‘What’ in Korean: How to Say What in Korean

Learning Korean can be pretty challenging at first. However, if you focus on one main Korean word per day and apply that word to as many sentences as possible, you can improve your Korean language skills dramatically in a short period of time. Also, watching Korean Dramas, or listening to K-pop will help you familiarize yourself with the Korean culture and language as well. Today, we will learn how to say what in Korean.

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How to Say What in Korean

Here is how to say what in Korean: 무엇[mu-ut]

Unlike some of the other pronouns, 무엇 usually does not stand on its own when used in a sentence – it needs a connecting object particles to be used in a Korean sentence.

Sample Sentences Using What in Korean

현진씨, 무엇을 도와 드릴까요?  [Hyunjin-she, Mu-ut-ul do-wa-deu-ril-gga-yo?]

Hyunjin, what can I help you with?
정민아, 지금 몇시야? [Jungmin-ah, ji-geum myut-si-ya?]

Jungmin, what time is this?

Note here that ‘myut’ was used here instead of ‘mu-ut’. The Korean word ‘myut’ is a short form of ‘mu-ut-ui’, and ‘si’ which literally means ‘time’ in Korean. Therefore, when combined together, ‘myut-si’ can be translated as ‘what time.

현빈아 뭐해? [Hyunbin-ah, mwo-he?]

Hyunbin, what are you doing?

Note here that we have ‘mwo-he’ instead of ‘mu-ut-ul he’, but essentially, these are the same thing. However, ‘mwo-he’ is more commonly used in everyday conversations.

What in Korean Using Different Object Particles

When learning the Korean language, you will come across some words that change their shape and form when combined with the object particles to be used in a sentence. Unlike some of the other adverbs that can stand alone, 무엇 [mu-ut] cannot be said by itself to create any meaning – it has to be connected with object particles such as  을 or 에 [ul-ae]  to complete the word used in a sentence. In our Beeline lessons, we will learn more in depth about paring up different object particles with the words

Now that you know how to say what in Korean, ask your family, colleagues or friends about anything that you were curious about!