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Vocabulary
수금하다

A2 verb 8 min read

수금하다

sugeumhada

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips 수금하다 in 30 Seconds

Explanation 수금하다 in your Level:

At the A1 level, you don't need to use '수금하다' often, but it's good to recognize it as a word for 'getting money'. Think of it as a special way to say 'money + receive'. If you see it in a book, just remember it involves a person taking money that someone else owes them for a service like delivering milk or newspapers. You can stick to '돈을 받아요' (I receive money) for now, but knowing that '수금' is a more 'business-like' version will help you later. It is a combination of 'Su' (receive) and 'Geum' (money).

At the A2 level, you should understand that '수금하다' is used in specific work-related situations. For example, if you have a part-time job or are reading about people's daily lives, you might see this word used for collecting monthly bills. It's important to differentiate it from '송금하다' (sending money). At this level, you can use it in simple sentences like '돈을 수금해요' (I collect the money) or '수금하러 가요' (I am going to collect the money). It helps you describe professional tasks more accurately than just using '받다'.

At the B1 level, you should be comfortable using '수금하다' in business or formal contexts. You should know that it's a transitive verb requiring an object like '대금' (payment) or '외상값' (credit payment). You will likely encounter this word in news articles about the economy or in office dramas. You should also be aware of the noun form '수금' and the compound '수금원' (collector). At this stage, you should be able to explain the difference between collecting money from a friend (받다) and collecting money from a business client (수금하다).

At the B2 level, you should understand the financial implications of '수금'. It's not just the physical act but also an accounting term. You'll use it to discuss '수금 실적' (collection performance) or '미수금 수금' (collecting outstanding receivables). You should be able to use the passive form '수금되다' effectively to describe business results. Furthermore, you should distinguish '수금하다' from more technical terms like '징수하다' (to levy/collect taxes) or '회수하다' (to recover/withdraw funds). Your usage should reflect an understanding of corporate cash flow.

At the C1 level, you should grasp the nuances of '수금하다' in legal and high-level corporate environments. This includes understanding the risks of '수금 지연' (collection delays) and how it affects a company's '유동성' (liquidity). You should be able to use the word in complex sentence structures, such as '채권 수금을 위한 법적 절차를 밟다' (to take legal steps for debt collection). You should also recognize the word in literature or historical contexts, such as the social status of '수금원' in the mid-20th century. Your vocabulary should include related idioms and professional collocations.

At the C2 level, you possess a native-like grasp of '수금하다', including its use in metaphorical or highly specialized financial contexts. You can discuss the systemic efficiency of automated '수금 시스템' versus traditional methods. You understand the subtle social connotations of the word—how it can sound cold, authoritative, or even threatening depending on the tone and context. You can use the word fluently in academic discussions about economic history, accounting principles, or business law, and you are aware of how the word's usage has evolved with the rise of digital banking and fintech.

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips

수금하다 in 30 Seconds

수금하다 means to collect money that is owed to you, typically in a business or professional context such as bills or sales.
It comes from Hanja: 收 (collect) and 金 (money), focusing on the act of gathering payments from debtors or customers.
Avoid using it with friends for small personal favors; it is formal and best suited for accounting or commercial transactions.
Commonly confused with '송금하다' (to send money) and '입금하다' (to deposit), so focus on the direction of the cash flow.

The Korean verb 수금하다 (su-geum-ha-da) is a specialized term for the act of collecting money that is owed to you or your business. While the general verb '받다' (to receive) can be used for any situation where you get money, 수금하다 specifically implies a professional or structured context where a debt, a payment for services, or a bill is being gathered. It is composed of two Hanja characters: 收 (수) meaning 'to receive or collect' and 金 (금) meaning 'gold or money'. Together, they literally translate to 'money collection'.

Business Context: This word is most frequently heard in the world of commerce. If a wholesaler delivers goods to a retail store and returns a week later to get paid, they are there to 수금하다. It is not just about getting money; it is about closing a transaction loop where a service or product was previously provided on credit.

