What does it mean word for word?
The phrase 오늘 하루 어때요? is composed of 오늘 (today), 하루 (a day/one day) and 어때요? (how is it?).
Which one should you use?
While 오늘 하루 어때요? is a standard way to ask the question, you can use 오늘 하루는 어떠세요? to ask 'How is your day today?' or 좋은 하루 보내고 계세요? to ask 'Are you having a good day?' For a more casual tone, you can use 오늘 어때? to mean 'How's today?'
How does it change in a sentence?
To change the politeness level, you can adjust the endings. Dropping the 요 at the end to say 오늘 하루 어때? makes the question informal and suitable for close friends or people younger than you. Using 어떠세요? instead of 어때요? makes the question more polite and respectful.
How do you pronounce it?
oneul haru eottaeyo?
When do people say it?
When someone asks you this, a common and simple way to respond is 좋아요 (It's good). If the day is neither particularly good nor bad, you can respond with 그저 그래요 (It's just so-so).
Did you know?
- In Korean culture, asking 오늘 하루 어때요? may be perceived as more intimate than a standard 'hello' because it invites a genuine emotional update.
- The word for 'today', 오늘, etymologically means 'the day that has come'. It is a combination of a verb form meaning 'to come' and a word for 'day'.
- While English speakers often answer 'Fine' to this question, Koreans may answer with 그저 그래요 ('just so-so') to avoid sounding overly boastful or too positive.
Examples in context
- 오늘 하루 어때요?oneul haru eottaeyo?How is your day going?
- 수빈 씨, 오늘 하루 어때요?subin ssi, oneul haru eottaeyo?Subin, how is your day going?
Example conversation
Two colleagues are chatting in the office break room.
- 수빈 Su-bin도현 씨, 오늘 하루 어때요?dohyeon ssi, oneul haru eottaeyo?Dohyeon, how is your day going?
- 도현 Do-hyeon조금 바쁘지만 괜찮아요.jogeum bappujiman gwaenchanayo.I'm a bit busy, but I'm okay.
- 수빈 Su-bin다행이네요. 힘내세요!dahaengineyo. himnaeseyo!That's a relief. Hang in there!
- 도현 Do-hyeon고마워요, 수빈 씨.gomawoyo, subin ssi.Thank you, Subin.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 오늘, 하루, CC BY-SA 4.0.
