Explanation at your level:
You use 전근하다 when you move to a new office. It is for work. You stay in the same company. You just go to a new place.
When you work for a big company, sometimes they send you to a different city. This is called 전근하다. It is a normal part of working in Korea.
전근하다 describes a formal transfer within an organization. It is different from quitting. You are still working for the same boss, but your office location has changed.
In a professional setting, 전근하다 is the standard term for internal reassignment. It is often used when discussing career progression or regional rotation policies within large firms.
The term 전근하다 carries a nuance of administrative mandate. It is frequently used in formal reports or HR communications to denote a change in the employee's designated station of duty.
Beyond simple movement, 전근하다 reflects the structural mobility inherent in bureaucratic hierarchies. It signifies a transition that is often mandatory, impacting both the professional and personal life of the employee.
Word in 30 Seconds
- 전근하다 means to transfer within a company.
- Used primarily in professional business contexts.
- Requires the particle (으)로 for destination.
- Distinct from changing companies (이직).
전근하다 is a specific term used in professional Korean to describe the process of changing one's work location. Think of it as a job transfer where you stay with the same company but move to a different office.
It is very common in large corporations, government agencies, or school systems where employees are periodically rotated. When someone says they are '전근을 간다,' they are letting you know that their daily commute will change because their desk is moving to a new branch.
The word is composed of two Hanja characters: 전 (轉), meaning 'to turn' or 'to change,' and 근 (勤), meaning 'work' or 'duty.' Together, they literally mean 'to change one's work location.'
Historically, this term has been deeply tied to the bureaucratic systems in East Asia, where civil servants were often rotated between regions to prevent corruption and ensure local neutrality. Over time, it became the standard way to describe any formal transfer within an organization.
You will mostly hear this word in business or formal academic contexts. It is not typically used for changing companies (that would be '이직').
Common collocations include '타 지역으로 전근하다' (transfer to another region) or '본사로 전근하다' (transfer to the headquarters). It is a neutral, professional term that implies an official order or decision made by the organization.
While '전근하다' is a direct verb, it is often used in phrases like 전근 명령을 받다 (to receive a transfer order) or 전근을 명받다 (to be ordered to transfer). These expressions highlight the formal nature of the movement within a company structure.
As a regular verb, it conjugates easily: 전근합니다 (formal), 전근해요 (polite), and 전근했다 (past tense). The pronunciation follows standard Korean rules, where the 'ㄴ' sound is emphasized.
It is an intransitive verb, meaning you usually describe the person who is transferring as the subject, rather than an object being moved.
Fun Fact
It is a staple of Korean corporate culture.
Pronunciation Guide
Korean phonetics apply
Korean phonetics apply
Common Errors
- Mispronouncing the 'ㄴ' sound
- Confusing '전' with '정'
- Incorrect pitch
Rhymes With
Difficulty Rating
Easy to read in business context
Standard verb usage
Common in office talk
Clear pronunciation
What to Learn Next
Prerequisites
Learn Next
Advanced
Grammar to Know
Particle (으)로
서울로 전근하다
Passive construction
전근을 명받다
Formal verb endings
전근합니다
Examples by Level
나는 전근합니다.
I am transferring.
Present tense.
그는 서울로 전근했어요.
내년에 전근할 예정입니다.
전근하는 것이 힘들어요.
그녀는 부산으로 전근했습니다.
전근 소식을 들었어요.
전근을 축하해요.
우리 아빠는 전근했어요.
전근은 좋은 기회입니다.
회사는 그를 해외 지사로 전근시켰습니다.
전근 명령이 갑자기 내려왔어요.
새로운 곳으로 전근하게 되어 설렙니다.
전근을 가기 전에 인사를 드려야 해요.
그는 3년마다 전근합니다.
전근 때문에 이사를 가야 합니다.
전근은 업무의 일환입니다.
그는 본사로 전근을 원합니다.
인사과에서 전근 통보를 받았습니다.
전근으로 인해 업무 환경이 바뀌었습니다.
그는 전근을 거부하고 퇴사했습니다.
전근 대상자로 선정되었습니다.
전근은 경력에 도움이 될 것입니다.
그는 전근을 통해 더 많은 경험을 쌓았습니다.
전근 발령이 공고되었습니다.
지역 순환 근무로 전근하게 되었습니다.
조직 개편에 따라 대규모 전근이 있었습니다.
그는 전근을 통해 사내 네트워크를 확장했습니다.
전근은 인사 관리의 핵심 전략 중 하나입니다.
그는 전근을 감수하고 승진을 선택했습니다.
전근 명령에 대한 이의를 제기했습니다.
전근은 직원들의 직무 만족도에 영향을 줍니다.
