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인건비

B1 noun #7,500 most common 8 min read

인건비

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Practice it Examples Notes & Tips 인건비 in 30 Seconds

Explanation 인건비 in your Level:

At the A1 level, you don't need to use '인건비' often, but it's good to recognize it. Think of it as 'money for people.' When you go to a restaurant or a shop, the price of the food includes the '인건비' (the money paid to the chef and the waiter). You can remember it as 'Person (인) + Cost (비).' At this level, just understand that when someone says '인건비가 비싸요,' they mean it costs a lot of money to hire people to do that work. It is a noun. You might see it on a bill or hear it on a simple news clip about prices going up. Don't worry about using it in complex sentences yet; just know it relates to 'work' and 'money.'

At the A2 level, you can start using '인건비' in simple business or shopping contexts. You might say '인건비가 올라서 물가가 올랐어요' (Prices rose because labor costs rose). You understand that '인건비' is different from '월급' (salary). While '월급' is what you get, '인건비' is what a boss pays for all the workers. You might encounter this word when talking about 'part-time jobs' (아르바이트). If a cafe owner says '인건비가 부담스러워요,' they mean they are struggling to pay their part-time workers. Focus on the collocation '인건비가 높다/낮다' (Labor costs are high/low).

At the B1 level, you should be able to use '인건비' in discussions about the economy, business, and social issues. You can explain why a company might move its factory to another country using the phrase '저렴한 인건비' (cheap labor costs). You should also be able to use the word in the context of project management. For example, '이 프로젝트는 인건비가 많이 들어요' (This project requires a lot of labor costs). You understand the Hanja roots (人+件+費) and can distinguish it from '임금' (wage) and '급여' (pay). You are starting to see this word frequently in news articles and professional emails.

At the B2 level, you should use '인건비' fluently in professional settings. You can discuss '인건비 절감' (reducing labor costs) and '인건비 비중' (the proportion of labor costs) in a business report. You understand that 인건비 includes not just salaries but also '4대 보험' (the four major social insurances) and bonuses. You can participate in debates about the '최저임금' (minimum wage) and its impact on the '인건비 부담' (labor cost burden) of small businesses. You can use the word in complex sentences with various grammar patterns like '-음에도 불구하고' (despite) or '-기 위하여' (in order to).

At the C1 level, you have a deep understanding of the nuances of '인건비'. You can use it in academic or high-level financial contexts. You might discuss the '한계 인건비' (marginal labor cost) or how '인건비 상승' impacts '인플레이션' (inflation). You are comfortable with idiomatic expressions and can understand the subtle negative connotations of phrases like '인건비 따먹기'. You can write detailed business proposals where you break down 인건비 into sub-categories. You can also discuss the social implications of '인건비' in the era of automation and the 'gig economy' (긱 경제).

At the C2 level, you use '인건비' like a native professional or economist. You can navigate complex legal documents regarding labor costs and corporate taxation. You understand the historical evolution of 인건비 in Korea, from the labor-intensive manufacturing era to the high-tech service economy of today. You can use the word in sophisticated metaphors or rhetorical questions during a presentation. You can analyze how '인건비' affects the global competitiveness of Korean industries. Your usage is indistinguishable from a native speaker who has a background in business or social sciences.

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips

인건비 in 30 Seconds

인건비 means 'labor costs' or 'personnel expenses' in a business context.
It comes from Hanja: 人(Person) + 件(Matter) + 費(Cost).
It is a formal term used primarily by employers and in economic news.
Common collocations include '인건비 절감' (cost cutting) and '인건비 상승' (cost rise).

The Korean word 인건비 (In-geon-bi) is a foundational term in the world of business, economics, and daily labor. At its core, it refers to the total expenses a business or individual incurs to pay for human labor. Unlike the word 'salary' (월급), which describes the payment from the employee's perspective, 인건비 is a macro-level term used by employers, accountants, and government officials to describe the aggregate cost of employing people. This includes not just the base salary, but also bonuses, insurance, and other benefits associated with hiring a worker.

Economic Context: In the South Korean economy, 인건비 is a frequent topic of debate, especially regarding the 'Minimum Wage' (최저임금). Small business owners often cite rising 인건비 as a major challenge to their survival.
Business Strategy: When a company looks to 'cut costs' (비용 절감), the first area they often examine is 인건비. This can lead to automation or outsourcing.