거래처에 가서 밀린 대금을 수금해야 합니다. (I need to go to the client's office and collect the overdue payment.)

Historical Nuance: In the past, '수금원' (collection agents) were common figures who walked from house to house to collect monthly fees for newspapers, milk deliveries, or utility bills. While digital transfers have replaced much of this, the term remains vital in B2B transactions and accounting departments.

신문 배달원이 매달 말에 수금하러 왔어요. (The newspaper delivery person came to collect the monthly fee at the end of every month.)

Financial Management: In an office setting, '수금' refers to the cash flow coming into the company from sales. Accountants track the '수금 현황' (collection status) to ensure the company has enough liquidity. If a company fails to 수금하다 effectively, they might face financial difficulties despite high sales numbers.

이번 달 수금 실적이 아주 좋습니다. (The collection performance for this month is very good.)

미수금을 수금하는 것이 영업팀의 주된 업무입니다. (Collecting unpaid accounts is the primary task of the sales team.)

그는 매일 시장을 돌며 일수 돈을 수금한다. (He goes around the market every day to collect daily loan payments.)

Using 수금하다 correctly requires understanding its role as a transitive verb. It always takes an object—the money or the fee being collected. Common objects include '돈' (money), '대금' (payment/price), '비용' (cost/fee), or '외상값' (money for items bought on credit). In Korean grammar, these objects are marked with the particles 을/를.

Formal Conjugation: In professional reports or meetings, you will see '수금합니다' (present) or '수금했습니다' (past). For example: '관리비 수금을 완료했습니다' (I have completed the collection of management fees). This sounds authoritative and professional.

직원이 직접 방문하여 대금을 수금합니다. (The staff member visits in person to collect the payment.)

Polite Informal Usage: In daily office conversations, '수금해요' is used. '아직 수금 안 했어요?' (Haven't you collected the money yet?) is a common question between colleagues. It maintains a polite distance while discussing work tasks.

오늘 오후에 거래처에서 돈을 수금해야 해요. (I have to collect money from the client this afternoon.)

Passive vs. Active: While '수금하다' is active, '수금되다' is the passive form meaning 'to be collected'. You might say '돈이 아직 수금되지 않았습니다' (The money has not been collected yet). This is useful when the focus is on the status of the funds rather than the person doing the collecting.

이번 달 월세가 모두 수금되었습니다. (All of this month's rent has been collected.)

현금으로 수금할 때는 영수증을 꼭 챙기세요. (When collecting in cash, make sure to take a receipt.)

회사는 연말까지 모든 채권을 수금하기로 결정했다. (The company decided to collect all receivables by the end of the year.)

In modern Korea, you are most likely to encounter 수금하다 in professional environments, specific service sectors, and media depicting business struggles. Understanding the context helps you grasp the weight of the word, as it often implies a sense of responsibility or even pressure to recover funds.

The Office & Accounting: In any Korean company, the '영업부' (Sales Department) or '경리부' (Accounting Department) uses this word daily. Sales aren't considered complete until the money is '수금'. You'll hear managers asking, '그 업체 수금은 어떻게 됐어?' (What happened with the collection from that company?). It is a key KPI (Key Performance Indicator) for many employees.

김 대리, 지난번 납품한 물건값 수금 확인해 봐요. (Mr. Kim, check the collection for the goods delivered last time.)

Traditional Markets and Small Businesses: In traditional markets (재래시장), small business owners often deal with '일수' (daily installments). A collector walks around every day to 수금하다 small amounts of money from the vendors. This is a very localized and physical form of financial collection that still exists in many parts of Korea.

시장 상인들은 매일 오후 수금하러 오는 사람을 기다린다. (Market merchants wait for the person who comes to collect money every afternoon.)

Real Estate and Property Management: If you live in an apartment complex (아파트) or a studio (원룸), the landlord or the management office will '수금' the management fees (관리비). While this is mostly automated now, notices will still use the term '수금 기간' (collection period) to indicate when payments are due.

