Korean · Home, Clothes & Daily Life
"What are you doing?" in Korean: 뭐 하고 있어요?
뭐 하고 있어요?mwo hago isseoyo?
What are you doing? in Korean is 뭐 하고 있어요? (mwo hago isseoyo?). 뭐 하고 있어요? asks about an ongoing action; 뭐 해요? is a shorter everyday question.
What are you doing?: starting the exchange
지금 뭐 하고 있어요?jigeum mwo hago isseoyo?
Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce 뭐 하고 있어요?
Say it
mwo hago isseoyo?
/mwʌ hako is͈ʌjo/
뭐 하고 있어요? is read mwo hago isseoyo?. In 지금 뭐 하고 있어요?, read the full phrase as jigeum mwo hago isseoyo?.
"What are you doing?" in Korean: quick reference
| Korean | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| 뭐 하고 있어요?mwo hago isseoyo? | What are you doing? The inventory form for what are you doing?. | The inventory form for what are you doing?. |
| 지금 뭐 하고 있어요?jigeum mwo hago isseoyo? | what are you doing now? 뭐 하고 있어요? asks about an ongoing action; 뭐 해요? is a shorter everyday question. | 뭐 하고 있어요? asks about an ongoing action; 뭐 해요? is a shorter everyday question. |
How to use 뭐 하고 있어요? in real life
- 1What are you doing?: starting the exchange
지금 뭐 하고 있어요?
jigeum mwo hago isseoyo?
What are you doing now?
뭐 하고 있어요? asks about an ongoing action; 뭐 해요? is a shorter everyday question.
- 2What are you doing?: adding useful context
집에서 뭐 하고 있어요?
jibeseo mwo hago isseoyo?
What are you doing at home?
This sentence places 뭐 하고 있어요? in a complete exchange.
- 3What are you doing?: a different conversation
그 컴퓨터로 뭐 하고 있어요?
geu keompyuteoro mwo hago isseoyo?
What are you doing with that computer?
This sentence places 뭐 하고 있어요? in a complete exchange.
Mistakes English speakers make with 뭐 하고 있어요?
Incorrect: 지금 뭐 하고 있어요이에요.
Correct: 지금 뭐 하고 있어요?
When practicing what are you doing, a conjugated predicate already finishes this sentence; do not append the noun copula 이에요. Keep the complete form 지금 뭐 하고 있어요?
Incorrect: 지금 뭐 하고 있어요습니다.
Correct: 지금 뭐 하고 있어요?
When practicing what are you doing, do not append a formal sentence ending to a predicate that already has its polite ending. Keep the complete form 지금 뭐 하고 있어요?
Good to know
뭐 하고 있어요? asks about an ongoing action; 뭐 해요? is a shorter everyday question.
Read this practice conversation aloud
Tutor-led home and daily life study exercise: two sentences with 뭐 하고 있어요?
Partner
이 표현을 사용해서 한 문장 말해 볼까요?
i pyohyeoneul sayonghaeseo han munjang malhae bolkkayo?
Shall we say a sentence using this expression?
You
지금 뭐 하고 있어요?
jigeum mwo hago isseoyo?
What are you doing now?
Partner
좋아요. 다른 문장으로도 연습해 볼까요?
joayo. dareun munjangeurodo yeonseupae bolkkayo?
Good. Shall we practice with another sentence too?
You
집에서 뭐 하고 있어요?
jibeseo mwo hago isseoyo?
What are you doing at home?
This is a sample dialogue for reading aloud. Try both parts, then replace a detail with one from your own life.
Explore ChatPal"What are you doing?" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "What are you doing?" in Korean
What does 뭐 하고 있어요? mean?
What are you doing? in Korean is 뭐 하고 있어요? (mwo hago isseoyo?). 뭐 하고 있어요? asks about an ongoing action; 뭐 해요? is a shorter everyday question.
When should I say 지금 뭐 하고 있어요??
뭐 하고 있어요? asks about an ongoing action; 뭐 해요? is a shorter everyday question.
How does 지금 뭐 하고 있어요? differ from the basic expression?
지금 뭐 하고 있어요? means “what are you doing now?”. 뭐 하고 있어요? asks about an ongoing action; 뭐 해요? is a shorter everyday question.
Can I use 뭐 하고 있어요? in a full sentence?
지금 뭐 하고 있어요? means “What are you doing now?” 뭐 하고 있어요? asks about an ongoing action; 뭐 해요? is a shorter everyday question.
Use these words in a conversation
Find useful phrases for a situation, learn what to say back, and rehearse your part with revealable sample answers.
Learn a word, then use it out loud
- Step 1: See it in context
- Step 2: Say it out loud
- Step 3: Get feedback
- Step 4: Use it in real scenarios
