Explanation at your level:
A 학생 is a student. You are a student if you go to class. It is a very easy word to learn!
Use 학생 to talk about people at school. For example, 'I am a student' is '저는 학생입니다'.
In Korea, 학생 is used for all ages. You can distinguish levels by adding prefixes like 고등 (high school) or 대학 (university).
The term carries a sense of social identity in Korea. Being a 학생 often implies a specific social etiquette, such as showing respect to teachers.
Beyond the literal meaning, 학생 can metaphorically refer to someone who is a lifelong learner, someone always seeking knowledge regardless of their age or formal status.
Etymologically, 학생 reflects the historical prestige of the 'scholar' class. In modern discourse, it contrasts with 직장인 (office worker), defining the two primary stages of adult life.
Palavra em 30 segundos
- Basic noun for student
- Sino-Korean origin
- Neutral register
- Used for all ages
The word 학생 (hak-saeng) is the fundamental Korean term for 'student'. It is composed of two Sino-Korean characters: 학 (learning) and 생 (life/person).
Think of it as a 'learning person.' It is a very common, neutral noun used in daily life to describe anyone currently enrolled in a course of study, whether it is elementary school or a PhD program.
학생 has deep roots in the Chinese language, reflecting the Confucian emphasis on education. The character 학 (學) represents the act of studying, while 생 (生) represents life or birth.
Historically, this term was used to describe scholars or those dedicated to the pursuit of wisdom. Over centuries, it evolved to become the standard modern term for any person attending an educational institution.
You will use 학생 constantly when talking about school life. It is often paired with specific levels, such as 초등학생 (elementary student) or 대학생 (university student).
In formal settings, you might add the honorific suffix 님 (nim) if you are addressing a student respectfully, though this is rare. Usually, it is used as a simple noun to identify someone's occupation.
While there aren't many 'idioms' per se, there are common phrases:
- 학생 신분 (student status)
- 모범 학생 (model student)
- 학생 회장 (student body president)
- 학생 식당 (school cafeteria)
- 학생 할인 (student discount)
학생 is a standard noun. In Korean, pluralization is optional; you can add 들 to make it 학생들 (students), but it is often omitted if the context is clear.
Pronunciation is straightforward: 'hak-saeng'. Ensure the 'k' sound in 'hak' is crisp, and the 'ae' in 'saeng' sounds like the 'a' in 'cat'.
Fun Fact
The character '학' originally depicted a child learning in a building.
Pronunciation Guide
Crisp 'h', short 'a', 'k' stop, 's' sound, 'ae' like 'cat'.
Similar to UK, focus on the 'ae' vowel.
Common Errors
- Softening the 'k'
- Mispronouncing 'ae'
- Dropping the 'ng' sound
Rhymes With
Difficulty Rating
Very common
Easy
Easy
Easy
What to Learn Next
Prerequisites
Learn Next
Avançado
Grammar to Know
Copula
입니다
Plural marker
들
Topic marker
은/는
Examples by Level
저는 학생입니다.
I am a student.
Basic copula.
학생이 많아요.
There are many students.
Subject marker.
학생입니까?
Are you a student?
Interrogative.
학생은 공부해요.
The student studies.
Topic marker.
저 학생은 누구예요?
Who is that student?
Demonstrative.
학생이 학교에 가요.
The student goes to school.
Directional particle.
학생증을 보여주세요.
Please show your student ID.
Polite command.
학생이 책을 읽어요.
The student reads a book.
Object marker.
학생 할인 되나요?
대학생이 몇 명이에요?
학생 식당은 어디예요?
우리 학교 학생이에요.
학생들은 숙제가 많아요.
저는 학생 때 공부를 많이 했어요.
학생 회의가 있어요.
그 학생은 아주 똑똑해요.
모범 학생으로 뽑혔어요.
학생 신분으로 여행을 가요.
학생들의 의견을 들어봅시다.
졸업하면 학생이 아니에요.
학생 운동이 시작되었습니다.
학생 상담실에 가보세요.
학생 비자로 입국했어요.
학생들 사이에서 인기가 많아요.
학생의 본분은 공부입니다.
그는 평생 학생처럼 살았어요.
학생 자치 기구를 운영합니다.
학생 복지를 개선해야 합니다.
학생 대표가 연설을 했습니다.
학생 수준에 맞는 교재입니다.
학생들의 창의성을 존중합니다.
학생 인권이 보호받아야 합니다.
그는 학문의 길을 걷는 영원한 학생이다.
학생의 관점에서 문제를 바라보세요.
학생 사회의 변화가 감지됩니다.
학생 주도형 학습이 효과적입니다.
학생들에게 비판적 사고를 가르칩니다.
학생 시절의 추억이 떠오릅니다.
학생의 지적 호기심을 자극합니다.
학생들이 주체적으로 참여했습니다.
학생으로서의 도리를 다하십시오.
학생 계층의 정치적 영향력이 큽니다.
지식의 바다에 빠진 학생과 같습니다.
학생의 학구열이 매우 높습니다.
학생의 신분을 망각하지 마십시오.
학생들의 자율성을 보장해야 합니다.
학생은 지식의 수혜자이자 전달자입니다.
학생들의 잠재력을 끌어내야 합니다.
