응?
eung?
In Korean, the English phrase "huh" is expressed as 응? (eung?) in its default form.
응? is used both to express confusion (like 'huh?') and as a casual way to say "yes?" or "what?" when prompted.
Meaning: expressing doubt or confusion (intj)
Which one should you use?
While 응? is used for "huh?" in casual settings, 네? is the polite version used when you didn't hear someone or are confused in a formal setting. For a more direct way to ask "What did you say?", you can use the formal forms 뭐라고요? or 뭐라구요? or the informal version 뭐라고?
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
응? is informal and should only be used with friends, people younger than you or those you are very close to.
How do you pronounce it?
eung?
Did you know?
- When people are extremely confused or shocked, they might replace 응? with 엥?, which carries a stronger sense of 'Wait, what?' or 'That makes no sense'.
- In text messages, the sound 응 is often shortened to just the consonant ㅇ, which functions as a quick 'huh' or 'yes'.
- While 응? expresses confusion, Koreans often use a prolonged 으응~ to express a cute or whining tone, known as 'aegyo', to get someone's attention.
Examples in context
- 응? 뭐라고 했어?eung? mwo-ra-go haet-eo?Huh? What did you say?
- 응? 그게 무슨 소리야?eung? geu-ge mu-seun so-ri-ya?Huh? What do you mean by that?
- 응? 갑자기 왜 그래?eung? gap-ja-gi wae geu-rae?Huh? Why are you acting like that all of a sudden?
Example conversation
Ji-eun and Min-jun are discussing their dinner plans.
- 지은 Ji-eun우리 오늘 피자 먹자.uri oneul pija meokja.Let's eat pizza today.
- 민준 Min-jun응? 피자 말고 치킨 어때?eung? pija malgo chikin eottae?Huh? How about chicken instead of pizza?
- 지은 Ji-eun치킨도 좋아. 주문할게.chikindo joha. jumunhalge.Chicken is good too. I'll order it.
- 민준 Min-jun고마워, 지은아.gomawo, jieuna.Thanks, Ji-eun.
