Explanation at your level:
숙제 means homework. You do it at home after school. If your teacher gives you a paper, that is your 숙제. It is very easy to use!
When you are a student, you have 숙제 every day. You can say 'I am doing my 숙제' (숙제하는 중이에요). It is a very important word for school life.
In Korea, students often complain about having too much 숙제. It is a common topic of conversation. You can also use it to talk about tasks you need to finish at work, though '과제' is sometimes used for professional projects.
While 숙제 is standard, you might hear people use it metaphorically. If a company has a difficult problem to solve, they might call it their 'homework'. It implies a task that requires effort and time to resolve effectively.
The term 숙제 carries a cultural weight in Korea, where academic pressure is high. It represents not just school tasks, but the ongoing process of self-improvement and societal expectations. Advanced learners should note the distinction between 숙제 (school homework) and 과제 (a broader term for assignments, projects, or tasks).
Etymologically, 숙제 reflects the historical shift toward structured education. Its usage in literature often highlights the burden of responsibility. Mastery involves understanding when to use it literally versus when to use it as a metaphor for unresolved personal or professional dilemmas.
Wort in 30 Sekunden
- 숙제 means homework.
- It is used in school contexts.
- Commonly paired with '하다'.
- Can be used metaphorically.
The Korean word 숙제 (suk-je) is the standard term for 'homework'. It is composed of two Hanja characters: 숙 (宿), meaning 'staying' or 'lodging', and 제 (題), meaning 'topic' or 'problem'.
Essentially, it describes the 'tasks you take home to solve'. It is a very common word used by students, parents, and teachers daily in Korea. Whether you are a primary school student or a university attendee, you will hear this word constantly.
The word 숙제 originates from Classical Chinese roots, which is common for many formal Korean nouns. The concept of 'homework' as an institutionalized practice evolved alongside the modern education system in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Before the modern school system, students studied under private tutors or in village schools (Seodang), where the boundary between 'schoolwork' and 'home life' was quite different. As the modern school system adopted the Western model of assigning work to be completed independently, the term 숙제 became the standard label for these assignments.
You will most often hear 숙제 paired with verbs like 하다 (to do) or 내주다 (to assign). For example, '숙제를 하다' (to do homework) is the most frequent usage.
It is used in both casual and formal settings. While it is a standard noun, it carries a slightly 'task-oriented' weight. In a business context, people sometimes use it metaphorically to describe a difficult project or a problem that needs to be solved, similar to saying 'we have our work cut out for us'.
While 숙제 is a literal noun, it appears in several idiomatic contexts:
- 숙제를 내다: To assign homework.
- 숙제를 끝내다: To finish homework.
- 숙제가 산더미다: To have a mountain of homework (to be overwhelmed).
- 인생의 숙제: Life's homework (metaphor for a major life challenge).
- 숙제를 미루다: To procrastinate on one's work.
In Korean, 숙제 functions as a standard noun. It does not have plural markers like English, as the context usually implies whether you have one assignment or many.
Pronunciation is straightforward: suk-je. The 's' is a soft 's' sound, and the 'j' is similar to the English 'j' in 'jam'. It is a two-syllable word with even stress on both parts.
Fun Fact
The '숙' character is the same one used in '기숙사' (dormitory).
Pronunciation Guide
Sounds like 'sook-jeh'
Sounds like 'sook-jeh'
Common Errors
- Mispronouncing 'u' as 'oo' too long
- Hard 'g' sound instead of 'j'
- Wrong pitch
Rhymes With
Difficulty Rating
Very easy
Very easy
Very easy
Very easy
What to Learn Next
Prerequisites
Learn Next
Fortgeschritten
Grammar to Know
Noun + 하다
숙제하다
Subject Markers
숙제가
Object Markers
숙제를
Examples by Level
숙제가 있어요.
Homework exists.
Simple sentence.
숙제를 해요.
I do homework.
Verb usage.
숙제가 많아요.
There is a lot of homework.
Adjective usage.
숙제 다 했어요?
Did you finish homework?
Question.
오늘 숙제는 쉬워요.
Today's homework is easy.
Subject marker.
숙제 좀 도와주세요.
Please help with homework.
Request.
숙제를 잊었어요.
I forgot the homework.
Past tense.
숙제 끝!
Homework finished!
Exclamation.
숙제를 언제까지 해야 해요?
선생님이 숙제를 많이 내주셨어요.
숙제 때문에 놀러 못 가요.
숙제를 가방에 넣었어요.
어제 숙제를 다 못 했어요.
숙제 검사를 해요.
숙제는 내일 제출해요.
숙제하는 것을 좋아해요.
이번 주말에는 숙제가 산더미처럼 쌓여 있어요.
숙제를 미루지 말고 미리 하세요.
우리 아이는 숙제를 혼자서 잘해요.
선생님은 학생들에게 숙제를 내주셨습니다.
숙제와 공부를 병행하는 것은 어렵습니다.
숙제 때문에 스트레스를 받아요.
숙제를 다 끝내고 게임을 할 거예요.
숙제 내용을 확인해 보세요.
그 문제는 우리 팀이 풀어야 할 숙제입니다.
숙제를 해결하는 과정에서 많은 것을 배웠어요.
정부의 숙제는 경제를 살리는 것입니다.
숙제를 완벽하게 수행하는 것이 중요해요.
그는 숙제를 끝내고 나서야 잠을 잤습니다.
숙제를 제출하지 않으면 감점이 됩니다.
우리에게 남겨진 숙제가 참 많네요.
