수리 in 30 Seconds
- 수리 (Suri) is the standard Korean word for 'repair', focusing on machines and electronics.
- It is a formal noun that becomes a verb when paired with '하다' (수리하다).
- Commonly heard at service centers (AS 센터) and car mechanics (카센터).
- Distinct from '수선' (clothes) and '고치다' (general/informal fixing).
The Korean noun 수리 (Suri) is a cornerstone of functional vocabulary, primarily referring to the systematic process of fixing, mending, or restoring an object that has suffered damage or mechanical failure. Derived from the Hanja 修理, where 修 (su) signifies 'to polish, study, or repair' and 理 (ri) represents 'reason, logic, or to manage,' the word carries a connotation of professional or technical restoration. Unlike more casual terms, 수리 implies a return to an original, functional state through deliberate effort and expertise.
- Technical Scope
- Typically applied to machinery, electronics, vehicles, and complex infrastructure. It suggests a level of complexity beyond a simple 'fix'.
- Formal Nuance
- Used in official documentation, service centers, and professional contracts to describe maintenance and restoration services.
- Restorative Intent
- Focuses on the transition from a 'broken' (고장) state to a 'functional' (정상) state.
"컴퓨터가 고장 나서 수리를 맡겼어요." (The computer broke, so I left it for repair.)
In the broader linguistic landscape of Korea, '수리' distinguishes itself from '수선' (suseon), which is strictly reserved for clothing or shoes, and '고침' (gochim), which is a more native, versatile, but less formal way of saying 'fixing'. When you enter a Samsung or LG service center, the signs will invariably use '수리' because it denotes the professional standard of their technical support. It is not merely about making something work again; it is about the 'logic' (理) of the machine being 're-ordered' (修).
"이 자동차는 수리비가 너무 많이 나와요." (The repair cost for this car is too high.)
Furthermore, the word is often paired with the verb '하다' to form '수리하다' (to repair). In modern Korean society, the 'right to repair' (수리할 권리) has become a significant social topic, highlighting the word's relevance in legal and environmental discussions. Whether it is a leaky faucet in an apartment or a cracked smartphone screen, '수리' is the essential term for the act of bringing order back to a chaotic, broken world.
- Synonym Comparison
- 고치다: General, used for habits, machines, and mistakes.
수리하다: Specific to machines and structures, more formal.
"오래된 시계를 수리해서 다시 사용하고 있어요." (I repaired an old watch and am using it again.)
Using 수리 correctly requires understanding its grammatical flexibility as both a noun and a component of a verb. In its noun form, it frequently takes particles like -를/을 (object) or -가/이 (subject). The most common verb construction is 수리하다 (to repair), which is an active verb. Conversely, if something is being repaired, you might use 수리되다 (to be repaired) or the more natural 수리 중이다 (to be under repair).
"제 노트북은 지금 수리 중이라서 사용할 수 없어요." (My laptop is under repair right now, so I can't use it.)
When you take an item to a professional, the standard phrase is '수리를 맡기다' (to leave something for repair). This implies entrusting the object to a technician. If you are the one paying, you will encounter '수리비' (repair fee). In Korea, many electronics come with a '무상 수리' (free repair) period, usually one year, which is a vital term for consumers to know.
- Active Usage
- 기사가 에어컨을 수리하고 있습니다. (The technician is repairing the air conditioner.)
- Passive/State Usage
- 이 건물은 수리가 필요합니다. (This building needs repair.)
- Compound Nouns
- 수리 센터 (Repair Center), 수리 기사 (Repair Technician), 수리 내역 (Repair History).
In formal writing or business contexts, '수리' is often used in the context of infrastructure. For example, '도로 수리' (road repair) or '교량 수리' (bridge repair). In these cases, it might be interchangeable with '보수' (maintenance/repair), but '수리' remains the most common term for fixing something that is explicitly broken. When speaking to a repairman, using '수리해 주세요' (Please repair it) is polite and clear.
"자전거 체인이 끊어져서 수리가 불가능하대요." (They say the bicycle chain is broken and repair is impossible.)