관리 사무소에서 이번 달 관리비를 수금하고 있습니다. (The management office is collecting this month's maintenance fees.)

그는 수금한 돈을 가방에 넣고 서둘러 떠났다. (He put the collected money in his bag and left in a hurry.)

인터넷 쇼핑몰은 자동 결제 시스템 덕분에 수금 걱정이 줄었다. (Online malls have less worry about collection thanks to automatic payment systems.)

Even intermediate learners often trip up on 수금하다 because it sounds similar to other financial terms. The most frequent error is confusing the direction of the money flow or using it in social situations where it feels inappropriately cold or clinical.

Mistake 1: 수금 vs. 송금: This is the 'classic' mistake. 송금 (Song-geum) means 'sending' money (remittance), while 수금 (Su-geum) means 'collecting' it. If you tell a boss '제가 돈을 수금했어요' when you actually sent money to a vendor, you are saying the exact opposite of what happened. Remember: 수 (收) is 'receive', 송 (送) is 'send'.

❌ 은행에 가서 친구에게 돈을 수금했어요. (Wrong: I collected money to my friend at the bank.)
✅ 은행에 가서 친구에게 돈을 송금했어요. (Correct: I sent money to my friend at the bank.)

Mistake 2: Overly Formal Usage: As mentioned before, 수금하다 is a business term. Using it with friends or family can make you sound like a debt collector or a cold accountant. If a friend owes you for a coffee, don't say '돈 수금하러 왔어'. It sounds like you're about to break their legs! Use '돈 받으러 왔어' (I came to get the money) or '돈 줘' (Give me the money) instead.

❌ 엄마, 용돈 수금할게요. (Awkward: Mom, I will collect my allowance.)
✅ 엄마, 용돈 주세요. (Natural: Mom, please give me my allowance.)

Mistake 3: 수금 vs. 입금: 입금 (Ip-geum) is the act of money entering an account (deposit). While 수금 leads to 입금, they are different steps. 수금 is the effort to get the money, while 입금 is the result of money being placed in a bank account. You '수금' from a person, but money '입금' into your bank.

통장에 돈이 입금되었습니다. (Money has been deposited into the account.)

우리는 미수금을 수금하기 위해 전화를 걸었다. (We made calls to collect the unpaid amounts.)

Depending on the level of formality and the specific type of money being gathered, you might want to use a different word than 수금하다. Korean has a rich vocabulary for financial transactions, and choosing the right one shows high proficiency.

징수하다 (Jing-su-ha-da): This is used for collecting taxes, fines, or mandatory fees by an authority or the government. It has a much stronger, compulsory nuance than 수금하다. You don't '수금' taxes; you '징수' them.

정부는 새로운 세금을 징수하기로 했다. (The government decided to collect a new tax.)

회수하다 (Hwi-su-ha-da): This means 'to take back' or 'to withdraw'. In finance, it's used for 'recovering' investments or loans. While 수금 is about the act of getting payment, 회수 is about getting back something you originally sent out or invested.

투자한 자금을 조기에 회수했다. (I recovered the invested funds early.)

거두다 (Geo-du-da): A pure Korean word (not Hanja) that means 'to gather' or 'to harvest'. It's often used for collecting membership fees (회비) in a casual club or gathering donations. It feels softer and more communal than 수금하다.

동호회 회원들에게서 회비를 거두었습니다. (I gathered the membership fees from the club members.)

빌려준 돈을 받아내는 것은 쉽지 않다. (It is not easy to get back [forcefully collect] the money I lent.)

How Formal Is It?

Fun Fact

In ancient times, '수' was often used for harvesting crops. Using it for money implies that collecting payments is like 'harvesting' the fruits of your business labor.

Pronunciation Guide

UK /suːɡɯm.ɦa.da/

US /suːɡum.hɑː.dɑː/

The primary stress is on the first syllable '수' (su), with a secondary light stress on '하' (ha).

