뭐 해?
mwo hae?
The English phrase "what are you doing?" is translated into Korean as 뭐 해? (mwo hae?)
This phrase is used to ask someone about their current activity or what they are up to.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of 뭐, which means "what" and 해, which is the informal conjugation of 하다, meaning "to do".
Which one should you use?
While 뭐 해? is a common way to ask the question, 뭐하고 있어? uses the progressive form to more specifically emphasize an action that is currently in progress.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
뭐 해? is the casual banmal (informal) form used only with close friends or people younger than you. To make the phrase suitable for speaking to strangers or people older than you, use the polite form 뭐 해요? For highly formal settings, such as military contexts or news broadcasts, use 뭐 하십니까?
How does it change in a sentence?
The form 뭐하고 있어? utilizes the progressive form to emphasize an action currently in progress.
How do you pronounce it?
mwo hae?
Did you know?
- Because 해 is a common sound in Korean, the exact same syllable can mean 'sun', 'year', or 'sea' depending on the Hanja characters used.
- If someone answers 뭐 해? with 그냥 ('just'), it often signals that they are bored or open to suggestions for an activity.
- Using the informal 뭐 해? with someone older or of a higher social rank can be perceived as a serious insult or a sign of aggression.
Examples in context
- 친구야, 뭐해?Hey friend, what are you doing?
- 지금 뭐 해?jigeum mwo hae?What are you doing right now?
- 집에서 뭐 해?jib-eseo mwo hae?What are you doing at home?
- 너 지금 뭐 해?neo jigeum mwo hae?What are you doing now?
Example conversation
Minjun calls Minji on the phone to see if she is busy.
- 민준 Min-jun민지야, 지금 뭐 해?Minji-ya, jigeum mwo hae?Minji, what are you doing right now?
- 민지 Min-ji그냥 음악 듣고 있어.geunyang eumak deutgo isseo.I'm just listening to music.
- 민준 Min-jun나랑 같이 커피 마실래?na-rang gatchi keopi masillae?Do you want to drink coffee with me?
- 민지 Min-ji그래, 좋아!geurae, joa!Sure, sounds good!
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 해, CC BY-SA 4.0.