Colocações comuns
Idioms & Expressions
"학생의 본분"
The primary duty of a student (to study)
학생의 본분을 잊지 마라.
neutral"모범 학생"
A model student
그는 학교에서 모범 학생이다.
neutral"학생 티를 벗다"
To lose the 'student look' (to mature)
졸업하고 학생 티를 벗었다.
casual"학생 신분"
Status as a student
학생 신분으로 돈을 벌기 힘들다.
neutral"학생 회장"
Student body president
학생 회장이 연설했다.
neutral"학생들끼리"
Among the students
학생들끼리 모여서 공부했다.
casualEasily Confused
Both mean learner
학습자 is technical/pedagogical
학습자 중심의 수업.
Both are students
수강생 is for a specific course
수강생 명단.
Both are students
제자 implies a mentor relationship
그의 제자가 되었다.
Both are students
연구생 is a research student
연구생으로 일한다.
Sentence Patterns
Subject + 학생 + 입니다
저는 학생입니다.
학생 + 은/는 + 공부합니다
학생은 공부합니다.
학생 + 할인 + 가능합니다
학생 할인이 가능합니다.
학생 + 의 + 본분
학생의 본분은 공부입니다.
학생 + 대표 + 가 + 말했습니다
학생 대표가 말했습니다.
Família de palavras
Nouns
Verbs
Relacionado
How to Use It
10
Formality Scale
Erros comuns
학생 is strictly for the learner.
It is optional, but helpful for clarity.
학습자 is a technical term for 'learner'.
The vowel is a diphthong.
학생 is a noun, not a title like Mr.
Tips
Break it down
Remember Hak (study) + Saeng (life).
Use with levels
Add prefixes for specific ages.
Respect
Always use honorifics with teachers.
Pluralization
Use '들' for groups.
The 'ae' sound
Practice 'cat' sound.
Don't confuse
Don't mix with '학습자'.
Etymology
Confucian roots.
Context
Use in school settings.
Flow
Say it as one unit.
Formal vs Casual
Use '학생' in both.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Hak (hack) a computer to learn, Saeng (sang) a song while studying.
Visual Association
A student wearing a uniform holding a book.
Word Web
Desafio
Write 3 sentences using '학생'.
Origem da palavra
Sino-Korean
Original meaning: Learning person
Contexto cultural
None, very neutral.
Directly maps to 'student'.
Practice in Real Life
Real-World Contexts
At school
- 학생이 몇 명인가요?
- 학생 식당이 어디인가요?
- 학생증을 보여주세요.
At a shop
- 학생 할인 돼요?
- 학생 할인 있나요?
- 학생증 있습니다.
In a meeting
- 학생 대표입니다.
- 학생들의 의견입니다.
- 학생들을 대표해서 왔습니다.
In conversation
- 무슨 학생이에요?
- 학생 때 좋았어요.
- 학생 신분이라서요.
Conversation Starters
"어떤 학생이 되고 싶어요?"
"학생 때 가장 기억에 남는 일은 무엇인가요?"
"학생들에게 가장 필요한 것은 무엇일까요?"
"학생과 직장인 중 무엇이 더 힘든가요?"
"학생들의 창의성을 어떻게 키울 수 있을까요?"
Journal Prompts
Write about your life as a student.
Describe a model student you know.
What are the challenges of being a student?
If you could be a student again, what would you study?
Perguntas frequentes
8 perguntasNo, it is gender-neutral.
No, that is rude.
학생들.
Yes, specifically 대학생.
선생님.
It is neutral.
Yes, if they are studying.
Yes.
Teste-se
저는 ___입니다.
It identifies the person.
Which means student?
학생 is the word for student.
학생 means teacher.
It means student.
Word
Significado
Matching levels.
Subject + Noun + Copula.
___ 할인 되나요?
Student discount.
What is the plural of 학생?
들 makes it plural.
학생 is a verb.
It is a noun.
Word
Significado
Common collocations.
Formal sentence structure.
Pontuação: /10
Summary
학생 is the essential Korean word for a student, used universally in academic and daily life.
- Basic noun for student
- Sino-Korean origin
- Neutral register
- Used for all ages
Break it down
Remember Hak (study) + Saeng (life).
Use with levels
Add prefixes for specific ages.
Respect
Always use honorifics with teachers.
Pluralization
Use '들' for groups.
Exemplo
저는 학생입니다.
Related Content
Esta palavra em outros idiomas
Mais palavras de education
백점
A2A perfect score, typically 100 points, in a test or exam.
능력
B1The possession of the means or skill to do something; talent or capacity to perform a task.
결석
B1The state of being absent from a place or event, especially a school or university class.
결석하다
A2To be absent from school or work.
학업성취도
B2The extent to which a student has achieved their short or long-term educational goals, usually measured by grades or test scores.
학업 성취
B2The extent to which a student or institution has achieved their educational goals, typically measured by grades or test scores.
학문
B1A field of study or the pursuit of knowledge through systematic research and learning.
학문적
B1Relating to education, scholarship, or schools; focused on theoretical study rather than practical application.
학술
B1Relating to education and scholarship, especially at a college or university level; academic pursuits or studies.
학원
A2A private educational institute for supplementary learning.