Rhymes With

입금하다 (ip-geum-ha-da) 송금하다 (song-geum-ha-da) 출금하다 (chul-geum-ha-da) 예금하다 (ye-geum-ha-da) 모금하다 (mo-geum-ha-da) 환금하다 (hwan-geum-ha-da) 송금하다 (song-geum-ha-da) 저금하다 (jeo-geum-ha-da)

Common Errors

Pronouncing '수' like '슈' (shoo). It should be a simple 's' sound.
Making the 'g' in 'geum' too aspirated like 'k'. It should be a voiced soft 'g'.
Not closing the mouth for the 'm' in 'geum'.
Confusing the pitch with '송금하다'.
Saying '수금하따' instead of '수금하다'.

Difficulty Rating

Reading 2/5

Easy to recognize in business contexts.

Writing 3/5

Requires correct object particles and situational awareness.

Speaking 3/5

Must avoid confusing it with '송금' in fast speech.

Listening 2/5

Clear pronunciation, usually distinct in context.

What to Learn Next

Prerequisites

돈 (Money) 받다 (To receive) 가게 (Store) 물건 (Goods) 주다 (To give)

Learn Next

송금하다 (To remit) 입금하다 (To deposit) 출금하다 (To withdraw) 결제하다 (To pay/settle) 영수증 (Receipt)

Advanced

채권 (Bond/Debt) 유동성 (Liquidity) 회계 (Accounting) 부도 (Bankruptcy) 추심 (Legal collection)

Grammar to Know

Object Particle 을/를

돈을 수금하다.

Purpose Ending -(으)러

수금하러 가다.

Passive Ending -되다

대금이 수금되다.

Necessity Ending -해야 하다

빨리 수금해야 해요.

Simultaneous Action -면서

전화하면서 수금하다.

Examples by Level

아저씨가 돈을 수금해요.

The man collects the money.

Simple subject + object + verb structure.

신문 값을 수금합니다.

I collect the newspaper fee.

Formal ending '-니다'.

오늘 수금하러 가요.

I am going to collect money today.

-러 가다 indicates purpose.

돈을 수금했어요.

I collected the money.

Past tense '-았/었어요'.

수금원이 왔어요.

The collector came.

Noun '수금원' means collector.

여기서 수금해요?

Do you collect money here?

Interrogative sentence.

우유 값을 수금해요.

I collect the milk money.

Object '우유 값' (milk price).

내일 수금할 거예요.

I will collect it tomorrow.

Future tense '-(으)ㄹ 거예요'.

매달 말에 수금하러 오세요.

Please come to collect at the end of every month.

Imperative ending '-(으)세요'.

어제 대금을 모두 수금했습니다.

I collected all the payments yesterday.

Object '대금' (payment).

수금할 돈이 얼마나 돼요?

How much money is there to collect?

Adnominal '-(으)ㄹ' modifying '돈'.

외상값을 수금하기 힘들어요.

It is hard to collect the money for items bought on credit.

'-기 힘들다' means it's hard to do something.

현금으로 수금해도 될까요?

May I collect it in cash?

'-아/어도 되다' asking for permission.

가게마다 돌면서 수금했어요.

I went around to every store and collected.

'-면서' indicates simultaneous actions.

수금이 늦어져서 걱정이에요.

I'm worried because the collection is being delayed.

'-아서/어서' indicating cause.

영수증을 주고 수금하세요.

Give a receipt and then collect.

'-고' connecting two actions.

거래처에서 미수금을 수금해야 합니다.

We need to collect the outstanding balance from the client.

'-해야 하다' indicates necessity.

이번 달 수금 실적이 목표보다 낮아요.

This month's collection performance is lower than the goal.

Noun '수금 실적' (collection record/performance).

직접 방문하지 않고 계좌로 수금해요.

We collect via account transfer without visiting in person.

'-지 않고' means 'without doing'.

수금한 돈을 회사 금고에 넣으세요.

Put the collected money into the company safe.

Past participle '수금한' modifying '돈'.

수금 업무를 담당할 직원을 뽑습니다.

We are hiring an employee to handle collection tasks.

