뭐라고요?
mworagoyo?
The English phrase 'come again' can be translated into Korean in several ways depending on whether you mean 'could you repeat that' or 'return to this location'. If you mean 'could you repeat that', the default form is 뭐라고요? (mworagoyo?)
In the context of asking someone to repeat themselves because you did not hear or understand them, you use 뭐라고요? to say 'What did you say?' If you mean 'come again' as an invitation for someone to visit a location like a restaurant again, you use 다시 오십시오.
Meaning: could you repeat that (intj)
Which one should you use?
The phrase 다시 와 is the informal way to say 'come again' (as in returning to a place), while 다시 오십시오 is the formal version. When asking for repetition, 뭐라고요? is the polite standard, but removing the '요' at the end to create 뭐라고? makes it informal.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
뭐라고요? is a polite form suitable for use with strangers, colleagues or people older than you. For the literal meaning of returning to a place, 다시 오십시오 is formal and 다시 와 is informal.
How does it change in a sentence?
To show higher respect to an elder or a superior when asking someone to repeat themselves, use the honorific form 뭐라고 하셨어요? instead of 뭐라고요?
How do you pronounce it?
mworagoyo?
When do people say it?
In a restaurant setting, you can say 다시 오십시오 to invite a customer to visit your establishment again.
Did you know?
- While 뭐라고요? asks what was said, Korean has a separate word 네? that functions as a polite 'come again' or 'pardon'. It is often used with a rising intonation to signal that the listener is waiting for the speaker to repeat the last sentence.
- In highly formal settings, asking someone to repeat themselves is often phrased as 다시 한번 말씀해 주시겠어요? This literally asks the person to 'give' the words to the listener one more time.
- If you use the informal 뭐라고? with a superior or an elder, it can sound like you are actually challenging them or expressing disbelief, rather than just asking for a repetition.
Examples in context
- 뭐라고요?mwo-ra-go-yo?Come again?
- 방금 뭐라고요?bang-geum mwo-ra-go-yo?What did you just say?
- 다시 한번 뭐라고요?da-si han-beon mwo-ra-go-yo?What was that again?
Example conversation
Minji and Minjun are talking in a noisy cafe.
- 민지 Min-ji내일 같이 영화 봐요.naeil gachi yeonghwa bwayo.Let's watch a movie together tomorrow.
- 민준 Min-jun네? 뭐라고요?ne? mworagoyo?Sorry, come again?
- 민지 Min-ji내일 영화 보자고요.naeil yeonghwa bojagoyo.I said let's watch a movie tomorrow.
- 민준 Min-jun아, 좋아요!a, joayo!Oh, I'd love to!
