Vocabulary4 min read84 views
What / How / Why in Korean: 뭐, 어떻게, 왜
뭐 = what, 어떻게 = how, 왜 = why. The minimum kit to understand people.
Published on September 14, 2026
What = 뭐, how = 어떻게, why = 왜. Examples: 뭐예요?, 어떻게 해요?, 왜요?
Add 요 to stay polite: 왜요?, 뭐요? (note: 뭐요? can sound blunt depending on tone).
Politeness levels
| Phrase | Romanization | Meaning | Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| 뭐예요? | mwoyeyo? | What is it? | Basic |
| 어떻게 해요? | eotteoke haeyo? | How do you do it? | Basic |
| 왜요? | waeyo? | Why? | Basic |
| 언제예요? / 누구예요? | eonjeyeyo? / nuguyeyo? | When? / Who? | Basic |
Related phrases
- 얼마나예요? (eolmayeyo?): How much is it?
- 어디예요? (eodiyeyo?): Where is it?
- 무슨 뜻이에요? (museun teusieyo?): What does it mean?
Field tip
Use 무슨 before a noun: 무슨 말이에요?
Common mistake
Bare 왜? to a superior can sound aggressive. Prefer soft 왜요?
Go further
Practice these phrases in Seonsaengnim lessons and dictionary, with native audio and flashcards.
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