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Korean words for tools and equipment are short, practical nouns such as 망치 (hammer), 드라이버 (screwdriver) and 사다리 (ladder). Some come from English, so they may be easier than you expect once you can read Hangul. Beginner workplace questions often show a picture of a tool and ask for the matching word, or give a short instruction such as 가위를 가져오세요 (Please bring the scissors). This lesson groups common tools by use, gives the verbs that go with them, and ends with a self-check.
Hand tools
| Korean | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 망치 (mangchi) | hammer | 망치로 못을 박으세요. (Hammer in the nail.) |
| 못 | nail | 못이 몇 개 필요해요? (How many nails do you need?) |
| 드라이버 | screwdriver | 드라이버로 나사를 조이세요. (Tighten the screw with the screwdriver.) |
| 나사 | screw | 나사가 풀렸어요. (The screw has come loose.) |
| 펜치 | pliers | 펜치로 철사를 자르세요. (Cut the wire with the pliers.) |
| 스패너 | spanner, wrench | 스패너 좀 주세요. (Please pass me the spanner.) |
| 가위 | scissors | 가위로 테이프를 자르세요. (Cut the tape with the scissors.) |
| 칼 | knife, cutter | 칼을 쓸 때 조심하세요. (Be careful when you use the knife.) |
| 줄자 | tape measure | 줄자로 길이를 재세요. (Measure the length with the tape measure.) |
| 톱 | saw | 톱으로 나무를 자르세요. (Cut the wood with the saw.) |
Note that 드라이버 means a screwdriver, not a person who drives. These loanwords are the words people really use at work.
Machines and power
| Korean | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 기계 | machine | 기계를 켜기 전에 주변을 확인하세요. (Check the area around you before you turn on the machine.) |
| 드릴 | drill | 드릴로 구멍을 뚫으세요. (Make a hole with the drill.) |
| 지게차 | forklift | 지게차가 지나가요. (A forklift is going past.) |
| 전원 | power supply | 전원을 끄세요. (Turn off the power.) |
| 스위치 | switch | 스위치는 문 옆에 있어요. (The switch is next to the door.) |
| 버튼 | button | 빨간 버튼을 누르세요. (Press the red button.) |
| 콘센트 | power socket | 플러그를 콘센트에 꽂으세요. (Put the plug into the socket.) |
| 전선 | electric cable | 전선을 밟지 마세요. (Do not step on the cable.) |
| 고장 | breakdown, fault | 이 기계가 고장 났어요. (This machine has broken down.) |
In Korean, 콘센트 means a wall socket. It looks like an English word, but the meaning is different.
Carrying and storage
| Korean | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 사다리 | ladder | 사다리를 잡아 주세요. (Please hold the ladder for me.) |
| 손수레 | hand cart, trolley | 손수레로 상자를 옮기세요. (Move the boxes with the trolley.) |
| 상자 | box | 상자가 무거워요. (The box is heavy.) |
| 선반 | shelf | 상자를 선반 위에 올려 주세요. (Please put the box up on the shelf.) |
| 공구 | tool | 공구를 정리하세요. (Put the tools in order.) |
| 공구함 | toolbox | 공구는 공구함에 넣으세요. (Put the tools in the toolbox.) |
| 창고 | storeroom, warehouse | 사다리는 창고에 있어요. (The ladder is in the storeroom.) |
Cleaning and outdoor equipment
| Korean | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 빗자루 | broom | 빗자루로 바닥을 쓰세요. (Sweep the floor with the broom.) |
| 걸레 | cloth, rag | 걸레로 기계를 닦으세요. (Wipe the machine with a cloth.) |
| 쓰레기통 | rubbish bin | 쓰레기는 쓰레기통에 버리세요. (Put rubbish in the bin.) |
| 삽 | shovel | 삽으로 흙을 옮기세요. (Move the soil with the shovel.) |
| 호스 | hose | 호스로 밭에 물을 주세요. (Water the field with the hose.) |
In 빗자루로 바닥을 쓰세요, the word 쓰세요 comes from 쓸다 (to sweep), not from 쓰다 (to write, use or wear). The ㄹ drops before -세요. The context tells you which verb it is.
Verbs that go with tools
| Korean | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 쓰다, 사용하다 | to use | 이 공구는 어떻게 써요? (How do you use this tool?) |
| 가져오다 | to bring | 창고에서 망치를 가져오세요. (Bring a hammer from the storeroom.) |
| 갖다 주다 | to bring to someone | 드라이버 좀 갖다 주세요. (Please bring me the screwdriver.) |
| 빌리다 | to borrow | 줄자 좀 빌려도 돼요? (May I borrow the tape measure?) |
| 제자리에 두다 | to put back in its place | 다 쓰면 제자리에 두세요. (When you have finished, put it back.) |
| 고치다 | to fix | 이 기계 좀 고쳐 주세요. (Please fix this machine.) |
| 자르다 | to cut | 이 줄을 반으로 자르세요. (Cut this string in half.) |
| 재다 | to measure | 창문 크기를 재세요. (Measure the size of the window.) |
| 조이다, 풀다 | to tighten, to loosen | 나사를 풀고 다시 조이세요. (Loosen the screw, then tighten it again.) |
The word 좀 in 드라이버 좀 갖다 주세요 makes a request softer, a little like "please".
Saying "with" a tool: (으)로
To say which tool you use, add (으)로 to the tool:
- After a vowel or ㄹ, add 로: 망치로 (with a hammer), 가위로 (with scissors), 칼로 (with a knife).
- After any other final consonant, add 으로: 삽으로 (with a shovel), 톱으로 (with a saw).
For more on particles, see basic Korean particles.
Asking for a tool: a short dialogue
반장: 라주 씨, 창고에서 줄자 좀 가져오세요. 라주: 네, 한 개 가져올까요? 반장: 아니요, 두 개 가져오세요. 라주: 네, 알겠습니다.
(Team leader: Raju, please bring tape measures from the storeroom. Raju: Yes. Shall I bring one? Team leader: No, bring two. Raju: Yes, I understand.)
반장 is a common title for a team leader at a workplace. The counter 개 is used for counting things: 한 개 (one), 두 개 (two). Our lesson on Korean numbers and counting explains counters in detail.
Self-check
Match each Korean word to its meaning.
| Korean | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 1. 사다리 | a. tape measure |
| 2. 줄자 | b. toolbox |
| 3. 망치 | c. ladder |
| 4. 공구함 | d. hammer |
| 5. 콘센트 | e. power socket |
Then add 로 or 으로:
- 가위___ 자르세요. (Cut it with the scissors.)
- 삽___ 흙을 옮기세요. (Move the soil with the shovel.)
- 드릴___ 구멍을 뚫으세요. (Make a hole with the drill.)
Answers: 1-c, 2-a, 3-d, 4-b, 5-e, 6. 가위로, 7. 삽으로, 8. 드릴로.
Next step
Practise with the EPS vocabulary practice set. For the safety words that often appear with tools, read workplace safety vocabulary in Korean. 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.