You will encounter the word 수리 in various everyday environments in Korea, ranging from high-tech service centers to local neighborhood shops. The most common location is the 서비스 센터 (Service Center). Companies like Samsung and LG have extensive networks of 'AS Centers' (After-Sales Centers), where the word '수리' is plastered on every form, screen, and receipt. When you walk in, the kiosk might ask you to select '수리 접수' (Repair Registration).
"고객님, 수리가 완료되면 문자로 알려드리겠습니다." (Customer, we will notify you via text once the repair is complete.)
Another frequent setting is the 카센터 (Car Center/Mechanic). Whether it's for an oil change (though that's usually '교환') or fixing an engine problem, '수리' is the go-to term. You might hear a mechanic say, "엔진 수리가 필요합니다" (Engine repair is necessary). In the context of housing, if you are renting an apartment (Jeonse or Wolse), and the boiler breaks, you would call the landlord and say, "보일러 수리해 주세요" (Please repair the boiler).
- Public Announcements
- Subway stations often have signs saying '에스컬레이터 수리 중' (Escalator under repair), warning commuters to use the stairs.
- News & Media
- Reports on natural disasters often mention '시설물 수리' (repair of facilities) or '긴급 수리' (emergency repair) to restore power or water.
In the digital realm, '수리' appears in app notifications or website banners when physical hardware is being serviced. If you use a delivery app and the rider's bike breaks down, the status might update to reflect a delay due to '오토바이 수리'. It is a word that signals a temporary halt in service followed by a restoration of normalcy.
"이 신발은 수리하는 것보다 새로 사는 게 더 싸요." (Repairing these shoes is more expensive than buying new ones.)
While 수리 is a versatile word, learners often make specific errors regarding its scope and homonyms. The most frequent mistake is using '수리' for items that require '수선' (suseon). In Korean, 수선 is specifically for clothing, shoes, and bags. If you tell a tailor "옷을 수리해 주세요," they will understand you, but it sounds like you want them to treat your shirt like a broken engine. Use '수선' for fabrics and '수리' for mechanics.
"바지 길이를 수선했어요." (I had the length of my pants altered/repaired.) Correct usage for clothes!
Another major point of confusion is the homonym 수리 (數理), which means 'mathematical principles' or 'logic'. High school students in Korea take the '수리 영역' (Mathematics section) of the CSAT (Suneung). If you see '수리' in a school context, it's likely math, not a broken desk. Additionally, 수리 (受理) means to 'accept' or 'process' an application or document. If a government office says "서류가 수리되었습니다," it means your documents were accepted, not that they fixed your paperwork.
- Wrong: 수리 vs. 수정
- Don't use '수리' for text or plans. Use 수정 (sujeong - modification/correction) for documents, schedules, or software code.
- Wrong: 수리 vs. 치료
- Never use '수리' for people. If someone is hurt, use 치료 (chiryo - treatment). Fixing a broken bone is not '수리'.
Learners also struggle with the particle usage. While '수리를 하다' is correct, in fast speech, the '를' is often dropped: '수리하다'. However, when using '수리' as a subject, you must use '가': "수리가 다 됐어요" (The repair is all done). Using '수리를 다 됐어요' is a common grammatical error for beginners. Finally, remember that '수리' implies something was *broken*. If you are just making something better, use '개선' (improvement) or '보완' (supplementation).
To truly master 수리, one must understand its relationship with other 'fixing' words in Korean. The most common synonym is 고치다. This is a native Korean verb (pure Korean) that is much broader than '수리'. You can '고치다' a machine, a habit (버릇을 고치다), a mistake (틀린 것을 고치다), or even a person's health (병을 고치다). '수리' is the formal, Hanja-based subset of '고치다' specifically for physical objects.
"나쁜 습관을 고치는 것은 어렵습니다." (Fixing/changing a bad habit is difficult.) Cannot use '수리' here!
