The five core Korean question words are 누구 (nugu, who), 뭐 or 무엇 (mwo, what), 어디 (eodi, where), 언제 (eonje, when), and 왜 (wae, why). Unlike English, they usually stay in the same spot the answer would occupy. Add a polite ending like -요 (-yo), and you can ask almost anything.
Last checked: 2026-11-14
- How Korean question words work
- The five question words step by step
- Making questions polite
- Quick comparison table
- Real-life examples
- FAQ
- Sources
- Related guides
How Korean question words work
English moves question words to the front. We say “Where is the station?” Korean does not do this.
In Korean, the question word sits where the answer would go. The verb comes last, as usual.
For example, “The station is here” becomes 역은 여기예요 (yeogeun yeogiyeyo). The question swaps 여기 (here) for 어디 (where): 역은 어디예요? (yeogeun eodiyeyo?).
This makes questions easy to build. Take a normal sentence, replace the missing piece with a question word, and raise your tone slightly at the end.
The five question words step by step
1. 누구 (nugu): who
Use 누구 for people. 이 사람은 누구예요? (i sarameun nuguyeyo?) means “Who is this person?”
When 누구 is the subject, it changes to 누가 (nuga). 누가 왔어요? (nuga wasseoyo?) means “Who came?”
2. 뭐 / 무엇 (mwo / mueot): what
뭐 is the casual, everyday form. 무엇 is more formal and mostly appears in writing. 이게 뭐예요? (ige mwoyeyo?) means “What is this?”
3. 어디 (eodi): where
Use 어디 for places. 화장실이 어디예요? (hwajangsiri eodiyeyo?) means “Where is the restroom?” This is the single most useful question for travelers.
4. 언제 (eonje): when
Use 언제 for time. 언제 열어요? (eonje yeoreoyo?) means “When does it open?” Always check posted hours or the official website, since opening times vary.
5. 왜 (wae): why
왜 asks for a reason. 왜 늦었어요? (wae neujeosseoyo?) means “Why were you late?” Tone matters here. Direct 왜 questions can sound blunt, so soften them with a gentle voice.
Making questions polite
Korean has speech levels. For daily use, learn the polite -요 (-yo) style first. It works with strangers, shop staff, and coworkers.
Follow these steps:
- Pick your question word.
- Add the noun or verb you need.
- End with -요 or -예요/이에요.
- Rise slightly in pitch at the end.
Adding 혹시 (hoksi, “by any chance”) or 실례지만 (sillyejiman, “excuse me, but”) makes you sound more considerate. Staff often appreciate the effort, even when your pronunciation is imperfect.
Quick comparison table
| English | Korean | Romanization | Example question | Best used for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Who | 누구 | nugu | 누구예요? | People |
| What | 뭐 | mwo | 이거 뭐예요? | Things, ideas |
| Where | 어디 | eodi | 어디예요? | Places, directions |
| When | 언제 | eonje | 언제예요? | Dates, times |
| Why | 왜 | wae | 왜요? | Reasons |
| How much | 얼마 | eolma | 얼마예요? | Prices |
The bonus word 얼마 (eolma) is worth learning too. A cup of coffee may cost around $4 to $6 / 5,500 to 8,000 KRW at many cafés, but prices vary widely by shop, so confirm on the menu or the café’s own page.
Real-life examples
Here are short, practical phrases you can use today.
- At a café: 이거 뭐예요? (What is this?)
- At a station: 출구가 어디예요? (Where is the exit?)
- At a shop: 언제까지 해요? (Until when are you open?)
- With a friend: 누구랑 가요? (Who are you going with?)
- In conversation: 왜요? (Why? / How come?)
Pointing while you ask helps a lot. Combine 이거 (this) and 저거 (that) with 뭐예요 for easy shopping questions.
FAQ
Do Korean question words always go at the start of the sentence?
No. They usually stay where the answer would be. The verb still comes last, so the question word often sits near the middle.
What is the difference between 뭐 and 무엇?
Both mean “what.” 뭐 is casual and common in speech. 무엇 is more formal and appears mainly in writing or formal speaking.
Is it rude to ask 왜 (why) in Korean?
It can sound blunt without a soft tone. Adding polite endings, a gentle voice, and a phrase like 혹시 can help. Context and relationship matter, so listen to how locals phrase it.
Do I need to learn Hangul before using these words?
It helps, but it is not required to start. Hangul is designed to be learned quickly, and the National Institute of Korean Language offers official learning resources.
Sources
- National Institute of Korean Language: https://www.korean.go.kr
- King Sejong Institute Foundation: https://www.ksif.or.kr
- Korea Tourism Organization (Visit Korea): https://english.visitkorea.or.kr
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