그는 전근 후 빠르게 적응했습니다.
전근 절차를 간소화할 필요가 있습니다.
그의 전근은 회사의 전략적 요충지 강화 계획의 일환이었다.
전근을 통한 인적 자원의 효율적 배분은 기업의 생존과 직결된다.
그는 전근이라는 과업을 통해 조직 내 영향력을 공고히 했다.
전근 발령은 종종 개인의 삶에 급격한 변화를 초래한다.
전근은 조직의 경직성을 해소하는 유용한 수단이다.
그는 전근을 통해 다양한 지역적 특성을 업무에 반영했다.
전근 명령은 거부할 수 없는 회사의 지침이었다.
전근은 단순한 이동을 넘어선 조직 문화의 전파 과정이다.
Common Collocations
Idioms & Expressions
"전근을 명받다"
To be ordered to transfer
그는 오늘 전근을 명받았다.
formal""
""
""
""
""
Easily Confused
Both involve work changes
이직 = new company; 전근 = same company
그는 이직했다 (new job) vs 그는 전근했다 (new office).
Both mean moving out
전출 is often used for administrative records
전출 신고를 했다.
Both mean transfer
전보 is more formal/bureaucratic
인사 전보가 있었다.
Both mean moving
이사 is for living spaces
집을 이사했다.
Sentence Patterns
Subject + [Place] + (으)로 + 전근하다
그는 대전으로 전근했다.
Subject + 전근 명령을 받다
나는 전근 명령을 받았다.
Subject + 전근을 가다
내일 전근을 갑니다.
Subject + 전근을 오다
그가 우리 지사로 전근을 왔다.
Subject + 전근 대상자로 선정되다
그는 전근 대상자로 선정되었다.
Word Family
Nouns
Verbs
Related
How to Use It
7
Formality Scale
Common Mistakes
이직 means changing companies; 전근 means moving within the same company.
Tips
Memory Palace
Imagine a desk walking to a new building.
Context
Use it only for professional office settings.
Insight
It is very common in Korean corporate life.
Rule
Always pair with the destination particle (으)로.
Say It
Focus on the clear 'ㄴ' sound.
Mistake
Don't confuse it with moving house (이사).
Fact
Teachers are frequently subject to this.
Hack
Learn the Hanja characters.
Practice
Write a fake transfer email.
Flow
Practice the rhythm of the three syllables.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
전 (Change) + 근 (Work) = Changing your work desk.
Visual Association
A person moving a box of personal items from one office to another.
Word Web
Challenge
Use the word in a sentence about a fictional character moving cities.
Word Origin
Sino-Korean (Hanja)
Original meaning: Turning/changing work
Cultural Context
Can be stressful for families due to relocation.
Similar to 'job transfer' or 'reassignment'.
Practice in Real Life
Real-World Contexts
At work
- 전근 소식
- 전근 발령
- 전근 인사
HR Department
- 전근 절차
- 전근 대상자
- 전근 신청
Moving/Relocation
- 전근으로 인한 이사
- 전근지 적응
Professional Networking
- 전근 후 인사
- 전근 간 동료
Conversation Starters
"어디로 전근하게 되셨나요?"
"전근 소식 들었어요?"
"전근 간 곳은 어떤가요?"
"전근 준비는 다 하셨나요?"
"전근이 경력에 도움이 될까요?"
Journal Prompts
전근을 가게 된다면 가장 걱정되는 점은?
전근을 통해 얻을 수 있는 장점은?
내가 전근을 가고 싶은 도시는?
전근을 앞둔 동료에게 해주고 싶은 말은?
Frequently Asked Questions
8 questionsNo, 이직하다 is changing companies, 전근하다 is changing locations within the same company.
Usually for work, but sometimes used for teachers.
Usually, yes, but it depends on the company policy.
Use '전근 발령을 받았다'.
It depends on the individual.
Often, yes.
The company or HR department.
Legally complex, but usually difficult.
Test Yourself
그는 내일 부산으로 ___.
It describes a work transfer.
What does 전근하다 mean?
It is an internal transfer.
전근하다 implies quitting your job.
It means moving within the same company.
Word
Meaning
Matching terms.
Subject + Destination + Verb
Score: /5
Summary
전근하다 is the professional way to say you are changing your work location within the same organization.
- 전근하다 means to transfer within a company.
- Used primarily in professional business contexts.
- Requires the particle (으)로 for destination.
- Distinct from changing companies (이직).
Memory Palace
Imagine a desk walking to a new building.
Context
Use it only for professional office settings.
Insight
It is very common in Korean corporate life.
Rule
Always pair with the destination particle (으)로.
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