최근 최저임금이 오르면서 소상공인들의 인건비 부담이 커졌습니다. (With the recent rise in the minimum wage, the labor cost burden on small business owners has increased.)

The term is composed of three Hanja characters: 人 (인 - Person), 件 (건 - Matter/Case), and 費 (비 - Expense). Together, they literally translate to 'person-matter expense.' In modern Korean society, you will hear this word in news reports discussing the 'Fourth Industrial Revolution' and how 'Kiosks' (키오스크) are replacing human workers to save on 인건비. It is rarely used in casual conversation between friends to describe their own pay; instead, it remains a professional and technical term used to discuss the financial health of a project or company.

이 프로젝트는 인건비가 너무 많이 들어서 수익성이 낮아요. (This project has low profitability because the labor costs are too high.)

Daily Life Usage: Even if you aren't a CEO, you might use this when renovating your house. If a contractor quotes a high price, they might justify it by saying the '인건비' for skilled carpenters has gone up.

Understanding 인건비 is crucial for understanding the South Korean social landscape. The 'Hell Joseon' discourse often touches on the tension between low 인건비 for youth workers and high living costs. Conversely, from the employer's side, the rapid increase in 인건비 is seen as a driver for the rapid adoption of service robots in restaurants across Seoul. Therefore, this word sits at the intersection of economics, sociology, and technology.

로봇을 도입하면 장기적으로 인건비를 줄일 수 있습니다. (By introducing robots, we can reduce labor costs in the long run.)

Using 인건비 correctly requires understanding its role as a noun that represents a financial category. It is most commonly paired with verbs like 오르다 (to rise), 절감하다 (to reduce/save), 부담하다 (to bear/pay), and 포함하다 (to include). Because it is a formal term, it frequently appears in sentences using the -습니다 or -어요 endings, but it is rarely used in highly informal 'banmal' unless discussing business matters seriously.

Subject Marker (-가/이): 인건비가 너무 비싸요. (Labor costs are too expensive.) Here, '인건비' is the subject causing a problem or state.
Object Marker (-를/을): 회사는 인건비를 줄이려고 노력하고 있습니다. (The company is trying to reduce labor costs.) Here, '인건비' is the target of the action.

총 공사비에는 재료비와 인건비가 모두 포함되어 있습니다. (The total construction cost includes both material costs and labor costs.)

In a professional setting, you might encounter the phrase 인건비 따먹기 (slang/idiomatic), which refers to a business model that only makes a profit by underpaying workers or taking a margin from their wages. This is a negative expression. On a more positive note, a company might boast about 'investing in 인건비' to attract high-quality talent. When writing a budget report, 인건비 is usually the largest line item, followed by '임대료' (rent) and '재료비' (material costs).

우리 식당은 인건비를 아끼기 위해 가족들이 함께 운영합니다. (To save on labor costs, our family runs the restaurant together.)

Advanced learners should note how 인건비 interacts with technical suffixes. For example, 인건비 상승률 (labor cost increase rate) or 인건비 비중 (proportion of labor costs). In the context of globalization, many Korean companies move factories abroad to find '저렴한 인건비' (cheap labor costs). This specific collocation is very common in economic news reports.

You will hear 인건비 in various real-world scenarios, ranging from the evening news to a conversation with a taxi driver or a small business owner. It is a word that carries significant weight because it directly relates to people's livelihoods and the survival of businesses. In Korea, where the 'service culture' is highly developed, the cost of that service is often framed through the lens of 인건비.

On the News: News anchors often report on the '최저임금 위원회' (Minimum Wage Commission) and how their decisions will impact 인건비 for the following year.
In the Office: During budget planning sessions, managers will discuss whether they have enough 인건비 budget to hire a new intern or developer.

사장님, 올해는 인건비가 너무 올라서 사람을 더 뽑기가 힘들 것 같아요. (Boss, labor costs have risen so much this year that I think it will be hard to hire more people.)

In popular media, such as the K-drama 'Itaewon Class', the protagonist Park Saeroyi has to balance his principles of valuing people with the cold reality of 인건비 and business management. You might also hear this word when getting a quote for services. For example, if you call a plumber in Seoul, the price they quote is often split into '부품값' (part costs) and '인건비' (labor/service fee). If the repair is simple but takes a long time, the 인건비 might be higher than the parts.

