아침 먹었어요?
achim meogeosseoyo?
The English phrase "did you eat breakfast?" is translated into Korean as 아침 먹었어요? (achim meogeosseoyo?)
This phrase is used to ask if someone has had their first meal of the day.
What does it mean word for word?
The word 아침 literally means "morning" but is also the standard word for "breakfast".
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
There are several ways to express this depending on the level of politeness required. For a polite and standard approach suitable for elders or superiors, use 아침 드셨어요? which employs the honorific verb 드시다 (to eat). For a formal setting, you can use 아침 드셨습니까? If you are speaking casually with friends or people younger than you, use the informal versions 아침 먹었어? or 아침 먹었니?
How do you pronounce it?
achim meogeosseoyo?
When do people say it?
In Korean culture, asking if someone has eaten is often used as a common greeting or a way to show care and concern, rather than just a literal inquiry about food.
Did you know?
- If someone answers 아니요 ('no') to 아침 먹었어요?, it is often an invitation for the speaker to suggest going to a restaurant together.
- The word 아침 was written as 아ᄎᆞᆷ〮 in the 1447 text 'Seokbo sangjeol'. This version includes an archaic vowel and a tone mark that are no longer used in modern Korean.
- If you are speaking to a teacher or a grandparent, using the standard verb 먹었어요? instead of the honorific 드셨어요? can actually sound rude or impolite.
Examples in context
- 안녕하세요. 아침 드셨어요?Hello. Did you eat breakfast?
- 네, 아침을 먹었어요.Yes, I ate breakfast.
- 아침 먹었어요?achim meogeosseoyo?Did you eat breakfast?
- 오늘 아침 먹었어요?oneul achim meogeosseoyo?Did you eat breakfast today?
- 집에서 아침 먹었어요?jibeseo achim meogeosseoyo?Did you eat breakfast at home?
Example conversation
Jihoon and Minji are meeting at a cafe in the morning.
- 지훈 Ji-hun민지 씨, 아침 먹었어요?Minji ssi, achim meogeosseoyo?Minji, did you eat breakfast?
- 민지 Min-ji아니요, 아직 안 먹었어요.aniyo, ajik an meogeosseoyo.No, I haven't eaten yet.
- 지훈 Ji-hun그럼 같이 먹을까요?geureom gatchi meogeulkkayo?Then shall we eat together?
- 민지 Min-ji네, 좋아요!ne, joayo!Yes, that sounds good!
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 아침, CC BY-SA 4.0.
