Korean · Greetings & Essentials
"Why?" in Korean: 왜
왜wae
Why? in Korean is 왜 (wae). 왜 asks why; 왜요? is a short polite follow-up and can sound abrupt if the tone is sharp.
Why?: starting the exchange
왜 늦었어요?wae neujeosseoyo?
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How to pronounce 왜
Say it
wae
/wɛ/
왜 is read wae. In 왜 그래요?, read the full phrase as wae geuraeyo?.
"Why?" in Korean: quick reference
| Korean | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| 왜wae | Why? The inventory form for why?. | The inventory form for why?. |
| 왜 그래요?wae geuraeyo? | what is wrong? 왜 asks why; 왜요? is a short polite follow-up and can sound abrupt if the tone is sharp. | 왜 asks why; 왜요? is a short polite follow-up and can sound abrupt if the tone is sharp. |
How to use 왜 in real life
- 1Why?: starting the exchange
왜 늦었어요?
wae neujeosseoyo?
Why were you late?
왜 asks why; 왜요? is a short polite follow-up and can sound abrupt if the tone is sharp.
- 2Why?: adding useful context
왜 그렇게 생각해요?
wae geureoke saenggakaeyo?
Why do you think that?
This sentence places 왜 in a complete exchange.
- 3Why?: a different conversation
오늘은 왜 쉬어요?
oneureun wae swieoyo?
Why are you resting today?
This sentence places 왜 in a complete exchange.
Mistakes English speakers make with 왜
Incorrect: 왜 늦었어요이에요.
Correct: 왜 늦었어요?
When practicing why, a conjugated predicate already finishes this sentence; do not append the noun copula 이에요. Keep the complete form 왜 늦었어요?
Incorrect: 왜 늦었어요습니다.
Correct: 왜 늦었어요?
When practicing why, do not append a formal sentence ending to a predicate that already has its polite ending. Keep the complete form 왜 늦었어요?
Good to know
왜 asks why; 왜요? is a short polite follow-up and can sound abrupt if the tone is sharp.
Read this practice conversation aloud
Tutor-led greetings and essentials study exercise: two sentences with 왜
Partner
이 표현을 사용해서 한 문장 말해 볼까요?
i pyohyeoneul sayonghaeseo han munjang malhae bolkkayo?
Shall we say a sentence using this expression?
You
왜 늦었어요?
wae neujeosseoyo?
Why were you late?
Partner
좋아요. 다른 문장으로도 연습해 볼까요?
joayo. dareun munjangeurodo yeonseupae bolkkayo?
Good. Shall we practice with another sentence too?
You
왜 그렇게 생각해요?
wae geureoke saenggakaeyo?
Why do you think that?
This is a sample dialogue for reading aloud. Try both parts, then replace a detail with one from your own life.
Explore ChatPal"Why?" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "Why?" in Korean
What does 왜 mean?
Why? in Korean is 왜 (wae). 왜 asks why; 왜요? is a short polite follow-up and can sound abrupt if the tone is sharp.
When should I say 왜 그래요??
왜 asks why; 왜요? is a short polite follow-up and can sound abrupt if the tone is sharp.
How does 왜 그래요? differ from the basic expression?
왜 그래요? means “what is wrong?”. 왜 asks why; 왜요? is a short polite follow-up and can sound abrupt if the tone is sharp.
Can I use 왜 in a full sentence?
왜 늦었어요? means “Why were you late?” 왜 asks why; 왜요? is a short polite follow-up and can sound abrupt if the tone is sharp.
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