이 식당은 인건비를 줄이기 위해 모든 것이 셀프 서비스입니다. (This restaurant is all self-service to reduce labor costs.)

Finally, you'll hear it in discussions about 'AI' and 'Automation'. Tech experts often argue that as 인건비 continues to rise, the 'ROI' (Return on Investment) for implementing AI becomes more attractive. This makes 인건비 a keyword for anyone interested in the future of work in Korea.

For English speakers, the most common mistake is using 인건비 when they actually mean 'salary' or 'wage' in a personal context. While they are related, they are not interchangeable. 인건비 is a business expense category, while 월급 (monthly salary) is what an individual receives. You would never say 'My 인건비 is high' to mean you have a high salary; that would sound like you are a product or a line item in a budget.

Mistake 1: Confusing with 'Pay': Incorrect: 제 인건비가 올랐어요. (My labor cost rose.)
Correct: 제 월급이 올랐어요. (My salary rose.)
Mistake 2: Confusing with 'Labor' (노동): 인건비 refers to the cost, not the act of working. You cannot say 'I did 인건비 today' to mean you worked hard.

사장님은 인건비를 걱정하시지만, 직원들은 월급을 걱정합니다. (The boss worries about labor costs, but the employees worry about their salaries.)

Another mistake is using the wrong verb. While you can 'buy' goods, you don't 'buy' 인건비. You 'spend' (지출하다), 'reduce' (절감하다), or 'bear' (부담하다) it. Using 비싸다 (to be expensive) with 인건비 is acceptable and common, but 높다 (to be high) is often more professional in a statistical context.

Finally, don't confuse 인건비 with 생활비 (living expenses). 인건비 is always related to hiring someone or the cost of work in a business sense. If you are talking about the money you need to survive (rent, food, etc.), use 생활비.

To truly master Korean, you need to know the nuances between 인건비 and its synonyms. Depending on whether you are talking about a legal contract, a monthly paycheck, or a corporate budget, the word you choose matters.

임금 (Im-geum) - Wage: This is the legal term for the money paid to a worker. It is used in 'Minimum Wage' (최저임금). It is narrower than 인건비 because it doesn't include employer-side taxes or overhead.
급여 (Geup-yeo) - Pay/Remuneration: A formal word for the money an employee receives. You'll see this on your 'Pay Stub' (급여 명세서).
보수 (Bo-su) - Compensation/Reward: Often used for one-time professional services or high-level executive pay. It has a nuance of being a 'reward' for expertise.

회사는 인건비 총액을 줄이기 위해 급여 체계를 개편했습니다. (The company restructured the pay system to reduce the total amount of labor costs.)

In a construction or manual labor context, you might hear 노임 (No-im). This specifically refers to the daily wage for physical labor. If you hire someone to move furniture, you pay them 노임. However, in the final invoice, that expense will likely be listed under 인건비. Another related term is 제경비 (general expenses), which includes 인건비 as one of its components along with materials and overhead.

Choosing the right word shows your level of professional Korean. Use 인건비 when looking at the big picture of business costs, 임금 when talking about labor laws, and 월급 when talking about your personal life.

How Formal Is It?

Fun Fact

While the word '인건' (person-matter) is rarely used alone today, it survives in '인건비'. In older documents, '인건' referred to the management of human affairs.

Pronunciation Guide

UK /ɪnkʌnbi/

US /ɪnkʌnbi/

Stress is usually even across all three syllables in Korean, but the '비' (bi) can be slightly emphasized in business contexts.

Rhymes With

관리비 (Gwan-ri-bi - Management fee) 재료비 (Jae-ryo-bi - Material cost) 생활비 (Saeng-hwal-bi - Living cost) 교육비 (Gyo-yuk-bi - Education cost) 교통비 (Gyo-tong-bi - Transport cost) 식비 (Sik-bi - Food cost) 통신비 (Tong-sin-bi - Communication cost) 유지비 (Yu-ji-bi - Maintenance cost)

Common Errors

Pronouncing '인' like 'een' instead of 'in'.
Pronouncing '건' like 'gone' instead of 'gun/geon'.
Making the 'b' in '비' too heavy like a 'p'.
Adding an 's' at the end (인건비s), which is incorrect in Korean grammar.
Thinking the '건' is related to 'gun' (weapon) - it is not.

