LEARN + KOREAN / Note 44 TOPIK I

What Do You Do (-가 되다)

이/가 되다 states an identity you’re aiming for. 로 일하다 uses the same “as/by means of” particle from -로 가요’s transport lessons, but here it names a role you’d work in rather than a mode of transport.

저는 운동선수가 되고 싶어요.

jeoneun undongseonsuga doego sipeoyo.

I want to become an athlete.

저는 운동선수로 일하고 싶어요.

jeoneun undongseonsuro ilhago sipeoyo.

I want to work as an athlete.

In Real Life

가 되고 싶어요 focuses on the identity, becoming that thing. 로 일하고 싶어요 focuses on the work itself, day to day, whether or not it defines who you are. A trainee dreaming of stardom says 가수가 되고 싶어요; a session musician who just wants the gig says 가수로 일하고 싶어요.

저는 예술가가 되고 싶어요.

jeoneun yesulgaga doego sipeoyo.

I want to become an artist.

저는 프로그램 만드는 일을 해요.

jeoneun peurogeuraem mandeuneun ireul haeyo.

I do the job of making programs.

In Real Life

는 일을 해요, built on -는’s noun-modifier, is the roundabout way to describe a job that doesn’t have one tidy title. Instead of naming the role, you describe what the work actually involves.

저는 한국어를 가르쳐요. 교사예요.

jeoneun hangugeoreul gareuchyeoyo. gyosayeyo.

I teach Korean. I'm a teacher.

저는 빵을 구워요. 제빵사예요.

jeoneun ppangeul guwoyo. jeppangsayeyo.

I bake bread. I'm a baker.

저는 미용실에서 일해요. 헤어 디자이너예요.

jeoneun miyongsireseo ilhaeyo. heeo dijaineoyeyo.

I work at a hair salon. I'm a hair designer.

Vocabulary

Korean	English
교사 gyosa	teacher
군인 gunin	soldier
연구원 yeonguwon	researcher
프로그래머 peurogeuraemeo	programmer
화가 hwaga	painter
작가 jakga	writer
공무원 gongmuwon	government worker
예술가 yesulga	artist
운동선수 undongseonsu	athlete
변호사 byeonhosa	lawyer
회계사 hoegyesa	accountant
디자이너 dijaineo	designer
은퇴하다 euntoehada	to retire
알바 alba	part-time job (casual contraction of 아르바이트)
프리랜서 peurillaenseo	freelancer
이직하다 ijikhada	to change jobs
퇴사하다 toesahada	to quit one's job, to leave the company
창업하다 changeophada	to start a business
경력 gyeongnyeok	career, experience
자영업 jayeongeop	self-employment