오늘 어떠세요?
oneul eotteoseyo?
To say "how are you today?" in Korean, you say 오늘 어떠세요? (oneul eotteoseyo?)
오늘 어떠세요? is a polite greeting used to ask someone about their current well-being or mood. In Korean, this phrase is often used more as a polite conversational opener than a literal inquiry into one's deep emotional state.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of 오늘 (today) and 어떠세요? (how are you/how is it?).
Which one should you use?
While 오늘 어떠세요? is polite, the casual version 오늘 어때? is used with close friends or younger people.
How does it change in a sentence?
The ending -세요 in 오늘 어떠세요? makes this a polite and respectful form.
How do you pronounce it?
oneul eotteoseyo?
Did you know?
- In many Korean social contexts, instead of asking how you are, people might ask if you have eaten, using phrases like 밥 먹었어? (Did you eat?) as a substitute for 'how are you'.
- In Korean culture, the response to 오늘 어떠세요? is often a modest 그저 그래요 meaning 'just so-so' even if the person is doing well.
- When answering a greeting like 오늘 어떠세요?, it is common to slightly bow the head to show respect to the asker.
Example conversation
Minji and Dohyun meet at a cafe.
- 민지 Min-ji도현 씨, 오늘 어떠세요?Dohyun ssi, oneul eotteoseyo?Dohyun, how are you today?
- 도현 Do-hyeon저는 아주 좋아요. 민지 씨는요?jeoneun aju joayo. Minji ssinunyo?I am very good. How about you, Minji?
- 민지 Min-ji저도 기분이 정말 좋아요.jeodo gibuni jeongmal joayo.I feel really great too.
- 도현 Do-hyeon다행이네요. 같이 커피 마셔요.dahaeng-ineyo. gachi keopi masyeoyo.That's a relief. Let's have coffee together.