Difficulty Rating

Reading 3/5

Common in news and business, easy to recognize once Hanja is known.

Writing 4/5

Requires understanding of business context to use naturally.

Speaking 3/5

Commonly used by adults, but not needed for basic survival Korean.

Listening 3/5

Frequent in news and dramas about work life.

What to Learn Next

Prerequisites

돈 (Money) 사람 (Person) 일 (Work) 회사 (Company) 비용 (Cost)

Learn Next

임금 (Wage) 수익 (Profit) 지출 (Expense) 매출 (Sales) 복지 (Welfare)

Advanced

영업이익 (Operating profit) 고정비 (Fixed cost) 변동비 (Variable cost) 사회보험 (Social insurance)

Grammar to Know

Noun + 때문에 (Because of)

인건비 때문에 힘들어요.

Noun + 포함 (Including)

인건비 포함 10만 원입니다.

Verb stem + 기 위해 (In order to)

인건비를 줄이기 위해 노력해요.

Noun + 에 비해 (Compared to)

작년에 비해 인건비가 올랐어요.

Noun + 조차 (Even)

수익이 인건비조차 안 돼요.

Examples by Level

인건비가 비싸요.

Labor costs are expensive.

Simple noun + subject marker + adjective.

인건비는 돈이에요.

Labor cost is money.

Topic marker '는' used for definition.

인건비가 얼마예요?

How much is the labor cost?

Common question structure.

인건비가 없어요.

There is no labor cost.

Negative existence '없어요'.

인건비가 중요해요.

Labor cost is important.

Adjective '중요하다'.

인건비가 낮아요.

Labor costs are low.

Adjective '낮다' (low).

여기는 인건비가 싸요.

Labor costs are cheap here.

Adjective '싸다' (cheap).

인건비가 올랐어요.

Labor costs went up.

Past tense of '오르다'.

인건비 때문에 물가가 올랐어요.

Prices rose because of labor costs.

Noun + '때문에' (because of).

인건비를 줄이고 싶어요.

I want to reduce labor costs.

Verb stem + '-고 싶다' (want to).

인건비가 너무 높아서 걱정이에요.

I'm worried because labor costs are too high.

'-아서/어서' (reasoning).

이 서비스는 인건비가 포함되어 있어요.

This service includes labor costs.

Passive form '포함되어 있다'.

인건비를 계산해 보세요.

Please try calculating the labor costs.

'-아/어 보세요' (try doing).

인건비가 싸서 공장을 지었어요.

I built a factory because labor costs are cheap.

'-아서' (reasoning).

인건비가 오르면 힘들어요.

It's hard if labor costs rise.

'-으면' (if/when).

인건비를 아껴야 해요.

We must save on labor costs.

'-아야/어야 하다' (must/should).

최저임금 인상으로 인해 인건비 부담이 커졌습니다.

The labor cost burden has increased due to the minimum wage hike.

'-으로 인해' (due to/because of).

해외로 공장을 옮기는 이유는 저렴한 인건비 때문입니다.

The reason for moving factories abroad is because of cheap labor costs.

'-는 이유는 ~ 때문입니다' structure.

인건비를 절감하기 위해 키오스크를 도입했습니다.

We introduced kiosks to reduce labor costs.

'-기 위해' (in order to).

프로젝트 예산의 절반 이상이 인건비로 나갑니다.

More than half of the project budget goes toward labor costs.

'-로 나가다' (to be spent as).

인건비가 상승하면 제품 가격도 오를 수밖에 없어요.

If labor costs rise, product prices have no choice but to rise too.

'-을 수밖에 없다' (no choice but to).

기술직은 일반직보다 인건비가 훨씬 비쌉니다.

Labor costs for technical jobs are much more expensive than for general jobs.

'-보다' (comparison).

회사 경영이 어려워지자 인건비를 먼저 감축했습니다.

As company management became difficult, they first cut labor costs.

'-자' (as soon as/when).

인건비가 포함된 견적서를 보내주세요.

Please send an estimate that includes labor costs.

Noun-modifying form '-ㄴ/은'.

인건비 비중이 높은 산업은 자동화의 영향을 많이 받습니다.