숙제는 학생의 본분입니다.
이번 프로젝트는 우리 부서가 해결해야 할 거대한 숙제와 같습니다.
숙제를 해결하듯 차근차근 문제를 풀어봅시다.
사회적 갈등 해결은 우리 시대의 숙제입니다.
그는 자신의 인생 숙제를 마침내 해결했습니다.
숙제를 수행하는 태도에서 성실함이 보입니다.
정치적 과제는 여전히 우리에게 숙제로 남아있습니다.
숙제를 등한시하는 것은 학업에 해롭습니다.
우리는 각자의 숙제를 안고 살아갑니다.
민주주의의 정착은 우리 세대가 풀어야 할 숙제입니다.
그는 평생을 학문적 숙제를 해결하는 데 바쳤습니다.
숙제를 방기하는 것은 책임감의 부재를 의미합니다.
그의 예술 세계는 인간 존재의 근원적 숙제를 탐구합니다.
숙제는 단순히 과업이 아니라 성장의 디딤돌입니다.
그 난제는 우리 조직이 해결해야 할 숙제입니다.
숙제를 완수하는 과정은 고통스럽지만 가치가 있습니다.
우리는 숙제를 마주할 용기가 필요합니다.
Häufige Kollokationen
Idioms & Expressions
"숙제가 산더미다"
To have a huge amount of homework.
시험 기간이라 숙제가 산더미야.
casual"숙제를 내주다"
To assign work.
선생님이 숙제를 내주셨다.
neutral"숙제 검사를 하다"
To check homework.
선생님이 숙제 검사를 하신다.
neutral"인생의 숙제"
A life challenge.
결혼은 인생의 숙제 같아.
literary"숙제를 미루다"
To procrastinate.
숙제를 미루면 안 돼.
neutral"숙제를 마치다"
To complete homework.
숙제를 마치고 쉬자.
neutralEasily Confused
Both mean tasks.
과제 is more formal/project-based.
숙제 is for school, 과제 is for projects.
Both involve learning.
공부 is the act of studying.
숙제 is the specific task.
Both are tasks.
업무 is for work.
업무는 회사에서 합니다.
General word for work.
일 is very broad.
할 일이 많아요.
Sentence Patterns
Subject + 숙제를 + 하다
나는 숙제를 한다.
Subject + 숙제가 + 많다
숙제가 많다.
Subject + 숙제를 + 끝내다
숙제를 끝냈다.
Subject + 숙제를 + 미루다
숙제를 미루지 마라.
Subject + 숙제를 + 내주다
선생님이 숙제를 내주셨다.
Wortfamilie
Nouns
Verbs
Verwandt
How to Use It
10
Formality Scale
Häufige Fehler
'과제' is for formal projects.
You do homework, you don't eat it.
Different meanings.
Homework is for school.
Incorrect spelling.
Tips
Memory Palace
Visualize your desk at home.
Native Usage
Use it daily.
Cultural Insight
It's a big part of Korean life.
Grammar Shortcut
Always add 하다.
Say It Right
Keep it short.
Don't Make This Mistake
Don't use it for work.
Did You Know?
It comes from Hanja.
Study Smart
Use flashcards.
Context
School context only.
Clear Speech
Practice the 'j' sound.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Think of 'Sook' (stay) and 'Je' (topic). Staying home with a topic.
Visual Association
A student at a desk with a lamp.
Word Web
Herausforderung
Write down your to-do list as '숙제'.
Wortherkunft
Sino-Korean (Hanja)
Original meaning: Tasks taken home
Kultureller Kontext
None.
Homework is a standard part of school life globally.
Practice in Real Life
Real-World Contexts
at school
- 숙제 냈니?
- 숙제 검사 해요.
- 숙제 다 했어요?
at home
- 숙제하고 놀아라.
- 숙제 다 했어?
- 숙제 도와줄까?
with friends
- 숙제 다 했어?
- 숙제 같이 할래?
- 숙제 너무 많아.
with teachers
- 숙제 제출합니다.
- 숙제 늦어서 죄송해요.
- 숙제 질문 있어요.
Conversation Starters
"오늘 숙제 많아요?"
"숙제 다 끝냈어요?"
"어떤 숙제가 제일 어려워요?"
"숙제 도와줄까요?"
"숙제하기 싫어요."
Journal Prompts
오늘 받은 숙제에 대해 쓰세요.
숙제를 잘하는 방법은 무엇일까요?
가장 기억에 남는 숙제는 무엇인가요?
숙제가 없으면 어떨까요?
Häufig gestellte Fragen
8 FragenMostly, but adults use it metaphorically.
Better to use 과제 or 업무.
Korean doesn't use plural markers for this.
It is a noun; use '하다' to make it a verb.
숙제.
It is standard neutral.
Yes, it means 'I did homework'.
숙제가 싫어요!
Teste dich selbst
나는 오늘 ___를 합니다.
Homework is the task.
숙제의 뜻은?
Homework is schoolwork.
숙제는 회사에서 하는 일이다.
Usually for school.
Word
Bedeutung
Matching terms.
Subject-Object-Verb order.
Ergebnis: /5
Summary
숙제 is the essential word for any school-related task you take home.
- 숙제 means homework.
- It is used in school contexts.
- Commonly paired with '하다'.
- Can be used metaphorically.
Memory Palace
Visualize your desk at home.
Native Usage
Use it daily.
Cultural Insight
It's a big part of Korean life.
Grammar Shortcut
Always add 하다.
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