Korean · Real conversations
How to say “What brings you here?” in Korean
Ask why someone is attending a gathering or visiting a place.
여기는 어쩐 일로 오셨어요?yeogineun eojjeon illo osyeosseoyo?
What brings you here?
The intended question is about purpose, rather than the means of transport.
Use it in three situations
At a gathering
여기는 어쩐 일로 오셨어요?yeogineun eojjeon illo osyeosseoyo?
What brings you here?
At a community event
이 행사에는 어쩐 일로 오셨어요?i haengsaeneun eojjeon illo osyeosseoyo?
What brings you to this event?
During a local visit
이 동네에는 어쩐 일로 오셨어요?i dongneeneun eojjeon illo osyeosseoyo?
What brings you to this neighborhood?
What to watch for
A literal translation of 'brings' can sound as if you are asking who transported them.
Read the whole expression before replacing a detail. The natural wording may use a different order or construction from the English sentence.
Your turn
Imagine meeting people. Say this in Korean: What brings you to this event?
Reveal a sample reply
이 행사에는 어쩐 일로 오셨어요?i haengsaeneun eojjeon illo osyeosseoyo?
What brings you to this event?
Build a useful exchange
Start a friendly exchange and find a connection.
This expression in other languages
A note on speaking Korean
Most examples use polite 해요-style endings. A more formal ending may appear when addressing staff or making a careful request. Do not switch to casual speech with a stranger simply because the English translation sounds friendly.
Hangul is the main text; romanization helps you read along. Korean often leaves a clear subject unstated. Particles and endings carry information that English may express with separate words.