Noun '수금 업무' (collection work).

물건을 보내고 나서 바로 수금하세요.

Collect the money immediately after sending the goods.

'-고 나서' means 'after doing'.

수금이 안 되면 회사가 어려워집니다.

If collection isn't done, the company will face difficulties.

'-면' indicates a condition.

어떻게 수금하는지 가르쳐 주세요.

Please teach me how to collect the money.

'-는지' used with a question word.

부도 위기를 막으려면 빨리 수금해야 한다.

To prevent bankruptcy, we must collect quickly.

'-으려면' means 'if one intends to'.

수금된 자금은 즉시 재투자될 예정이다.

The collected funds are scheduled to be reinvested immediately.

Passive form '수금된'.

그 회사는 수금 능력이 매우 뛰어납니다.

That company has excellent collection capabilities.

Noun '수금 능력' (collection ability).

수금 과정에서 문제가 발생했습니다.

A problem occurred during the collection process.

Noun '수금 과정' (collection process).

영업팀은 수금 독촉 전화를 돌리고 있다.

The sales team is making collection reminder calls.

Noun '수금 독촉' (collection pressure/reminder).

수금하기 전에는 물건을 넘겨주지 마세요.

Do not hand over the goods before collecting payment.

'-기 전에' means 'before doing'.

현금 수금 비중을 줄이고 카드를 권장한다.

We are reducing the proportion of cash collection and encouraging cards.

Noun '수금 비중' (proportion of collection).

수금 담당자가 휴가 중이라 처리가 늦다.

Processing is slow because the person in charge of collection is on vacation.

'-라' (short for -라서) indicating reason.

채권 수금을 위해 법적 대응을 검토 중이다.

We are reviewing legal action for debt collection.

Noun '채권 수금' (debt/bond collection).

수금 지연은 기업의 현금 흐름에 악영향을 미친다.

Delays in collection adversely affect a company's cash flow.

Noun '수금 지연' (collection delay).

철저한 수금 관리가 사업 성공의 열쇠입니다.

Thorough collection management is the key to business success.

Noun '수금 관리' (collection management).

그는 수금한 돈을 횡령했다는 혐의를 받고 있다.

He is suspected of embezzling the collected money.

'-는다는 혐의를 받다' (to be suspected of...).

수금 시스템을 디지털화하여 효율성을 높였다.

We increased efficiency by digitizing the collection system.

'-아/어/여서' indicating method/reason.

수금과 관련하여 분쟁이 생기면 전문가와 상담하세요.

If a dispute arises regarding collection, consult an expert.

'-와 관련하여' (in relation to...).

수금액의 일부를 수수료로 지급하기로 했다.

It was decided to pay part of the collected amount as a commission.

Noun '수금액' (collected amount).

수금은 단순히 돈을 받는 것 이상의 의미가 있다.

Collection means more than just receiving money.

'-는 것 이상의 의미' (meaning more than...).

악성 부채의 수금을 위해 전문 추심 업체를 고용했다.

We hired a professional collection agency to collect bad debts.

Noun '추심' is a more formal synonym for '수금' in legal contexts.

수금의 투명성을 확보하는 것이 조직의 최우선 과제다.

Securing transparency in collection is the organization's top priority.

Noun '투명성' (transparency).

글로벌 시장에서의 수금은 환율 변동 리스크를 동반한다.

Collection in global markets involves exchange rate fluctuation risks.

'-를 동반하다' (to be accompanied by...).

수금 주기를 단축함으로써 자금 유동성을 개선했다.

By shortening the collection cycle, we improved fund liquidity.

'-함으로써' (by doing...).

수금 업무의 자동화는 인적 오류를 획기적으로 줄여준다.

Automation of collection tasks drastically reduces human error.

Adverb '획기적으로' (drastically/innovatively).

그의 소설은 수금원의 고달픈 삶을 사실적으로 묘사한다.

His novel realistically depicts the weary life of a collector.

Adverb '사실적으로' (realistically).