Another important word is 보수 (補修). While '수리' focuses on fixing something that is broken, '보수' often implies 'maintenance and repair' to prevent further damage or to keep something in good condition, especially buildings, roads, or large structures. If a bridge has a small crack, the city will perform '보수 공사' (maintenance work). If the bridge collapses and they fix it, it's '수리' or '복구' (restoration).
- 수선 (修繕)
- Used for clothing, shoes, and bags. Think of it as 'mending' or 'tailoring'.
- 개수 (改修)
- To repair and improve. Often used for renovating old facilities like bathrooms or kitchens.
- 정비 (整備)
- Maintenance or servicing. Usually used for cars (자동차 정비) or military equipment to keep them in top shape before they break.
Lastly, 복구 (復舊) means to restore something to its original state after a disaster. If a flood destroys a town, they '복구' the town. While '수리' is part of that process, '복구' covers the entire effort of returning to the previous state. Understanding these nuances allows you to choose the most precise word for the situation, making your Korean sound much more natural and sophisticated.
How Formal Is It?
Difficulty Rating
Grammar to Know
-아/어 주다 (Doing for someone)
-느라고 (Reason for being busy)
-기 때문에 (Because)
-(으)ㄹ 수 있다 (Possibility)
-(으)려고 하다 (Intention)
Examples by Level
핸드폰 수리해 주세요.
Please repair my phone.
수리 + 해 주세요 (Request form)
컴퓨터 수리가 끝났어요.
The computer repair is finished.
수리 + 가 (Subject particle)
수리비는 얼마예요?
How much is the repair fee?
수리 + 비 (Fee suffix)
여기서 수리해요?
Do you do repairs here?
수리 + 해요 (Present tense verb)
자전거 수리 센터예요.
It is a bicycle repair center.
수리 + 센터 (Compound noun)
제 시계 수리해 주세요.
Please repair my watch.
Noun + 수리
수리가 아주 빨라요.
The repair is very fast.
Adverb + Adjective
내일 수리하러 가요.
I am going to get it repaired tomorrow.
-(으)러 가다 (Purpose of going)
에어컨 수리를 맡겼어요.
I left the air conditioner for repair.
수리를 맡기다 (Set phrase)
수리가 필요하면 말하세요.
If repair is needed, please tell me.
-(으)면 (If condition)
이것은 수리가 안 돼요.
This cannot be repaired.
안 되다 (Negative possibility)
수리 기사님이 오셨어요.
The repair technician has arrived.
기사 + 님 (Honorific title)
무상 수리가 가능해요.
Free repair is possible.
무상 (Free of charge)
카메라 수리비가 너무 비싸요.
The camera repair fee is too expensive.
Noun + 수리비
어디서 수리할 수 있어요?
Where can I get it repaired?
-(으)ㄹ 수 있다 (Can/Ability)
수리하는 데 시간이 걸려요.
It takes time to repair.
-는 데 (In the act of/For the purpose of)
노트북 액정 수리를 신청했어요.
I applied for a laptop screen repair.
액정 (LCD/Screen) + 수리
수리 중이라서 전화를 못 받아요.
I can't take the call because it's under repair.
-느라고/중이라서 (Reason/During)
부품이 없어서 수리가 지연되고 있어요.
Repair is being delayed because there are no parts.
지연되다 (To be delayed)
수리 내역서를 확인해 보세요.
Please check the repair history/statement.
내역서 (Statement of details)
보증 기간 내에는 수리가 무료입니다.
Repair is free within the warranty period.
보증 기간 (Warranty period)
이 차는 수리할 곳이 많아요.
This car has many places that need repair.
-(으)ㄹ 곳 (Place to...)
수리 전문가에게 물어보는 게 좋아요.
It's better to ask a repair expert.
-는 게 좋다 (It is better to...)
집 수리를 하느라 정신이 없어요.
I'm so busy/distracted with home repairs.
-느라 (Because of doing...)
침수된 핸드폰은 수리가 까다로워요.
Water-damaged phones are tricky to repair.
침수되다 (To be flooded/water-damaged)
수리비가 중고 가격보다 더 나오겠는데요.
The repair fee will likely be more than the used price.
