아십니까?
asimnikka?formal
The English phrase "do you know" is translated into Korean as 아십니까? (asimnikka?) Wiktionary also lists 아세요? (aseyo?) and 알아? (ara?).
Meaning: do you know? (of knowledge) (phrase)
Ways to say it
| Korean | Romanization (Wiktionary) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 아십니까? | asimnikka? | formal |
| 아세요? | aseyo? | informal, polite |
| 알아? | ara? | informal |
These phrases are used to ask if someone possesses certain knowledge. The specific form you choose depends on the social relationship between you and the person you are addressing.
Which one should you use?
While 아십니까? and 알고 계시나요? are used for highly formal situations, 아세요? serves as the standard polite way to ask a question in daily interactions with strangers or acquaintances.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Korean uses different levels of politeness. 알고 계시나요? and 아십니까? are suitable for polite, formal situations or when speaking to someone older or in a higher position. 아세요? is a polite, standard form for everyday use with acquaintances. 알아? is informal and intended for friends, classmates or people of similar age or status.
How do you pronounce it?
asimnikka?
Did you know?
- To express 'I don't know' in a way that avoids directness, Koreans often use 잘 모르겠습니다, which means 'I do not know well' rather than a flat 'I don't know'.
- The verb 알다 is used in the expression 알겠습니다 to mean 'I understand' or 'I will do it', acting as a confirmation of a command rather than just acknowledging a fact.
- In casual speech, the phrase 알아? can be used as a rhetorical challenge or a way to say 'get it?' during an argument, rather than a genuine request for information.
Examples in context
- 내가 왜 여기있는지 알아?Do you know why I'm here?This sentence is useful for asking if someone knows a reason for a location using 알아?Tatoeba #8357769 by Eunhee, translation #3255795 by CK
- 톰이 어디 사는지 아십니까?Do you know where Tom lives?This sentence is useful for asking about someone's residence using 아십니까?Tatoeba #11105099 by intertime, translation #1096254 by CK
- 프랑스어 할 줄 아는 사람 아세요?Do you know anybody who speaks French?This sentence is useful for asking if someone knows a person with a specific skill using 아세요?Tatoeba #11110665 by intertime, translation #6223234 by CK
- 선생님, 이 문제의 답을 알고 계시나요?Teacher, do you know the answer to this question?
- 그 영화 알아?Do you know that movie?
- 20 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two colleagues are talking at the office.
- 지은 Ji-eun지훈 씨, 이 프로젝트에 대해 아십니까?Ji-hun ssi, i peuro-jekte-e dae-hae asimnikka?Ji-hun, do you know about this project?
- 지훈 Ji-hun네, 조금 알고 있습니다.Ne, jo-geum algo itseumnida.Yes, I know a little bit.
- 지은 Ji-eun그럼 담당자가 누구인지 아십니까?Geureom dam-dang-ja-ga nu-gu-in-ji asimnikka?Then, do you know who the person in charge is?
- 지훈 Ji-hun아니요, 그건 잘 모르겠습니다.Aniyo, geugeon jal moreu-getseumnida.No, I'm not sure about that.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “do you know” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
