Lesson 23: Asking questions in Korean

안녕하세요!

Asking questions is a fundamental part of any language, serving as the cornerstone of communication and understanding. In Korean, the art of asking questions is not just about obtaining information but also about building relationships and navigating social contexts. Understanding how to form and use questions appropriately is crucial for anyone learning Korean, whether for daily conversations, professional interactions, or deeper cultural immersion.

This blog post will guide you through the various types of questions in Korean, including how to form them and when to use them. We’ll explore the key question words and the structure of yes/no questions. By the end of this post, you’ll be better equipped to ask questions confidently and understand the responses, enhancing your ability to engage in meaningful conversations in Korean.

So, let’s dive into the world of Korean questions and discover how to ask our way to fluency!

How to ask questions in Korean?

In Korean, as opposed to English, the structure of a sentence remains unchanged when forming a question. Instead of altering the word order, you can simply add a question mark at the end of the sentence and adjust your intonation upwards. However, similar to other languages, incorporating specific question words (such as why or what) is essential for formally transforming statements into clear, comprehensible questions.

EXAMPLES

Statement: 밥 먹었어요. (Bap meogeosseoyo.) – “I ate rice/I had a meal.”
Question: 밥 먹었어요? (Bap meogeosseoyo?) – “Did you eat rice/Have you had a meal?”

Basic question words

The foundation of asking questions in any language lies in its question words. Korean is no different, with a set of question words that are essential for gathering information. Understanding these basic question words is the first step to forming a wide range of queries in Korean. Let’s explore the most commonly used ones:

Common question words in Korean

Korean	Romanization	English
누구	Nu-gu	Who
뭐	Mwo	What
어디	Eo-di	Where
언제	Eon-je	When
왜	Wae	Why
어떻게	Eo-ddeok-ge	How
어느	Eo-neu	Which
어떤	Eo-ddeon	What (kind of)
무슨	Mu-seun	What (kind of)
얼마나	Eol-ma-na	How much/many
얼마	Eol-ma	How much
몇	Myeot	How many

*누구 becomes 누가 when you add the subject marking particle 가 to it. To find out about subject marking particle click here.

Usage and examples of each question word

무엇/뭐 (Mueot/Mwo) – What

• “무엇” is more formal, while “뭐” is its informal counterpart. “뭐” is a shorter version and is more commonly used than 무엇.
• Example: “뭐 먹어요?” (Mwo meokgo isseoyo?) – “What are you eating?”

어디 (Eodi) – Where

• Used to ask about location or place.
• Example: “어디 가요?” (Eodie gayo?) – “Where are you going?”

언제 (Eonje) – When

• Asks about time or occasions.
• Example: “언제 와요?” (Eonje wuayo?) – “When are you coming?”

왜 (Wae) – Why

• Used to inquire about reasons or causes.
• Example: “왜 그렇게 생각해요?” (Wae geureohge saenggakhaeyo?) – “Why do you think that?”

누구 (Nugu) – Who

• Asks about people or identities.
• Example: “누가 와요?” (Nuga wuayo?) – “Who is coming?”

어떻게 (Eotteohge) – How

• Inquires about methods, ways, or conditions.
• Example: “이거 어떻게 했어요?” (Igeo eotteohge haesseoyo?) – “How did you do this?”

얼마나 (Eolmana) – How much/How long

• Used to ask about quantity, extent, or duration.
• Example: “얼마나 걸려요?” (Eolmana geollyeoyo?) – “How long does it take?”

어느 (Eoneu) – Which/What (in a limited choice)

• Used when asking about a specific choice among a limited set.
• Example: “어느 색깔을 좋아해요?” (Eoneu saekkkareul joahaeyo?) – “Which colour do you like?”

어떤 (Eotteon) – What kind of/Which

• Used to ask about the type or kind of something, often in a broader sense than “어느.”
• Example: “어떤 음식을 좋아해요?” (Eotteon eumsigeul joahaeyo?) – “What kind of food do you like?”

무슨 (Museun) – What

• Similar to “어떤,” it’s used to ask about the type or kind, but often in a more general sense.
• Example: “무슨 책을 읽어요?” (Museun chaegeul ilggeoyo?) – “What book are you reading?”

얼마나 (Eolmana) – How much/How long

• Used to inquire about the extent, degree, or duration of something.
• Example: “그 영화가 얼마나 길어요?” (Geu yeonghwaga eolmana gireoyo?) – “How long is that movie?”

얼마 (Eolma) – How much

• Used to ask about price or cost.
• Example: “이 가방은 얼마예요?” (I gabangeun eolmayeyo?) – “How much is this bag?”

몇 (Myeot) – How many/Few

• Used to ask about the number or quantity of something.
• Example: “지금 몇 시예요?” (Jigeum myeot sihyeyo?) – “What time is it now?”

These question words are pivotal in constructing a variety of questions in Korean. By mastering them, you can start building more complex sentences and engaging in diverse conversations.

Examples

• 누가 왔어요? – Who came?
• 누가 했어요? – Who did it?
• 왜 안 왔어요? – Why did you not come?
• 왜 그랬어요? – Why did you do it?
• 언제 가요? – When are you going?
• 언제 만나요? – When are we meeting?
• 어디 살아요? – Where do you live?
• 어디 있어요? – Where are you?
• 뭐 해요? – What are you doing?
• 뭐 먹어요? – What are you eating?

Let’s add some more words to make these sentences longer.

• 어제 누가 왔어요? – Who came yesterday?
• 이거 누가 했어요? – Who did this?
• 집에 왜 안 왔어요? – Why did you not come home?
• 마트 언제 가요? – When are you going to the mart?
• 우리 언제 만나요? – When are we meeting?
• 서울에 어디 살아요? – Where in Seoul do you live?
• 지금 어디 있어요? – Where are you right now?
• 내일 뭐 해요? – What are you doing tomorrow?
• 저녁 뭐 먹어요? – What are you eating for dinner?

*Note – Remember the exceptions to the rule when adding the 가 subject marking particle? 누구 –> 누가.

Conclusion

Mastering the art of asking questions in Korean is not just about acquiring a new linguistic skill; it’s about opening doors to deeper understanding, richer conversations, and stronger connections. As we’ve seen, the structure of Korean questions is notably different from English. By maintaining the sentence order and adjusting the intonation or simply adding a question mark, you can easily transform statements into questions. This straightforward approach is a key feature of Korean grammar and one that can greatly enhance your communication skills in the language.

We encourage you to keep practicing these structures and to incorporate them into your daily Korean use. Remember, every question you ask is an opportunity to learn something new, not just about the language, but about the people and the culture as well.

We’d Love to Hear from You:

• What strategies do you use to remember and practice Korean question forms?
• Are there specific types of questions or scenarios you find challenging or particularly interesting?
• Do you have any experiences where asking questions in Korean led to interesting conversations or discoveries?

Your insights and experiences are incredibly valuable to us and to fellow learners. So, please share your thoughts, tips, or questions in the comments below. Let’s continue to learn and grow together in our Korean language journey.

감사합니다 (Gamsahamnida) for reading, and as always, 화이팅 (Hwaiting) on your path to Korean language mastery!