Understanding workplace terminology is crucial when working in Korea or with Korean colleagues. This guide focuses on “연차휴가” (yeon-cha-hyu-ga), the Korean term for paid annual leave, providing essential vocabulary and phrases for requesting and discussing time off in a professional setting.
Table Of Content
Core Expression
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Expression: 연차휴가
Pronunciation: yeon-cha-hyu-ga
Meaning: Annual Leave (Paid time off provided annually by an employer)
Basic Phrases for Annual Leave
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Expression: 연차휴가를 쓰다
Pronunciation: yeon-cha-hyu-ga-reul sseu-da
Meaning: To use annual leave -
Expression: 연차휴가를 내다
Pronunciation: yeon-cha-hyu-ga-reul nae-da
Meaning: To submit a request for annual leave -
Expression: 연차휴가가 며칠 남았어요?
Pronunciation: yeon-cha-hyu-ga-ga myeo-chil nam-ass-eo-yo?
Meaning: How many days of annual leave do I have left? -
Expression: 제 연차휴가 일수를 확인하고 싶습니다.
Pronunciation: je yeon-cha-hyu-ga il-su-reul hwa-gin-ha-go sip-seum-ni-da.
Meaning: I would like to check my remaining annual leave days. -
Expression: 연차휴가 신청서
Pronunciation: yeon-cha-hyu-ga sin-cheong-seo
Meaning: Annual leave request form -
Expression: 휴가 계획
Pronunciation: hyu-ga gye-hoek
Meaning: Vacation plan / Leave plan -
Expression: 연차 소진
Pronunciation: yeon-cha so-jin
Meaning: Using up annual leave -
Expression: 연차 수당
Pronunciation: yeon-cha su-dang
Meaning: Payment for unused annual leave -
Expression: 법정 휴가
Pronunciation: beop-jeong hyu-ga
Meaning: Statutory leave (Legally mandated leave) -
Expression: 반차
Pronunciation: ban-cha
Meaning: Half-day leave -
Expression: 월차
Pronunciation: wol-cha
Meaning: Monthly leave (Less common now, often integrated into 연차)
Requesting Annual Leave
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Expression: 연차 좀 써도 될까요?
Pronunciation: yeon-cha jom sseo-do doel-kka-yo?
Meaning: May I use some annual leave? -
Expression: 다음 주 금요일에 연차를 쓰고 싶습니다.
Pronunciation: da-eum ju geum-yo-il-e yeon-cha-reul sseu-go sip-seum-ni-da.
Meaning: I would like to take annual leave next Friday. -
Expression: 3일 동안 연차휴가를 신청합니다.
Pronunciation: sam-il dong-an yeon-cha-hyu-ga-reul sin-cheong-ham-ni-da.
Meaning: I am requesting 3 days of annual leave. -
Expression: 개인 사정으로 연차를 사용하려고 합니다.
Pronunciation: gae-in sa-jeong-eu-ro yeon-cha-reul sa-yong-ha-ryeo-go ham-ni-da.
Meaning: I intend to use annual leave due to personal reasons. -
Expression: 연차휴가 신청서를 제출했습니다.
Pronunciation: yeon-cha-hyu-ga sin-cheong-seo-reul je-chul-haess-seum-ni-da.
Meaning: I have submitted the annual leave request form. -
Expression: 휴가 승인 부탁드립니다.
Pronunciation: hyu-ga seung-in bu-tak-deu-rim-ni-da.
Meaning: Please approve my leave request. -
Expression: 혹시 이 날짜에 연차 사용이 가능할까요?
Pronunciation: hok-si i nal-jja-e yeon-cha sa-yong-i ga-neung-hal-kka-yo?
Meaning: Would it be possible to use annual leave on this date? -
Expression: 내일 반차를 써도 괜찮을까요?
Pronunciation: nae-il ban-cha-reul sseo-do gwaen-chan-eul-kka-yo?
Meaning: Would it be okay if I took a half-day leave tomorrow? -
Expression: 연차 사용 전에 업무 인수인계하겠습니다.
Pronunciation: yeon-cha sa-yong jeon-e eom-mu in-su-in-gye-ha-gess-seum-ni-da.
Meaning: I will hand over my duties before using my annual leave. -
Expression: 휴가 기간 동안 긴급 연락처 남기겠습니다.
Pronunciation: hyu-ga gi-gan dong-an gin-geup yeol-lak-cheo nam-gi-gess-seum-ni-da.
Meaning: I will leave an emergency contact during my leave period.
Discussing Annual Leave
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Expression: 연차 언제 쓰실 거예요?
Pronunciation: yeon-cha eon-je sseu-sil geo-ye-yo?
Meaning: When are you going to take your annual leave? -
Expression: 제 연차 신청이 승인되었습니다.
Pronunciation: je yeon-cha sin-cheong-i seung-in-doe-eoss-seum-ni-da.
Meaning: My annual leave request has been approved. -
Expression: 휴가 때 뭐 하실 거예요?
Pronunciation: hyu-ga ttae mwo ha-sil geo-ye-yo?
Meaning: What are you going to do during your leave? -
Expression: 저는 여름에 연차를 몰아서 쓸 계획입니다.
Pronunciation: jeo-neun yeo-reum-e yeon-cha-reul mol-a-seo sseul gye-hoek-im-ni-da.