수금 방식의 변화가 소비자 행동에 미치는 영향을 분석했다.

We analyzed the impact of changes in collection methods on consumer behavior.

'-에 미치는 영향' (impact on...).

수금 총액이 예상치를 훨씬 상회하는 성과를 거두었다.

The total amount collected far exceeded expectations.

Verb '상회하다' (to exceed/surpass).

Common Collocations

대금을 수금하다

외상을 수금하다

미수금을 수금하다

수금하러 다니다

수금 실적

수금 담당자

직접 수금하다

현금으로 수금하다

수금 가방

수금을 독촉하다

Common Phrases

수금하러 왔습니다

— A standard phrase used when arriving at a place to collect payment.

실례합니다, 신문 대금 수금하러 왔습니다.

수금이 완료되다

— The state where all expected money has been successfully gathered.

오늘 목표한 수금이 모두 완료되었습니다.

수금이 늦어지다

— Used when the expected payment is delayed beyond the due date.

거래처 사정으로 수금이 자꾸 늦어지네요.

수금을 확인하다

— To check whether a payment has been received or not.

입금 내역을 보고 수금을 확인하세요.

수금 전표

— A slip or document used to record the collection of money.

수금 전표를 꼼꼼히 작성해야 합니다.

수금왕

— A nickname for someone who is exceptionally good at collecting payments.

그는 우리 영업부의 수금왕으로 불린다.

수금 사원

— An employee whose main job is to collect money.

수금 사원이 방문할 예정입니다.

수금 대행

— A service where a third party collects money on behalf of a business.

수금 대행 업체를 통해 수수료를 지불한다.

수금 기간

— The specific time frame during which payments are collected.

관리비 수금 기간은 매달 20일부터입니다.

수금을 거부하다

— When a person refuses to pay the collector.

그는 이유 없이 수금을 거부하고 있다.

Often Confused With

수금하다 vs 송금하다

송금 means to send money; 수금 means to collect it. They are opposite directions.

수금하다 vs 입금하다

입금 is the act of depositing money into an account; 수금 is the act of gathering it from a person.

수금하다 vs 징수하다

징수 is specifically for taxes or mandatory government fees, while 수금 is for commercial payments.

Idioms & Expressions

"수금 가방을 메다"

— To start a job as a collector or a salesperson who handles money.

그는 젊은 시절 수금 가방을 메고 전국을 누볐다.

Informal/Narrative

"돈을 긁어모으다"

— To collect or make a huge amount of money (metaphorically 'raking it in').

그 가게는 요즘 돈을 긁어모으고 있다.

Slang/Informal

"피 같은 돈을 수금하다"

— To collect money that was very hard-earned by the payer.

상인들의 피 같은 돈을 수금하는 일이 괴롭다.

Emotive

"수금이 하늘의 별 따기"

— Used when collecting money is extremely difficult (like picking stars from the sky).

요즘 같은 불황에 수금은 하늘의 별 따기다.

Idiomatic

"입금이 곧 수금이다"

— In modern business, receiving the deposit is the only true collection.

말만 하지 말고 입금이 곧 수금이라는 걸 명심해.

Business Slang

"빈손으로 수금하다"

— To fail to collect any money despite trying.

하루 종일 돌아다녔지만 빈손으로 수금하고 돌아왔다.

Neutral

"수금의 달인"

— Someone who can get anyone to pay up.

김 부장님은 정말 수금의 달인이시네요.

Informal/Praise

"돈 냄새를 맡고 수금하다"

— To collect money quickly as soon as it becomes available.

사채업자들은 돈 냄새를 맡고 수금하러 온다.

Derogatory

"수금에 목숨 걸다"

— To be desperately focused on collecting money.

회사가 어려워지니 사장이 수금에 목숨을 걸었다.

Colloquial

"제 발로 수금하러 오다"

— When someone comes to pay without being asked (ironic use of 수금).

부탁도 안 했는데 제 발로 수금하러 왔네.

Informal

Easily Confused

수금하다 vs 모금하다

Both involve gathering money.