Industries with a high proportion of labor costs are heavily affected by automation.

Noun-modifying form '-는'.

정부는 중소기업의 인건비 부담을 덜어주기 위해 지원금을 지급합니다.

The government provides subsidies to ease the labor cost burden of small businesses.

'-아/어 주다' (do for someone).

인건비에는 기본급뿐만 아니라 각종 수당과 보험료가 포함됩니다.

Labor costs include not only basic pay but also various allowances and insurance premiums.

'-뿐만 아니라' (not only... but also).

숙련된 노동력을 확보하려면 높은 인건비를 감수해야 합니다.

To secure a skilled workforce, one must accept high labor costs.

'-려면' (if you want to).

인건비 상승폭이 생산성 향상 속도를 앞지르고 있습니다.

The rate of labor cost increase is outstripping the speed of productivity improvement.

'-고 있다' (progressive).

이 업체는 인건비를 아끼려고 불법 체류자를 고용했다가 적발되었습니다.

This company was caught after hiring illegal immigrants to save on labor costs.

'-다가' (action interrupted/resulted in).

인건비가 저렴한 국가로 생산 기지를 이전하는 추세입니다.

There is a trend of moving production bases to countries where labor costs are cheap.

'-는 추세이다' (be a trend).

효율적인 인건비 관리가 기업의 경쟁력을 결정짓습니다.

Efficient labor cost management determines a company's competitiveness.

Subject marker '가' + active verb.

인건비의 경직성은 기업이 불황에 유연하게 대처하는 것을 방해합니다.

The rigidity of labor costs prevents companies from responding flexibly to recessions.

Abstract noun usage ('경직성').

단순히 인건비를 절감하는 것보다 인적 자본에 투자하는 것이 장기적으로 유리합니다.

Investing in human capital is more advantageous in the long run than simply cutting labor costs.

'-는 것보다' (comparison of actions).

인건비 상승은 서비스 가격의 인상을 초래하여 소비자 물가에 직접적인 영향을 미칩니다.

Rising labor costs lead to higher service prices, directly affecting consumer prices.

'-여' (and/so - formal connector).

4차 산업혁명 시대에는 인건비 절감을 위한 로봇 도입이 가속화될 전망입니다.

In the era of the 4th Industrial Revolution, the introduction of robots to reduce labor costs is expected to accelerate.

'-ㄹ 전망이다' (is expected/forecasted).

고부가가치 산업일수록 인건비보다는 연구 개발비의 비중이 커지는 경향이 있습니다.

The more high-value-added an industry is, the more the proportion of R&D costs tends to increase over labor costs.

'-을수록' (the more... the more).

인건비 따먹기식의 하도급 구조는 노동 시장의 양극화를 심화시킵니다.

The subcontracting structure based on skimming labor costs deepens the polarization of the labor market.

Compound modifier ('따먹기식').

급격한 인건비 인상은 한계 기업들의 도산을 부추길 우려가 있습니다.

Rapid labor cost increases are feared to encourage the bankruptcy of marginal firms.

'-을 우려가 있다' (there is a fear/risk that).

인건비를 변동비가 아닌 고정비로 인식하는 경영 전략이 필요합니다.

A management strategy that recognizes labor costs as fixed costs rather than variable costs is necessary.

'-이 아닌' (not A but B).

인건비의 실질적 상승은 가계 소득 증대로 이어져 내수 진작의 마중물 역할을 할 수 있습니다.

A real increase in labor costs can lead to increased household income and serve as a catalyst for boosting domestic demand.

Metaphorical usage ('마중물').

글로벌 공급망 재편 과정에서 인건비 경쟁력은 여전히 핵심적인 고려 요소로 작용합니다.

In the process of global supply chain reorganization, labor cost competitiveness still acts as a key consideration factor.

Formal academic tone.

단순 노무직의 인건비가 상승함에 따라 기술적 실업이 발생할 가능성을 배제할 수 없습니다.

As labor costs for simple labor positions rise, the possibility of technological unemployment cannot be ruled out.

'-함에 따라' (as/in accordance with).

인건비 지출의 효율성을 극대화하기 위해 성과급 제도를 전면 도입하기로 결정했습니다.

To maximize the efficiency of labor cost spending, it was decided to fully introduce a performance-based pay system.

'-기로 결정하다' (decide to).

