4 Different Ways to Say “What” in Korean
Whether you’re asking someone for directions, trying to figure out the definition of a word, or finding out what your friend is up to during his or her free time, the English vocabulary you’ll start your sentence with is most likely “what”.
Now, if you’d like to ask the same questions in the Korean language, you’d think that simply knowing how to say “what” in Korean will suffice. But unfortunately, that is not the case. There are so many ways to say “what” in Korean that only knowing one version will not get you far. In this article, we’ll explore the various ways “what” is expressed in Korean to help you unlock new sentences you can use in your language journey.
1. 뭐 (mwo)
뭐 (mwo) is a shortened version and an informal form of the word 무엇 (mu-eot), which also translates to “what”. It is mostly used in informal situations among friends and family, and should never be used when speaking to elders or superiors, or on its own to react to others. For example, when someone calls out to you, it’s better to respond with a “yes?” or “네? (ne)” instead of “뭐?”
뭐 (mwo) should only be used in a question when the subject is not identified, and should not be used in front of nouns. For instance, 뭐 밥 (mwo bab) or 뭐 노래 (mwo no-lae).
When to use 뭐:
- What is this? — 이거 뭐 예요? (i-geo mwo ye-yo?)
- What is your name? — 이름이 뭐예요? (i-reum-i mwo-ye-yo?)
- What do you like? — 뭐 좋아해요? (mwo joh-a-hae-yo?)
- What are you studying? — 뭐 공부해요? (mwo gong-bu-hae-yo?)
2. 무슨 (mu-seun)
무슨 can be translated into English to also mean “what”. It is always accompanied by a noun and when you don’t know what the object is. It cannot be used alone.
When to use 무슨:
- What’s the matter? — 무슨 일이에요? (mu-seun il-i-e-yo?)
- What song do you like? — 무슨 노래 좋아해요? (mu-seun no-lae joh-a-hae-yo?)
- What day is it today? — 오늘 무슨 요일이에요? (o-neul mu-seun yo-il-i-e-yo?)
- What kind of work are you doing? — 무슨 일을 하세요? (mu-seun il-eul ha-se-yo?)
3. 어떤 (eo-tteon)
Much like 무슨 (mu-seun), 어떤 (eo-tteon) is used before a noun in a question and cannot be used alone. However, while 무슨 (mu-seun) refers to “what”, 어떤 (eo-tteon) roughly translates to “what kind of” and is usually used when you want to specify a category and are expecting a more detailed answer.
When to use 어떤:
- What kind of person is he/she? — 그 사람 어떤 사람이에요? (geu sa-lam eo-tteon sa-lam-i-e-yo?)
- What book are you looking for? — 어떤 책을 찾아요? (eo-tteon chaeg-eul chaj-a-yo?)
- What do you want to watch? — 어떤 것을 보고 싶어요? (eo-tteon geos-eul bo-go sip-eo-yo?)
4. 몇 (myeot)
몇 (myeot) is always placed before a noun and usually used with numbers. While it doesn’t translate directly into “what”, it is used to ask “what” in certain contexts and you’ll need to know how to use it in order to ask some important questions. 몇 (myeot) can only be used for countables.
When to use 몇 (myeot):
- What time is it? — 몇 시예요? (myeot si-ye-yo?)
- What floor is it? — 몇 층 이에요? (myeot cheung i-e-yo?)
- How many people are there? — 몇 분이세요? (myeot bun-i-se-yo?)
Learn More: Korean Counting System: Sino-Korean and Native Korean
Mastering the various ways to say "what" in Korean allows you to express yourself more precisely in different social situations. And understanding the nuances and appropriate contexts for each form can enhance your Korean language proficiency and communication skills. So, practice using these expressions in your conversations to become more fluent and confident in the Korean language!
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