모금 is for donations or charity; 수금 is for money that is owed to you.

불우 이웃을 위해 성금을 모금했다.

수금하다 vs 저금하다

Both start with 'geum' (money).

저금 is saving money in a bank; 수금 is collecting money from others.

매달 월급의 반을 저금한다.

수금하다 vs 출금하다

Both are banking/money verbs.

출금 is withdrawing money from your own account; 수금 is getting money from others.

ATM에서 현금을 출금했다.

수금하다 vs 환금하다

Related to money exchange.

환금 is converting assets or foreign currency into cash; 수금 is collecting payment.

금반지를 현금으로 환금했다.

수금하다 vs 예금하다

Common money-related Hanja word.

예금 is depositing money to save; 수금 is collecting money owed.

은행에 돈을 예금하러 갔다.

Sentence Patterns

[Object] + 을/를 수금하다

돈을 수금해요.

수금하러 [Place] + 에 가다

수금하러 시장에 가요.

[Time] + 까지 수금해야 하다

내일까지 수금해야 해요.

수금한 [Noun]

수금한 돈을 잃어버렸어요.

[Subject] + 이/가 수금되다

대금이 아직 수금되지 않았습니다.

수금하는 것이 [Adjective]

수금하는 것이 제일 힘들어요.

수금을 위해 [Action]

수금을 위해 법적 절차를 밟다.

수금과 관련하여 [Noun]

수금과 관련하여 문의 드립니다.

Word Family

Nouns

수금 (Collection)

수금원 (Collector/Agent)

수금액 (Collected amount)

미수금 (Uncollected money/Receivables)

수금처 (Place of collection)

Verbs

수금하다 (To collect)

수금되다 (To be collected)

수금시키다 (To make someone collect)

돈 (Money)

대금 (Payment)

거래 (Transaction)

영수증 (Receipt)

장부 (Ledger)

How to Use It

frequency

High in business, medium in daily life, low in purely social/romantic contexts.

Common Mistakes

Using '수금하다' when sending money via bank app. → 송금하다
수금 is receiving; 송금 is sending. This is the most common error for learners.
Saying '돈이 수금해요'. → 돈을 수금해요.
The person collects the money. Money is the object, not the subject performing the action.
Asking a friend to '수금' for a shared meal. → 돈 보내줘 / 돈 줘
'수금' is too formal and sounds like a debt collector. It's socially awkward with friends.
Confusing '수금' with '입금'. → 입금 확인 (Confirm deposit)
You '수금' (collect) from a person, and then the money is '입금' (deposited) into your account.
Using '수금' for picking up dropped coins. → 돈을 줍다
'수금' is only for money owed as a debt or payment, not finding lost money.

Tips

Professionalism

Use '수금하다' when talking to your boss about company revenue. It shows you understand business terminology.

Object Particles

Always pair '수금하다' with '을/를'. For example: '돈을 수금하다', not '돈이 수금하다'.

Root Recognition

Remember '금' (金) always means money or gold in these contexts. It helps you learn 50+ other words.

Softening the Blow

Collecting money can be awkward. Use '수금하러 왔습니다' with a smile to keep business relationships healthy.

Urban Life

If you see a sign '수금 중' in a parking lot or market, it means they are currently taking payments.

Email Subject Lines

A good subject line for a payment reminder is '[공지] 미수금 수금 관련 안내'.

News Reports

Listen for '수금' in economic news when they talk about 'liquidity' (유동성) problems.

The 'S' Rule

S-u is for Seeking (collecting). S-ong is for Sending. This separates the two most confused words.

Historical Context

Understanding the '수금원' figure in old Korean media helps you grasp the word's social history.

Level Up

Once you master '수금하다', try learning '수수료' (commission) and '연체료' (late fee).

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of 'Su' as 'Super' and 'Geum' as 'Gold'. A 'Super Gold' collector gathers all the money owed to the company.

Visual Association

Imagine a person with a small leather bag (수금 가방) walking through a market, checking off names on a list as they receive envelopes of cash.

