예요 (nuguyeyo), emphasize the ‘yeyo’ smoothly. It flows like a wave!
2. 직업이 뭐예요?
- Pronunciation: [Jigeobi mwoyeyo?]
- English Meaning: What is her job? (Lit. What is the job?)
- Explanation: You don’t always need to say “Her” (그녀의) in Korean if the context is clear. ‘직업’ means ‘job’ or ‘occupation’.
- 💡 Pronunciation Tip:
- Liaison Rule: Look at 직업이. The bottom consonant ‘ㅂ’ (b) in the first block moves over to the empty circle ‘ㅇ’ in the next block.
- So, instead of [jik-eop-i], it sounds like [ji-geo-bi]. Say it softly: “Ji-geo-bi mwo-ye-yo?”
3. 그녀는 의사예요.
- Pronunciation: [Geunyeoneun uisayeyo.]
- English Meaning: She is a doctor.
- Explanation: You can replace ‘의사’ (doctor) with any job title.
- Grammar: Noun + 예요/이에요 (is/am/are).
- Use 예요 if the word ends in a vowel (like 의사).
- Use 이에요 if the word ends in a consonant (like 회사원 – office worker).
- 💡 Pronunciation Tip:
- The tricky ‘의’: The vowel ‘의’ (ui) can be hard! It is a combination of ‘eu’ + ‘i’. Pull your lips back flat for ‘eu’ and slide into ‘i’. In this specific word, pronounce it clearly as [ui-sa].
Example Conversation
Let’s see how this works in real life! Minji and Jason are looking at Instagram on a smartphone. 📱
Minji: 이 사진 봐요. 그녀는 누구예요?
(Look at this photo. Who is she?)
Jason: 제 친구 수진이에요.
(She is my friend, Sujin.)
Minji: 와, 멋있어요! 직업이 뭐예요?
(Wow, she looks cool! What is her job?)
Jason: 그녀는 의사예요. 그리고 유튜버예요!
(She is a doctor. And she is a YouTuber!)
Culture Tip & Trend Analysis 🇰🇷
🧐 “Is she an ‘Inssa’ (Insider)?”
In our dialogue, Jason’s friend is both a doctor and a YouTuber. This reflects a massive trend in Korea right now!
* N-Jobbers: Many young Koreans are not satisfied with just one career. They are office workers by day and influencers, writers, or cafe owners by night.
* Asking about jobs: When you ask “직업이 뭐예요?”, don’t be surprised if the answer is long!
* Real-life Tip: As mentioned earlier, using “그녀” (She) can sound like you are reading a book. To sound more like a native, point to the person (or photo) and say “이분” (this person) or “저분” (that person) instead of “그녀”.
* Example: 이분 직업이 뭐예요? (What is this person’s job?)
Wrap-up & Quiz
Great job today! You learned how to ask “Who is she?” and “What is her job?” remembering the smooth linking sounds.
📝 Mini Quiz:
Fill in the blank to complete the sentence!
“She is a singer.”
= 그녀는 ______예요.
(Hint: Singer = 가수 [gasu])
- 가수이
- 가수
Leave your answer in the comments below! 👇 Let me know what your job is in Korean, too! (Ex: 저는 학생이에요 / I am a student).
See you in the next lesson! Annyeong! 👋
