Language/Korean/Grammar/Questions

Korean Grammar - Questions

Hi Korean learners! 😊
In this lesson, we will learn how to ask questions in Korean. Mastering the art of asking questions is essential for improving your language skills. It's the best way to learn and find answers to what you don't know yet. After this lesson, you'll be able to ask basic and complex questions in Korean 🇰🇷🙌.

Take a moment to explore these relevant pages as you conclude this lesson: Connectors, Korean Grammar → Conjunctions and Connectors → Conditional ..., Gender & Subject and Object Markers.

Formal and Informal Questions

In Korean, as in many other languages, we distinguish between formal and informal language. Formal language is often used with those who are older or have higher status, like your boss or a stranger. Informal language is used with those who are younger or have lower status, like your friends or family members.

When it comes to asking questions, the same distinction applies. We use different verb endings depending on the level of formality. Let's take a look at some examples:

Informal

Korean	Pronunciation	English
질문하다 (jilmunhada)	[tɕil.mun.ha.da]	to ask a question
뭐 (mwo)	[mwo]	what
어디 (eodi)	[ʌ.di]	where
언제 (eonje)	[ʌn.dʑe]	when
어떻게 (eotteoke)	[ʌ.t̚t̚ʌ.g͈e]	how
왜 (wae)	[wɛ]	why

Formal

Korean	Pronunciation	English
질문하십니까 (jilmunhasimnikka)	[tɕil.mun.ha.ɕim.nik̚.ka]	to ask a question (formal)
무엇 (mueot)	[mu.ʌt̚]	what (formal)
어디에 (eodie)	[ʌ.di.e]	where (formal)
언제 (eonje)	[ʌn.dʑe]	when (formal)
어떻게 (eotteoke)	[ʌ.t̚t̚ʌ.g͈e]	how (formal)
왜 (wae)	[wɛ]	why (formal)

Notice the difference in the verb endings: -하다(-hada) for informal and -하십니까(-hasimnikka) for formal. For example:

• Informal: 뭐 해? (mwo hae?) - What are you doing?
• Formal: 무엇을 하시고 계십니까? (mueoseul hasigo gyesimnikka?) - What are you doing? (formal)

We use the polite form -십니까(-simnikka) as a way of showing respect to the person we are talking to.

Making Yes/No Questions

Yes/No questions in Korean are formed by adding the particle -ㄴ가(-n ga) at the end of a sentence. If the verb ends with a consonant, we add -은가(-eun ga) instead. For example:

• Affirmative: 호텔에 가요 (hotere gayo) - I'm going to the hotel.
• Question: 호텔에 가요? (hotere gayo?) - Are you going to the hotel?

Notice that the only difference is the question mark and -ㄴ가(-n ga) particle.

Asking Open Questions

Open questions require more detailed answers than yes/no questions. Here are some examples of how to ask open questions in Korean:

Korean	Pronunciation	English
뭐라고요? (mworagoyo?)	[mwo.ɾa.go.jo]	What did you say?
어디에 가셨어요? (eodie gasyeosseoyo?)	[ʌ.di.e ka.ɕʌ.sʌ.jʌ]	Where did you go?
언제 가시겠어요? (eonje gasigesseoyo?)	[ʌn.dʑe ka.ɕi.kʌs.sʌ.jo]	When are you planning to go?
어떤 종류가 있나요? (eotteon jonglyuga innayo?)	[ʌ.t̚t̚ʌn tɕoŋ.njʌ.ga inːa.jo]	What kinds are there?
왜 그렇게 생각하세요? (wae geureohge saenggakhaeyo?)	[wɛ kɯ.ɾʌhg.e sæŋ.gʌk̚.hɛ.jo]	Why do you think so?

Asking open questions is a great way to learn new things and get to know people better.

Conversation Example

Here is a conversation between two people, using the vocabulary and grammar points we've learned so far:

• Person 1: 오늘 뭐 할 거예요? (oneul mwo hal geoyeyo?) - What are you doing today?
• Person 2: 친구랑 영화를 볼 거에요. (chingurang yeonghwaleul bol geoeyo) - I'm going to watch a movie with my friend.
• Person 1: 언제 볼 거예요? (eonje bol geoyeyo?) - When are you going to watch it?
• Person 2: 내일 오후 2시에 볼 거예요. (naeil ohu isie bol geoyeyo) - I'm going to watch it tomorrow at 2pm.
• Person 1: 어디에서 볼 거예요? (eodieseo bol geoyeyo?) - Where are you going to watch it?
• Person 2: CGV에서 봐요. (CGVeseo bwayo) - I'm going to watch it at CGV.

It's always more fun to learn things in context, and that's why we included this dialogue. 💬

Get More Help

To improve your Korean grammar, you can also use the Polyglot Club website. Find native speakers and ask them any questions!

You can also visit our Korean Grammar section, where you'll find more articles to help you on your Korean learning journey.

Sources

• Lesson 21: Asking Questions in Korean: Why, When, Where, Who
• Korean Question Words - Vocabulary for Asking Questions
• How To Ask Questions In Korean: 3 Easy Ways - Ling App

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➡ If you have any questions, please ask them in the comments section below.
➡ Feel free to edit this wiki page if you think it can be improved. 😎

Other Lessons

• Future Tense
• Give your Opinion
• Plurals
• How to Use Be
• Nouns
• Gender
• How to Use Have
• Conditional Mood
• Negation