Dictionary — Entry No. 0886
회사
hoesa · noun
회사
hoesa
[hoe-SAH]
nounbeginner
Meaning
Means ‘company’ or ‘corporation,’ referring to business organizations. In Korean context, represents career ambition, workplace relationships, and adult identity beyond family structures.
K-Pop & K-Drama Context
Workplace K-dramas like ‘What’s Wrong with Secretary Kim’ and ‘Itaewon Class’ center on 회사 (hoesa) dynamics. K-pop trainees train under company systems (JYP, SM, YG), making ‘hoesa’ culturally significant in the industry. Corporate hierarchy features prominently in Korean storytelling.
Example Sentences
회사에 가고 싶지 않아.
Hoesa-e gago sipji anha.
I don’t want to go to work/to the company (work reluctance)
그는 큰 회사에서 일한다.
Geuneun keun hoesa-eseo ilhanda.
He works at a big company (career status)
회사 사람들과 저녁을 먹었어.
Hoesa saramdeul-gwa jeonyeok-eul meokeosseo.
I had dinner with my coworkers (social bonding)
⚠️ Don’t use hoesa when…
Hoesa (회사) is a noun for company/corporation—don’t confuse with ‘일터’ (iltteo), which means workplace more generally. In formal contexts, use ‘회사원’ (hoesa-won) for company employee, not just ‘회사.’ Don’t use hoesa to mean ‘society’ (that’s ‘사회’).
🎵 Heard In
- K-Drama: What’s Wrong with Secretary Kim — The entire narrative revolves around office dynamics, hierarchies, and the male lead’s company operations.
- K-Pop: BLACKPINK — Members frequently mention YG Entertainment (their company) in interviews, making the K-pop company system culturally prominent.
ℹ️ Editorial Note: The cultural context and example usage are for educational reference only. Artist names, song titles, and drama references are used descriptively to illustrate vocabulary in context. This content is AI-assisted and reviewed for accuracy. For official information, please refer to the respective artists’ or studios’ official channels.