최저임금 산입 범위 확대는 인건비 계산의 복잡성을 가중시키는 결과를 초래했습니다.

The expansion of the scope of the minimum wage calculation has resulted in increased complexity in labor cost calculations.

Abstract verbal noun chains.

노동 집약적 산업에서 자본 집약적 산업으로의 전환은 인건비 압박에 대한 필연적인 대응입니다.

The transition from labor-intensive to capital-intensive industries is an inevitable response to labor cost pressure.

'-로의 전환' (transition to).

인건비의 가파른 상승세가 수출 기업들의 가격 경쟁력을 약화시킬 것이라는 지적이 제기되고 있습니다.

Points are being raised that the steep upward trend in labor costs will weaken the price competitiveness of exporting companies.

'-라는 지적이 제기되다' (points are being raised that).

인건비 문제를 단순히 비용의 관점이 아닌, 인간 존엄과 사회적 재생산의 관점에서 재조명해야 합니다.

The issue of labor costs should be re-examined not simply from the perspective of cost, but from the perspective of human dignity and social reproduction.

Philosophical/Sociological framing.

Synonyms

노동비 인력비 급여비

Antonyms

재료비

Common Collocations

인건비를 절감하다

인건비가 상승하다

인건비 부담

인건비 비중

인건비 따먹기

저렴한 인건비

인건비 포함

인건비 제외

인건비 책정

인건비 보조

Common Phrases

인건비도 안 나오다

— To not even make enough profit to cover the labor costs. Used when a business is doing very poorly.

손님이 없어서 인건비도 안 나와요.

인건비가 무섭다

— To feel that labor costs are intimidatingly high. Usually said by small business owners.

요즘은 인건비가 무서워서 사람을 못 써요.

인건비를 건지다

— To at least make enough money to pay the workers.

겨우 인건비는 건졌네요.

인건비 싸움

— A competition based on who can lower labor costs more.

제조업은 결국 인건비 싸움입니다.

인건비 도둑

— Someone who gets paid but doesn't do enough work (slang).

그는 사무실에서 인건비 도둑으로 통해요.

인건비가 나가다

— For labor costs to be spent/paid out.

매달 인건비로 수천만 원이 나갑니다.

인건비를 때려 박다

— To pour a huge amount of money into labor (informal/aggressive).

이 프로젝트에 인건비를 때려 박았어요.

인건비 효율

— The efficiency of labor cost spending.

인건비 효율을 높여야 합니다.

인건비 리스크

— The risk associated with rising labor costs.

최저임금 인상은 우리에게 인건비 리스크입니다.

인건비 내역

— The breakdown of labor costs.

인건비 내역을 확인해 보세요.

Often Confused With

인건비 vs 월급

Salary (from employee's view) vs Labor cost (from employer's view).

인건비 vs 생활비

Living expenses (personal) vs Labor costs (business).

인건비 vs 재료비

Material costs vs Human labor costs.

Idioms & Expressions

"인건비 따먹기"

— Making a profit by taking a cut from workers' wages or underpaying them.

그 하청 업체는 인건비 따먹기로 연명한다.

Negative/Critical

"몸으로 때우다"

— To do something with physical labor instead of spending money (related to saving 인건비).

돈이 없어서 몸으로 때웠어요.

Informal

"제 살 깎아먹기"

— A situation where lowering prices (often by cutting 인건비) eventually hurts the business itself.

인건비를 과도하게 줄이는 건 제 살 깎아먹기예요.

Metaphorical

"밑 빠진 독에 물 붓기"

— Pouring money into something that never fills up (often used for failing businesses with high 인건비).

이 사업에 인건비를 계속 주는 건 밑 빠진 독에 물 붓기예요.

Proverbial

"배보다 배꼽이 더 크다"

— When the secondary cost (like 인건비) is bigger than the main thing (like the product).

부품은 싼데 인건비가 더 비싸니 배보다 배꼽이 더 커요.

Common Idiom

"싼 게 비지떡"

— Cheap things are of poor quality (often used when hiring cheap labor results in bad work).

인건비 싼 사람을 썼더니 싼 게 비지떡이네요.

Proverbial

"돈이 사람을 만든다"

— Money makes the person (often used to justify high 인건비 to get better quality workers).

