A2 noun 2 min read

접수

The act of taking in an application or a request.

jeopsu
Practice it

Explanation at your level:

접수 means 'to receive'. You use it when you give your paper to a teacher or a clerk. For example, if you sign up for a class, you are doing 접수.

When you apply for a job or a school, you need to submit your documents. The act of the office taking your documents is called 접수. It is a very useful word for daily life in Korea.

In Korea, 접수 is the standard term for the intake of applications. Whether it is a contest, a government permit, or a medical appointment, you will likely see a sign that says 접수처, which means the place where you register or submit your request.

While 접수 is primarily administrative, it has a fun, informal usage: 'taking over' or 'conquering'. If someone says 'I've 접수ed this game,' they mean they have mastered it or taken the top spot. This shift from formal 'submission' to informal 'domination' is a great example of how language evolves.

The nuance of 접수 lies in the transition of authority. It implies that a document or request has entered a formal system where it will be reviewed. In academic or legal contexts, the timing of 접수 is crucial, as it marks the official start of a process. Understanding the distinction between 접수 (intake) and 심사 (review) is key to professional Korean.

Etymologically, 접수 represents the intersection of 'contact' and 'acceptance'. In literary or metaphorical contexts, it can describe the 'reception' of ideas or the 'absorption' of new information. However, in modern usage, it remains firmly anchored to the concept of bureaucratic intake. Mastery of this word requires recognizing when it is used in its literal administrative sense versus its colloquial 'conquest' sense.

Word in 30 Seconds

  • Means 'reception' or 'submission'.
  • Used in formal administrative contexts.
  • Slang meaning: 'to take over'.
  • Commonly paired with '하다'.

Hey there! 접수 (jeop-su) is a super common word you will hear all the time in Korea. At its heart, it means the act of receiving or accepting something, usually an application, a document, or a request.

Think of it as the 'front door' for any process. Whether you are signing up for a marathon, turning in a college application, or filing a police report, that moment when the clerk takes your paper is 접수. It is the official start of a bureaucratic journey!

Like many Korean words, 접수 is rooted in Hanja (Chinese characters). It comes from the characters 接 (to touch/receive) and 受 (to accept/receive).

Historically, this term was used in government offices to describe the formal intake of petitions or tax documents. Over centuries, it evolved from high-level administrative jargon into a standard term used by everyone from students to business professionals today.

You will mostly see this in formal or professional contexts. People often say 접수를 하다 (to do the receiving/to submit) or 접수를 받다 (to receive the submission).

Common collocations include 원서 접수 (application submission) or 신고 접수 (report filing). It is not usually used for casual things like 'receiving a gift'—that would be 받다 instead!

1. 접수하다 (to take over/conquer): In a slang sense, it means to dominate or take control of a place. 'He totally 접수ed the dance floor!'

2. 접수 마감: The deadline for submissions. 'The 접수 마감 is tomorrow at 5 PM.'

3. 접수처: The reception desk or submission point.

4. 접수증: A receipt or proof of submission.

5. 접수 대기: Waiting for your submission to be processed.

The word is a noun, but it is almost always paired with the verb 하다 (to do) to create a verb phrase. It follows standard Korean noun-verb patterns.

Pronunciation-wise, it sounds like 'jup-soo'. The 'eo' sound is like the 'u' in 'but' if you are from the US, and the 'oo' is a long vowel. It rhymes with words like '수' (number) or '주' (week) in Korean.

Fun Fact

The character 受 is often used in words related to receiving, like 수신 (receiving a message).

Pronunciation Guide

UK /dʒʌp.suː/

Closest approximation to Korean sound.

US /dʒʌp.suː/

Closest approximation to Korean sound.

Common Errors

  • Mispronouncing 'eo' as 'oh'
  • Dropping the final 'p' sound
  • Adding extra syllables

Rhymes With

수 주 무 부 추

Difficulty Rating

Reading 2/5

Common in formal signs.

Writing 2/5
Speaking 2/5
Listening 2/5

What to Learn Next

Prerequisites

하다 서류 신청

Learn Next

수리 반려 민원

Advanced

수렴 이관

Grammar to Know

Noun + 하다

접수하다

Sino-Korean roots

접(接) + 수(受)

Formal endings

접수 마감입니다

Examples by Level

1

서류 접수합니다.

Documents receiving-do.

Noun + 하다

1

오늘 접수 마감이에요.

2

접수처가 어디인가요?

3

인터넷으로 접수하세요.

4

신청서 접수 완료.

5

접수증을 받으세요.

6

접수 대기 중입니다.

7

접수 시간이 끝났어요.

8

이름을 접수하세요.

1

대회 참가 접수를 받습니다.

2

접수 순서대로 진행합니다.

3

우편으로 접수 가능합니다.

4

접수 확인 메일을 보냈어요.

5

접수를 취소하고 싶어요.

6

접수 번호를 알려주세요.

7

접수 기간을 확인하세요.

8

현장 접수는 불가능합니다.

1

그는 이번 대회를 완전히 접수했다.

2

서류 접수 시 신분증이 필요합니다.

3

접수 절차가 매우 복잡하네요.

4

온라인 접수 시스템이 마비되었습니다.

5

접수된 서류는 반환되지 않습니다.

6

이번 학기 수강 신청 접수 중입니다.

7

접수처에서 번호표를 뽑으세요.

8

접수 마감 시간을 엄수해 주십시오.

1

본 공모전의 접수 기한은 연장되었습니다.

2

접수된 민원은 담당 부서로 이관됩니다.

3

사전 접수자에게는 우선권이 주어집니다.