Meaning: I plan to use my annual leave all at once in the summer. -
Expression: 연차가 얼마 안 남았어요.
Pronunciation: yeon-cha-ga eol-ma an nam-ass-eo-yo.
Meaning: I don’t have much annual leave left. -
Expression: 올해 연차는 다 써야 해요.
Pronunciation: ol-hae yeon-cha-neun da sseo-ya hae-yo.
Meaning: I have to use up all my annual leave this year. -
Expression: 팀원들과 휴가 일정을 조율해야 합니다.
Pronunciation: tim-won-deul-gwa hyu-ga il-jeong-eul jo-yul-hae-ya ham-ni-da.
Meaning: I need to coordinate my leave schedule with my team members. -
Expression: 부장님께서 제 연차 사용을 허락해 주셨어요.
Pronunciation: bu-jang-nim-kke-seo je yeon-cha sa-yong-eul heo-rak-hae ju-syeoss-eo-yo.
Meaning: The department head approved my use of annual leave. -
Expression: 휴가 잘 다녀오세요!
Pronunciation: hyu-ga jal da-nyeo-o-se-yo!
Meaning: Have a good vacation! / Enjoy your leave! -
Expression: 휴가 중에는 연락이 어려울 수 있습니다.
Pronunciation: hyu-ga jung-e-neun yeol-lag-i eo-ryeo-ul su iss-seum-ni-da.
Meaning: It might be difficult to contact me during my leave.
Korean Culture Notes
Advance Notice is Key: In most Korean companies, it’s customary and often required to request annual leave well in advance. Submitting requests last minute might be frowned upon unless it’s an emergency. Check your company’s policy, but generally, giving at least one or two weeks’ notice is advisable.
Coordinating with the Team: Consideration for team members and project schedules is important. Before finalizing leave dates, it’s good practice to check with colleagues and your manager to ensure adequate coverage and avoid disrupting important deadlines.
Pressure Regarding Leave Usage: While legally mandated, there can sometimes be subtle (or not-so-subtle) workplace pressure against using all entitled annual leave days, especially in more traditional companies. However, awareness and utilization of leave are gradually improving.
Common Leave Periods: Many Koreans take their annual leave during peak vacation seasons like summer (July-August) or around major holidays like Chuseok (Autumn Harvest Festival) and Seollal (Lunar New Year) to extend their time off.
“Nunchi” (눈치): The concept of “nunchi” (reading the room or sensing the atmosphere) can play a role. Employees might observe when senior members or colleagues take leave before requesting their own, especially for longer periods.
Real Conversation Example
Situation: An employee (Minsu) is requesting annual leave from their team leader (Sujin).
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Expression: A (Minsu): 팀장님, 다음 달 첫째 주에 연차를 좀 사용해도 괜찮을까요?
Pronunciation: tim-jang-nim, da-eum dal cheot-jjae ju-e yeon-cha-reul jom sa-yong-hae-do gwaen-chan-eul-kka-yo?
Meaning: Team Leader, would it be alright if I used some annual leave during the first week of next month? -
Expression: B (Sujin): 네, 민수 씨. 며칠 정도 생각하고 있어요?
Pronunciation: ne, min-su ssi. myeo-chil jeong-do saeng-gak-ha-go iss-eo-yo?
Meaning: Yes, Minsu. How many days are you thinking of? -
Expression: A (Minsu): 3일 정도 사용하고 싶습니다. 월요일부터 수요일까지요.
Pronunciation: sam-il jeong-do sa-yong-ha-go sip-seum-ni-da. wol-yo-il-bu-teo su-yo-il-kka-ji-yo.
Meaning: I’d like to use about 3 days. From Monday to Wednesday. -
Expression: B (Sujin): 다음 달 첫째 주… 그때 특별한 프로젝트 마감일은 없으니 괜찮을 것 같네요.
Pronunciation: da-eum dal cheot-jjae ju… geu-ttae teuk-byeol-han peu-ro-jek-teu ma-gam-il-eun eops-eu-ni gwaen-chan-eul geot gat-ne-yo.
Meaning: The first week of next month… There are no special project deadlines then, so it should be fine. -
Expression: A (Minsu): 감사합니다! 그럼 연차휴가 신청서 작성해서 제출하겠습니다. 업무 인수인계도 미리 준비해 놓겠습니다.
Pronunciation: gam-sa-ham-ni-da! geu-reom yeon-cha-hyu-ga sin-cheong-seo jak-seong-hae-seo je-chul-ha-gess-seum-ni-da. eom-mu in-su-in-gye-do mi-ri jun-bi-hae nok-gess-seum-ni-da.
Meaning: Thank you! Then I will fill out and submit the annual leave request form. I’ll also prepare the work handover in advance. -
Expression: B (Sujin): 네, 그렇게 해주세요. 휴가 잘 계획하세요.
Pronunciation: ne, geu-reok-ke hae-ju-se-yo. hyu-ga jal gye-hoek-ha-se-yo.
Meaning: Yes, please do that. Plan your leave well.
Practice Tips
Mastering phrases related to “연차휴가” is essential for navigating Korean work culture smoothly! Try practicing these expressions by role-playing conversations with a study partner or language tutor~ Imagine requesting leave or discussing your vacation plans. Pay close attention to the pronunciation, especially the syllable breaks. You can also try writing out mock leave request emails using the phrases learned. Fighting! (화이팅! hwa-i-ting!)