인건비를 많이 줘야 좋은 사람이 와요. 돈이 사람을 만드니까요.

Cynical

"손발이 맞다"

— To work well together (reduces wasted 인건비 through efficiency).

팀원들이 손발이 잘 맞아서 인건비가 절약됐어요.

Neutral

"등골을 빼먹다"

— To exploit someone (extreme version of 인건비 따먹기).

노동자들의 등골을 빼먹는 인건비 착취는 멈춰야 합니다.

Aggressive/Critical

"울며 겨자 먹기"

— Doing something reluctantly (like paying high 인건비 because there's no choice).

일손이 부족해서 울며 겨자 먹기로 높은 인건비를 줬어요.

Common Idiom

Easily Confused

인건비 vs 임금

Both mean money for work.

임금 is the legal/contracted wage; 인건비 includes all costs (taxes, insurance).

최저임금은 올랐지만, 전체 인건비는 더 많이 올랐다.

인건비 vs 급여

Both refer to payment.

급여 is what the employee receives; 인건비 is what the company spends.

내 급여는 작지만 회사의 인건비 부담은 크다.

인건비 vs 수당

Both are labor-related money.

수당 is an extra allowance (overtime, etc.); 인건비 is the total category.

야근 수당 때문에 인건비가 늘어났다.

인건비 vs 비용

Both mean cost.

비용 is any expense; 인건비 is specifically for people.

마케팅 비용과 인건비를 합쳐야 한다.

인건비 vs 노무비

Technical synonyms.

노무비 is an accounting term used in manufacturing; 인건비 is the general term.

공장에서는 인건비를 노무비라고 부르기도 한다.

Sentence Patterns

N + 때문에 힘들어요

인건비 때문에 힘들어요.

N + 을/를 줄이기 위해 V

인건비를 줄이기 위해 로봇을 사요.

N + 가/이 포함되다

인건비가 포함되어 있습니다.

N + 의 비중이 높다

인건비의 비중이 높습니다.

N + 에 시달리다

높은 인건비에 시달리고 있어요.

N + 을/를 초래하다

인건비 상승은 물가 인상을 초래합니다.

N + 에 대한 대응

인건비 압박에 대한 대응이 필요합니다.

N + (이)라는 지적이 있다

인건비가 과도하다는 지적이 있습니다.

Word Family

Nouns

인건비 (Labor cost)

인력 (Manpower)

건수 (Number of cases)

비용 (Expense/Cost)

Verbs

지출하다 (To spend/expend)

지급하다 (To pay/disburse)

절감하다 (To reduce/cut)

Adjectives

저렴하다 (To be cheap/inexpensive)

과도하다 (To be excessive)

합리적이다 (To be reasonable)

임금 (Wage)

급여 (Pay)

최저임금 (Minimum wage)

4대 보험 (Four major insurances)

퇴직금 (Severance pay)

How to Use It

frequency

Very high in business and economics; medium in daily life.

Common Mistakes

제 인건비가 얼마예요? → 제 월급이 얼마예요?
You don't ask for your own 'labor cost'; you ask for your 'salary'.
인건비를 일해요. → 일을 해요.
인건비 is a cost, not an action. You don't 'work' labor cost.
인건비가 많아요. → 인건비가 높아요 / 인건비가 많이 들어요.
While '많아요' is understood, '높다' (high) or '많이 들다' (costs a lot) is more natural.
생활비가 올라서 직원을 못 써요. → 인건비가 올라서 직원을 못 써요.
생활비 is personal living cost; 인건비 is the cost of hiring someone.
인건비는 급여하고 똑같아요. → 인건비는 급여보다 더 넓은 개념이에요.
They are not the same; 인건비 includes insurance and other overheads.

Tips

Using with '절감'

Always use '인건비 절감' in business reports. It sounds much more professional than '인건비 줄이기'.

The 'Bi' Family

Remember other 'Bi' words like 재료비 (material cost) and 관리비 (management fee) to build your business vocabulary.

Service is not free

In Korea, if something is 'Self-service', it's to save on 인건비. Recognizing this helps you understand the local economy.

Avoid personal use

Never say 'My 인건비 is high' in a social setting; it makes you sound like an object.

Subject vs Object

Use '인건비가' for states (rising, high) and '인건비를' for actions (cutting, paying).