-겠는데요 (Conjecture/Observation)
정식 수리 센터를 이용하는 것이 안전합니다.
It is safe to use an official repair center.
정식 (Official/Formal)
수리 기사님의 기술이 정말 뛰어나시네요.
The repair technician's skill is truly outstanding.
뛰어나다 (To be outstanding)
부실한 수리 때문에 사고가 날 뻔했어요.
I almost had an accident because of a poor repair.
-(으)ㄹ 뻔하다 (Almost happened)
수리 가능 여부를 먼저 확인해 주시겠어요?
Could you first check whether repair is possible?
여부 (Whether or not)
오래된 가전제품은 수리 부품을 구하기 힘들어요.
It's hard to find repair parts for old appliances.
구하다 (To find/obtain)
수리 후에 소음이 완전히 사라졌어요.
The noise completely disappeared after the repair.
소음 (Noise)
제조사는 소비자의 수리할 권리를 보장해야 한다.
Manufacturers must guarantee the consumer's right to repair.
수리할 권리 (Right to repair)
문화재 수리는 원형 보존을 원칙으로 합니다.
Cultural property repair is based on the principle of preserving the original form.
원형 보존 (Preservation of original form)
기계의 노후화로 인해 잦은 수리가 불가피합니다.
Frequent repairs are inevitable due to the aging of the machinery.
불가피하다 (To be inevitable)
수리 과정에서 발생한 결함은 업체가 책임져야 합니다.
The company must take responsibility for defects that occur during the repair process.
결함 (Defect/Flaw)
긴급 수리반이 현장에 투입되어 복구 작업을 시작했습니다.
An emergency repair team was deployed to the site and began restoration work.
투입되다 (To be deployed/inserted)
이 건물은 구조적 결함으로 인해 전면적인 수리가 요구됩니다.
This building requires a full-scale repair due to structural defects.
전면적인 (Full-scale/General)
수리비 산정 기준이 불투명하다는 지적이 제기되었다.
Points were raised that the criteria for calculating repair costs are opaque.
산정 (Calculation/Estimation)
정밀 수리를 통해 장비의 수명을 연장할 수 있었습니다.
We were able to extend the lifespan of the equipment through precision repair.
수명 연장 (Life extension)
국가 기간 시설의 수리는 안보와 직결되는 중대한 사안이다.
The repair of national infrastructure is a critical issue directly linked to security.
직결되다 (To be directly linked)
해당 법안은 수리 용이성을 설계 단계부터 고려하도록 강제한다.
The bill mandates that ease of repair be considered from the design stage.
용이성 (Ease/Facilitation)
첨단 반도체 장비의 수리는 고도의 전문 지식을 요하는 작업이다.
Repairing advanced semiconductor equipment is a task that requires a high level of specialized knowledge.
요하다 (To require/demand)
수리 담합 행위로 인해 소비자들이 막대한 피해를 입었다.
Consumers suffered enormous damage due to repair price-fixing practices.
담합 (Collusion/Price-fixing)
우주 정거장의 수리는 무중력 상태라는 특수한 환경에서 이루어진다.
The repair of the space station takes place in the special environment of zero gravity.
이루어지다 (To take place/be achieved)
역사적 건축물의 수리는 고증을 거쳐 철저하게 수행되어야 한다.
The repair of historical buildings must be carried out thoroughly through historical research.
고증 (Historical research/investigation)
수리 서비스의 질적 향상을 위해 전문 인력 양성이 시급하다.
To improve the quality of repair services, it is urgent to train professional personnel.
질적 향상 (Qualitative improvement)
기술적 한계로 인해 수리가 불가능한 경우 대체품을 제공해야 한다.
If repair is impossible due to technical limitations, a replacement must be provided.
대체품 (Replacement/Substitute)
Common Collocations
Common Phrases
Often Confused With
Idioms & Expressions
Easily Confused
Sentence Patterns
How to Use It
Always use 수선.
Use 고치다 or 수정.
Use 수리 or 보수.
Always use 수리.
- Using '수리' for clothes (should be 수선).
- Using '수리' for software bugs (should be 수정).