Word Web

수금 (Center) 돈 (Money) 받다 (Receive) 회사 (Company) 거래처 (Client) 영수증 (Receipt) 미수금 (Overdue) 수금원 (Collector)

Challenge

Try to use '수금하다' in a sentence describing a scene from a movie where a businessman is trying to get paid for his work.

Word Origin

Derived from Sino-Korean roots (Hanja). '수' (收) means to receive, gather, or harvest. '금' (金) means gold or money.

Original meaning: To gather gold or currency that is due.

Sino-Korean

Cultural Context

Be careful using this term with friends as it can sound like you are treating the friendship as a cold business transaction.

In English, we usually say 'collecting bills' or 'collecting payments'. 'Debt collection' is a bit more aggressive, whereas '수금' covers both routine billing and debt recovery.

The movie 'The Outlaws' (범죄도시) features aggressive debt collection (수금) scenes. Many older Korean novels (like those by Park Wan-suh) describe the life of poor families and their interactions with collectors. K-Dramas often use '수금' when a protagonist is working a tough job to pay off family debts.

Practice in Real Life

Real-World Contexts

Business-to-Business (B2B)

대금 수금
수금 확인
수금 지연
수금 일정

Utilities and Subscriptions

신문 값 수금
관리비 수금
수금 기간
수금원 방문

Debt and Loans

빌린 돈 수금
수금 독촉
이자 수금
외상 수금

Accounting

수금 장부
수금 실적
수금 현황
미수금 수금

Sales

수금 사원
현장 수금
수금 목표
수금 수수료

Conversation Starters

"이번 달 수금은 다 끝났나요? (Is all the collection finished for this month?)"

"수금하러 가실 때 저도 같이 갈까요? (Shall I go with you when you go to collect the money?)"

"거래처 수금이 왜 이렇게 늦어지는지 아세요? (Do you know why the collection from the client is so delayed?)"

"수금한 돈은 어디에 보관하면 되나요? (Where should I keep the collected money?)"

"오늘 수금 실적이 좋아서 기분이 좋네요. (I feel good because the collection performance is great today.)"

Journal Prompts

오늘 회사에서 수금 업무를 하면서 느낀 점을 써 보세요. (Write about how you felt while doing collection work at the company today.)

만약 수금이 제대로 되지 않는다면 어떤 문제가 생길까요? (What problems would occur if collection is not done properly?)

과거의 수금원과 현대의 자동 이체 시스템의 차이점에 대해 써 보세요. (Write about the differences between past collectors and modern automatic transfer systems.)

돈을 수금하는 사람의 마음과 돈을 내는 사람의 마음에 대해 생각해 보세요. (Think about the feelings of the person collecting money and the person paying it.)

내가 사업을 한다면 수금을 어떻게 관리할지 계획해 보세요. (Plan how you would manage collection if you ran a business.)

Frequently Asked Questions

10 questions

No, '수금하다' implies the money is owed for a service or product. For donations, use '모금하다' (to raise funds) or '거두다' (to gather).

It is a standard professional word. However, because it's about money, it can sound blunt. In formal settings, add honorifics like '수금해 주시겠습니까?' (Would you collect it for me?).

'수금' is general collection. '추심' is a more legalistic and formal term, often used for debt collection (채권 추심).

You can say '월세 수금하러 왔습니다'. It sounds very professional and clear.

Usually, '징수하다' is used for taxes. '수금하다' is for private business transactions.

It means a 'collection agent' or 'collector'. It's the person whose job it is to 수금하다.

Not usually. Banking apps use '입금' (deposit), '송금' (transfer), or '청구' (request/bill). '수금' is more about the business operation.

No! That is '줍다'. '수금' is specifically for money that belongs to you but is held by someone else as a debt or payment.

People sometimes say '삥 뜯다' for forcefully taking money (extortion), which is a very negative slang version of collection.

It is '수금했다' (plain) or '수금했습니다' (formal) or '수금했어요' (polite informal).