News keywords

When you hear '인건비', expect the news to be about the economy, minimum wage, or robots.

Person-Matter-Cost

Break the word down: Person (In) + Matter (Geon) + Cost (Bi). It makes it impossible to forget.

Hanja Roots

Knowing that 'In' (人) means person will help you learn hundreds of other Korean words.

Budgeting

In a Korean office, '인건비' is often the biggest part of the budget. Use it to discuss financial planning.

Urban Life

Rising 인건비 is why there are so many vending machines and kiosks in Seoul today.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of 'IN-GEON-BI' as 'INside' the 'GEON' (Gun/Case) of 'BI' (Bills). You pay the bills for the people inside the case.

Visual Association

Imagine a factory where every worker has a price tag hanging from their shoulder. The sum of all those tags is the 인건비.

Word Web

인건비 월급 세금 보험 보너스 식대 퇴직금 야근수당

Challenge

Try to find the '인건비' section on a Korean company's annual report (available online as 'DART' reports). See how much they spend compared to other costs.

Word Origin

Derived from Sino-Korean (Hanja) roots. It is a compound noun used in modern economic and administrative Korean.

Original meaning: 人 (인 - Person) + 件 (건 - Matter/Case/Item) + 費 (비 - Expense). Literally: Expenses related to person-matters.

Sino-Korean (Hanja)

Cultural Context

Be careful when discussing 'reducing 인건비' in front of employees, as it often implies layoffs or wage freezes.

In English, we say 'Labor costs' or 'Personnel expenses'. 'Labor costs' sounds more like a factory, while 'Personnel expenses' sounds like an office. 인건비 covers both.

News reports on '최저임금' (Minimum wage) every summer. The movie 'Parasite' (기생충) subtly touches on the cost of domestic labor (인건비). Business books like 'Money Lesson' often discuss 인건비 management.

Practice in Real Life

Real-World Contexts

Business Budgeting

인건비 예산
인건비 절감 방안
인건비 비중
인건비 내역

Economic News

인건비 상승률
최저임금 인상
인건비 부담
노동 시장

Home Renovation

인건비 별도
인건비 포함
노임 단가
숙련공 인건비

Restaurant Management

인건비가 안 나오다
키오스크 도입
서빙 로봇
파트타임 인건비

Global Outsourcing

저렴한 인건비
해외 이전
인건비 경쟁력
생산 기지

Conversation Starters

"요즘 인건비가 너무 올라서 물가도 같이 오르는 것 같아요. 어떻게 생각하세요?"

"회사에서 인건비를 줄이기 위해 어떤 노력을 하고 있나요?"

"인건비가 싼 나라로 여행을 가면 서비스가 정말 좋더라고요."

"키오스크가 인건비를 줄이는 데 정말 도움이 될까요?"

"전문직 인건비는 왜 그렇게 비싼 걸까요?"

Journal Prompts

내가 사업을 한다면 인건비를 어떻게 관리할 것인지 써보세요.

인건비 상승과 자동화(로봇)의 관계에 대해 자신의 생각을 정리해 보세요.

한국의 최저임금 변화가 인건비에 미치는 영향에 대해 아는 대로 써보세요.

자신의 업무에서 '인건비'의 가치를 증명하려면 어떻게 해야 할까요?

인건비가 저렴한 나라와 비싼 나라의 서비스 차이를 경험한 적이 있나요?

Frequently Asked Questions

10 questions

월급 is the 'monthly salary' an employee takes home. 인건비 is the 'labor cost' an employer pays, which includes the salary plus insurance, taxes, and bonuses.

No, it sounds unnatural. Use '제 월급' or '제 연봉'. 인건비 is a business category.

Because the minimum wage has risen quickly in recent years, affecting many small businesses like restaurants and convenience stores.

Yes, especially when talking about why prices are high or when getting a quote for services like moving or repairs.

It means the service charge or labor cost is already included in the price, so you don't need to tip (though tipping isn't common in Korea anyway).

You say '저렴한 인건비' (Jeo-ryeom-han in-geon-bi).

Yes, it is a formal and professional term, but widely understood by everyone.

人 (Person) + 件 (Matter) + 費 (Expense).

Yes, in a business sense, 인건비 usually includes the employer's portion of social insurance (4대 보험).

Yes, it means 'labor is cheap' in that specific context or country.