- Confusing '수리' (repair) with '소리' (sound).
- Using '수리' for medical treatment (should be 치료).
- Saying '수리를 됐어요' instead of '수리가 됐어요'.
Tips
The 'AS' Rule
In Korea, look for 'AS 센터' if you need '수리'. It's the most common sign you'll see.
Verb Formation
Simply add '하다' to '수리' to say 'to repair'. It's one of the easiest verb patterns.
Palli-Palli
Expect '수리' to be fast in Korea. Most minor repairs are done while you wait.
Renters
If you rent, always ask the landlord before doing a major '수리' yourself.
No Clothes!
Never say '옷 수리'. Tailors will look at you funny. Use '수선' instead.
Business
In reports, use '보수 및 수리' to sound professional about building maintenance.
Screens
A cracked screen is called '액정 파손', and you need '액정 수리'.
Estimates
Always ask for a '견적' (estimate) before agreeing to a '수리' to avoid high fees.
Signs
If you see a '수리 중' sign on an elevator, do not enter; it's being fixed.
Hanja
Learning the Hanja '修' (su) will help you understand words like '수선', '수정', and '수업'.
Memorize It
Word Origin
Sino-Korean (Hanja)
Cultural Context
Koreans rarely say 'repair shop' for electronics; they say 'AS Center'.
Korea has a strong culture of '수리해서 쓰기' (repairing and using) to reduce waste, supported by local government 'repair cafes'.
Landlords are legally responsible for major '수리' (like boilers), while tenants handle minor ones (like lightbulbs).
Practice in Real Life
Real-World Contexts
Conversation Starters
"핸드폰 수리 어디서 하면 좋아요?"
"이 노트북 수리비가 얼마나 나올까요?"
"수리 센터가 몇 시에 문을 닫나요?"
"무상 수리 기간이 아직 남았나요?"
"수리하는 데 며칠이나 걸릴까요?"
Journal Prompts
최근에 무언가를 수리한 경험에 대해 써 보세요.
수리해서 쓰는 것과 새로 사는 것 중 무엇을 더 선호하나요?
한국의 수리 서비스(AS)에 대해 어떻게 생각하나요?
직접 무언가를 수리해 본 적이 있나요?
수리할 권리가 왜 중요한지 설명해 보세요.
Frequently Asked Questions
10 questionsNo, it's for any machine, vehicle, or structure. However, for clothes, you must use '수선'.
'고치다' is a general word for fixing anything (habits, health, machines). '수리' is specifically for technical/physical objects and is more formal.
No, that would sound very strange. Use '치유하다' (to heal) or '달래다' (to soothe).
It stands for 'After-Sales' service, which is the general term for repair and customer support.
Ask '무상 수리가 가능한가요?' (Is free repair possible?).
Yes, if written as 數理. You will see this on the Suneung (CSAT) exam.
'수리비' is for machines/cars; '수선비' is for clothes/shoes.
It is a repair technician or engineer.
It's better to use '수정' (correction) or '패치' (patch) for software bugs.
It means 'Under Repair' or 'Being fixed'.
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Summary
Use '수리' when you need to talk about professional technical repairs for hardware, vehicles, or buildings. It signals a formal context and focuses on restoring functionality to complex systems.
- 수리 (Suri) is the standard Korean word for 'repair', focusing on machines and electronics.
- It is a formal noun that becomes a verb when paired with '하다' (수리하다).
- Commonly heard at service centers (AS 센터) and car mechanics (카센터).
- Distinct from '수선' (clothes) and '고치다' (general/informal fixing).
The 'AS' Rule
In Korea, look for 'AS 센터' if you need '수리'. It's the most common sign you'll see.
Verb Formation
Simply add '하다' to '수리' to say 'to repair'. It's one of the easiest verb patterns.
Palli-Palli
Expect '수리' to be fast in Korea. Most minor repairs are done while you wait.
Renters
If you rent, always ask the landlord before doing a major '수리' yourself.
Example
컴퓨터가 고장 나서 수리를 맡겼어요.
