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Workplace safety vocabulary is the set of Korean words you see on warning signs and hear in safety instructions, such as 위험 (danger), 안전모 (safety helmet) and 비상구 (emergency exit). These words come up often in beginner workplace Korean, and they matter in real life as well as in practice tests. This lesson groups the most useful words, shows each one in a short original sentence, explains which verb to use for wearing each item, and ends with a self-check.
Key safety words
| Korean | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 안전 (anjeon) | safety | 안전이 제일 중요해요. (Safety is the most important thing.) |
| 위험 (wiheom) | danger | 여기는 위험해요. (It is dangerous here.) |
| 주의 (juui) | caution | 바닥이 미끄러우니 주의하세요. (The floor is slippery, so be careful.) |
| 조심 (josim) | care, watching out | 계단에서 조심하세요. (Be careful on the stairs.) |
| 금지 (geumji) | prohibition, not allowed | 여기는 출입 금지예요. (You cannot go in here.) |
| 사고 (sago) | accident | 사고가 나면 바로 관리자에게 알리세요. (If there is an accident, tell the manager right away.) |
| 화재 (hwajae) | fire (as an emergency) | 화재가 나면 엘리베이터를 타지 마세요. (If there is a fire, do not use the lift.) |
| 소화기 (sohwagi) | fire extinguisher | 소화기는 문 옆에 있어요. (The fire extinguisher is next to the door.) |
| 비상구 (bisanggu) | emergency exit | 비상구는 저쪽에 있어요. (The emergency exit is over there.) |
Words on warning signs
Signs use short noun phrases, not full sentences. Learn them as whole phrases.
| Sign | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 출입 금지 | No entry |
| 관계자 외 출입 금지 | Authorised staff only |
| 금연 | No smoking |
| 미끄럼 주의 | Caution: slippery surface |
| 감전 주의 | Caution: risk of electric shock |
| 머리 조심 | Mind your head |
| 추락 위험 | Danger: risk of falling |
| 안전모 착용 | Safety helmet must be worn |
Four words help you read most signs: 금지 means something is not allowed, 주의 and 조심 mean be careful, 위험 means danger, and 착용 means wearing.
For more practice, see our lesson on reading workplace signs.
Protective equipment and the right verb
Korean uses different verbs for wearing different items. This is a common point in beginner questions.
| Korean | Meaning | Verb | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| 안전모 | safety helmet | 쓰다 | 안전모를 쓰세요. (Put on your safety helmet.) |
| 보안경 | safety glasses | 쓰다 | 보안경을 쓰세요. (Put on your safety glasses.) |
| 마스크 | mask | 쓰다 | 마스크를 쓰세요. (Put on a mask.) |
| 장갑 | gloves | 끼다 | 장갑을 끼세요. (Put on gloves.) |
| 귀마개 | earplugs | 끼다, 하다 | 시끄러운 곳에서는 귀마개를 하세요. (Wear earplugs in noisy places.) |
| 안전화 | safety shoes | 신다 | 안전화를 신으세요. (Put on safety shoes.) |
| 작업복 | work clothes | 입다 | 작업복을 입으세요. (Put on your work clothes.) |
| 안전벨트 | safety belt | 매다 | 높은 곳에서는 안전벨트를 매세요. (Fasten your safety belt when you work up high.) |
A simple way to remember the verbs:
- 쓰다: on the head or face (helmet, glasses, mask)
- 끼다: fitted onto the hands or into the ears (gloves, earplugs). You may also hear 안경을 끼다 for glasses.
- 신다: on the feet (shoes, boots)
- 입다: on the body (clothes)
- 매다: tied or fastened (belts)
- 착용하다: a formal word for wearing any equipment, common on signs and notices
To take something off, use 벗다: 안전모를 벗다, 장갑을 벗다, 안전화를 벗다. For a belt, use 풀다: 안전벨트를 풀다.
Safety instructions
| Korean | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 조심하세요 | Be careful | 지게차가 와요. 조심하세요. (A forklift is coming. Be careful.) |
| 멈추세요 | Stop | 이상한 소리가 나면 기계를 멈추세요. (If you hear a strange noise, stop the machine.) |
| 끄세요 | Turn off | 청소하기 전에 전원을 끄세요. (Turn off the power before cleaning.) |
| 대피하세요 | Evacuate | 불이 나면 밖으로 대피하세요. (If there is a fire, get outside.) |
| 뛰지 마세요 | Do not run | 공장 안에서 뛰지 마세요. (Do not run inside the factory.) |
| 만지지 마세요 | Do not touch | 뜨거우니까 만지지 마세요. (It is hot, so do not touch it.) |
| 들어가지 마세요 | Do not go in | 허락 없이 들어가지 마세요. (Do not go in without permission.) |
| 피우지 마세요 | Do not smoke | 여기서 담배를 피우지 마세요. (Do not smoke here.) |
The ending -지 마세요 means "please do not". You will see it in many workplace instructions. For more verbs like these, read everyday action verbs used in short questions.
Injuries and emergencies
| Korean | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 다치다 | to get hurt | 손을 다쳤어요. (I hurt my hand.) |
| 아프다 | to hurt, to be ill | 허리가 아파요. (My back hurts.) |
| 피 | blood | 피가 나요. (It is bleeding.) |
| 구급상자 | first-aid kit | 구급상자는 사무실에 있어요. (The first-aid kit is in the office.) |
| 병원 | hospital | 같이 병원에 가요. (Let's go to the hospital together.) |
| 도와주세요 | please help me | 여기요, 도와주세요. (Over here, please help me.) |
In Korea, 119 (일일구, il-il-gu) is the emergency number for fire and ambulance.
Short dialogue
가: 손이 왜 그래요? 나: 일하다가 다쳤어요. 가: 구급상자가 사무실에 있어요. 같이 가요.
(A: What happened to your hand? B: I hurt it while I was working. A: There is a first-aid kit in the office. Let's go together.)
Here, -다가 means "while doing something (and then something else happened)".
Self-check
Match each Korean word to its meaning.
| Korean | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 1. 금연 | a. emergency exit |
| 2. 비상구 | b. no entry |
| 3. 미끄럼 주의 | c. no smoking |
| 4. 안전화 | d. safety shoes |
| 5. 출입 금지 | e. caution: slippery surface |
Then fill in the verb:
- 안전모를 ___세요. (Put on your safety helmet.)
- 장갑을 ___세요. (Put on gloves.)
- 안전화를 ___세요. (Put on safety shoes.)
Answers: 1-c, 2-a, 3-e, 4-d, 5-b, 6. 쓰세요, 7. 끼세요, 8. 신으세요.
Next step
Test yourself with the EPS vocabulary practice set. Then continue with Korean vocabulary for tools and equipment. All our word lessons are on the vocabulary topic page.
Sources
- EPS (Employment Permit System) official portal (checked 1 October 2026)
Next scheduled review: 1 January 2027. Found an error? Request a correction.
