Korean Question Words
Korean asks questions without moving anything. Keep the sentence exactly as it is, drop the question word into the slot where the answer would go, and raise your tone.
The question words
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누구 nugu
NOO-goo
-
who
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뭐 mwo
mwoh
-
what
무엇 mueot is the full, more formal form
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어디 eodi
UH-dee
-
where
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언제 eonje
UHN-jeh
-
when
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왜 wae
weh
-
why
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어떻게 eotteoke
uh-TUH-keh
-
how
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어느 eoneu
UH-neu
-
which
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얼마 eolma
UHL-mah
-
how much
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몇 myeot
myuht
-
how many
Always followed by a counter word
Nothing moves
A Korean question has the same word order as the statement that answers it. 어디예요 is literally where is-it, and the reply 학교예요, it is school, sits in exactly the same shape.
There is no equivalent of the English do, and no inversion to learn. In speech a rising tone marks the question; in writing the question mark does.
The verb still comes last, so the question word lands in the middle: 이거 얼마예요, this how-much is-it.
몇 never stands alone. It needs a counter after it: 몇 시, what hour; 몇 명, how many people; 몇 개, how many things.
뭐 is what you will hear; 무엇 is what you will read. Both are correct.
- 이름이 뭐예요?What is your name?
- 화장실이 어디예요?Where is the toilet?
- 얼마예요?How much is it?
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