장난해요?
jangnanhaeyo?
In Korean, 'are you joking?' is expressed as 장난해요? (jangnanhaeyo?)
This phrase is used to express disbelief or annoyance when someone says something that seems untrue or unfair. Depending on the intonation, this phrase can range from a lighthearted 'Are you kidding me?' to a sharp, annoyed 'Are you kidding me right now?'
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of 장난 (joke/prank) and 해요 (to do/are doing).
Which one should you use?
You can use 농담하시는 거죠? for a formal way to ask if someone is joking or 농담이지? to informally ask 'Is it a joke?' For a polite casual way to ask, you can use 농담해요?
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
장난합니까? is a highly formal way to express disbelief, often used in very tense or professional confrontations. 장난해요? is polite but can still sound confrontational depending on tone. For informal situations, use 장난해? with friends or people younger than you.
How do you pronounce it?
jangnanhaeyo?
Did you know?
- In modern Korean slang, the shortened 장난아니네 is used to mean 'this is incredible' or 'this is insane'. It describes something so extreme that it feels like a joke, but is used as a compliment or an expression of awe.
- The word 장난 is often paired with the verb 치다 (to hit/strike) in the phrase 장난치다. This suggests that 'playing a joke' is conceptually similar to 'striking' a note or a blow.
- Using the highly formal 장난합니까? in a professional setting is often seen as a 'fighting' word. It signals that the speaker has completely lost patience and is treating the situation as a serious confrontation.
Examples in context
- 진심이에요? 장난해요?jinsimieyo? jangnanhaeyo?Are you serious? Are you joking?
Example conversation
Minjun tells Seoyeon that he forgot her birthday.
- 서연 Seo-yeon오늘 내 생일인 거 알아요?oneul nae saengil-in geo arayo?Do you know it is my birthday today?
- 민준 Min-jun미안해요, 깜빡 잊었어요.mianhaeyo, kkamppak ij-eosseoyo.I am sorry, I completely forgot.
- 서연 Seo-yeon지금 장난해요?jigeum jangnanhaeyo?Are you joking right now?
- 민준 Min-jun아니에요, 정말 미안해요.anieyo, jeongmal mianhaeyo.No, I am really sorry.