4

접수와 동시에 심사가 시작됩니다.

5

접수 누락 방지를 위해 확인 부탁드립니다.

6

이번 프로젝트는 우리가 접수했다.

7

접수 절차를 간소화할 필요가 있습니다.

8

공식적인 접수 절차를 밟아야 합니다.

1

접수된 의견을 수렴하여 정책에 반영하겠습니다.

2

이 분야의 시장을 완전히 접수하겠다는 전략입니다.

3

접수 마감 직전까지 치열한 경쟁이 예상됩니다.

4

행정적 접수 절차를 무시할 수는 없습니다.

5

접수처의 업무 과부하로 처리가 지연되고 있습니다.

6

그는 단숨에 업계의 판도를 접수했다.

7

접수증을 지참하지 않으면 입장이 불가합니다.

8

접수 단계에서부터 철저한 검토가 이루어집니다.

Common Collocations

원서 접수
접수 마감
접수처
온라인 접수
접수증
현장 접수
접수 완료
접수 대기
접수 순서
접수 기간

Idioms & Expressions

"접수하다 (slang)"

To take over or dominate a space/situation.

오늘 파티는 우리가 접수하자!

casual

"접수 마감"

Submission deadline.

접수 마감이 얼마 안 남았어.

neutral

"접수 완료"

Successfully submitted.

신청 접수 완료!

neutral

"접수처"

Reception desk.

저기 접수처에 물어봐.

neutral

"접수증"

Receipt of submission.

접수증 없으면 안 돼요.

neutral

"접수 대기"

Waiting for processing.

지금 접수 대기 중입니다.

formal

Easily Confused

접수 vs 신청

Both relate to applications.

신청 is the request, 접수 is the receipt of that request.

신청을 하고 접수를 기다린다.

접수 vs 수령

Both mean receiving.

수령 is for physical items.

택배를 수령하다.

접수 vs 등록

Both are administrative.

등록 is for registration/enrollment.

수강 등록을 하다.

접수 vs 수리

Both are formal.

수리 is for official approval.

서류가 수리되었다.

Sentence Patterns

A2

Subject + Noun + 접수하다

나는 서류를 접수했다.

A1

접수 + 마감 + 이다

접수 마감입니다.

B1

접수 + 순서 + 대로

접수 순서대로 하세요.

A2

접수 + 처 + 에서

접수처에서 하세요.

B1

온라인 + 으로 + 접수하다

온라인으로 접수하세요.

Word Family

Nouns

접수처 Reception desk

Verbs

접수하다 To receive/submit

Related

신청 Often happens before 접수

How to Use It

frequency

9

Formality Scale

Formal Neutral Casual (slang)

Common Mistakes

Using '접수' for receiving a gift. → 받다
접수 is for formal submissions, not casual gifts.
Confusing 접수 with 신청. → Context dependent
신청 is the act of applying, 접수 is the act of the office receiving it.
Using '접수' for buying something. → 구매
접수 is not for commercial transactions.
Misspelling as 졉수. → 접수
Phonetic error.
Using '접수' for receiving a package. → 수령
수령 is for physical goods/mail.

Tips

💡

Memory Palace

Imagine a big stamp hitting a paper—that's the sound of 접수.

💡

Real life

Look for the sign '접수처' in buildings.

🌍

Slang

Remember it can mean 'taking over' a game.

💡

Shortcut

Always pair with 하다.

💡

Say it

Keep the 'p' sharp.

💡

Don't mix

Don't use it for gifts.

💡

Did you know?

It comes from Chinese characters.

💡

Study smart

Learn it with '신청'.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

J-up (Jump up) to the desk to submit your paper.

Visual Association

A long line of people at a desk, each handing over a paper.

Word Web

신청 서류 마감 접수처

Challenge

Try to say '접수 완료' every time you finish a task.

Word Origin

Sino-Korean

Original meaning: 接 (touch/receive) + 受 (accept/receive)

Cultural Context

None.

Equivalent to 'intake', 'submission', or 'registration'.

Used in almost every Korean drama involving office or school settings.

Practice in Real Life

Real-World Contexts

School/University

  • 원서 접수
  • 수강 신청 접수
  • 접수 마감

Government Office

  • 민원 접수
  • 서류 접수
  • 접수증

Contests

  • 참가 접수
  • 접수 기간
  • 온라인 접수

Everyday life

  • 접수처 어디예요?
  • 접수 완료됐나요?

Conversation Starters

"오늘 접수 마감이 언제예요?"

"온라인으로 접수하는 게 편해요?"

"접수처가 어디인지 아세요?"

"이번 대회 접수 하셨어요?"

"접수증을 어디에 두었죠?"

Journal Prompts

Write about a time you had to submit an important application.

Describe the process of registering for a class.

What do you think about the slang meaning of '접수하다'?

Explain the difference between '신청' and '접수'.

Frequently Asked Questions

8 questions

No, use 수령.

Mostly, except when used as slang.

접수하다.

At school offices, contest websites, etc.

Yes, in the sense of accepting a document.

Yes.

No, that's incorrect.

반려 (rejection).

Test Yourself

fill blank A1

서류 ___ 합니다.

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer: 접수

접수 is the noun for submission.

multiple choice A2

Which means 'submission desk'?

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer: 접수처

처 means place.

true false B1

접수 is used for receiving gifts.

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer: False

Use 받다 for gifts.

match pairs B1

Word

Meaning

All matched!

Common collocations.

sentence order B2

Tap words below to build the sentence
Correct! Not quite. Correct answer:

Subject-time-predicate order.

Score: /5

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