외근하다

외근하다 is a very common term in Korean workplace culture. It combines 외 (outside) and 근 (work), literally meaning 'outside-working'.

Think of it as the opposite of 내근 (desk work). When you tell your boss you are 외근하다, you are letting them know you won't be at your desk because you have tasks to handle in the field.

The word is rooted in Sino-Korean characters (Hanja). 外 (외) means outside, and 勤 (근) means to work or be diligent.

Historically, as businesses grew, the need to distinguish between administrative desk tasks and field-based tasks became essential. It evolved from formal business jargon into a daily necessity for office communication.

You will hear this mostly in professional settings. Use it when you need to explain your absence from the office.

Common phrases include 외근을 나가다 (to go out for field work) or 외근 중이다 (to be currently out for work). It is professional and neutral.

1. 외근 나갔다 올게요: I'm heading out for field work. 2. 외근 중이라 연락이 어렵습니다: I'm currently out of the office and hard to reach. 3. 외근 스케줄: Field work schedule. 4. 외근 업무: Field duty. 5. 외근 보고: Reporting on field activities.

It is a regular verb. You conjugate it as 외근합니다 (formal) or 외근해요 (polite). Pronunciation is straightforward: [외근하다].

It functions as an intransitive verb. You don't 'do' an external work directly; you go out to perform it.