Learn Hardcore Korean: hoesa-eseo iri kkeutnamyeon toegeunhaeyo. - When work at the company finishes, I leave work.

회사 means “company/office.” The particle -에서 indicates the location where an action takes place (“at the company”). In contrast, -에 marks a static location (where someone/something is or goes), for example:

회사에 있어요 (“I am at the company”)
회사에 가요 (“I go to the company”)

Why is the phrase 일이 끝나면 used instead of 일을 끝내면?

In 일이 끝나면, 일 (work) is the subject of the intransitive verb 끝나다 (“to end/finish by itself”), so it takes the subject marker -이.
By contrast, 일을 끝내다 uses a transitive verb (“to finish something”), making 일 the object. Both are correct, but 일이 끝나면 emphasizes that the work naturally comes to an end (common in routine descriptions).

What is the role of -면 in 끝나면?

The suffix -면 attaches to a verb stem to mean “if/when.” Here, 끝나면 means “when (it) ends.” It establishes a condition: once the work ends, the next action (퇴근해요) occurs.

Why is the subject not explicitly stated in this sentence?

Korean often omits the subject when it’s clear from context. The speaker is referring to themselves, so (나는) is dropped. The full explicit version would be 나는 회사에서 일이 끝나면 퇴근해요, but dropping 나는 sounds more natural.

What does 퇴근해요 mean, and how is it formed?

퇴근하다 means “to leave work/to finish work for the day.” It combines 퇴(退) (retreat/leave) + 근(勤) (work/duty). The ending -어요 is the polite informal present tense, so 퇴근해요 translates to “I leave work” or “I get off work.”

How is 퇴근해요 different from saying 집에 가요?

퇴근해요 specifically means “to finish your workday” or “to leave the workplace.” 집에 가요 simply means “to go home.” You might 퇴근하다 and then go somewhere other than home, so 퇴근해요 focuses on ending work, while 집에 가요 focuses on going home.

What tense and aspect does this sentence use? Present or future?

The sentence uses the present tense -아요/어요 form. Korean uses this same form for habitual actions, so here 퇴근해요 means “I (habitually) leave work when it ends.” It describes a routine, not a one-time future plan.

Can I omit 일이 and say 회사에서 끝나면 퇴근해요?

If you drop 일이, it becomes ambiguous—“when the company ends” doesn’t make sense. Native speakers might guess you mean “work,” but it’s clearer and more natural to keep 일이 so listeners know you’re talking about work ending.

Could I say 일 끝나면 퇴근해요 in casual speech?

Yes. In informal spoken Korean, you can drop the subject particle -이 and even use the plain ending: 일 끝나면 퇴근해. Just be aware this is casual and should only be used with friends or people younger than you.