Welcome to this guide on how to say “What are you doing here?” in Korean! Whether you want to impress your Korean friends, communicate with locals during your travel, or simply expand your language skills, understanding this question will be incredibly useful. In this guide, we will cover both the formal and informal ways to ask this question, highlighting any regional variations if necessary. Let’s dive in!
Table of Contents
Formal Way:
When speaking to someone in a formal or polite setting, it’s important to use formal language and honorifics. To say “What are you doing here?” formally, you can use the following expression:
“여기서 무슨 일을 하시나요?” (yeogiseo museun ireul hasinayo?)
Now let’s break down the expression and learn some useful tips and examples:
Tips:
- When addressing someone formally, use the honorific verb ending “시다” (sida) after the verb stem.
- Remember to add the question marker “요” (yo) at the end of the sentence to indicate that it’s a question.
Examples:
Example 1: A: 여기서 무슨 일을 하시나요?
B: 제 친구 찾으려고 왔어요. (je chingu chajeuryeogo wasseoyo)
A: What are you doing here?
B: I came to look for my friend.
Example 2: A: 여기서 무슨 일을 하시나요?
B: 회의에 참석하기 위해 왔습니다. (hoeuie chamsokhagi wihae wassseumnida)
A: What are you doing here?
B: I came here to attend a meeting.
Informal Way:
In casual and informal situations, you can use a simpler expression to ask “What are you doing here?”. Here’s the informal way to ask this question:
“여기서 뭐해?” (yeogiseo mwohae?)
Let’s dive into some tips and examples to better understand the informal expression:
Tips:
- In informal speech, the honorific verb ending “시다” (sida) is not used. Instead, we use the plain form of the verb.
- “뭐해?” (mwohae?) is a shortened form of “뭐하고 있어?” (mwohago isseo?), meaning “What are you doing?”.
Examples:
Example 1: A: 여기서 뭐해?
B: 친구랑 얘기하려고 왔어. (chingu rang yaegiharyeogo wasseo)
A: What are you doing here?
B: I came to talk with a friend.
Example 2: A: 여기서 뭐해?
B: 좋아하는 가수 공연을 보러 왔어. (joahaneun gasu gongyeoneul boreo wasseo)
A: What are you doing here?
B: I came to watch a concert of my favorite singer.
Regional Variations:
The expressions mentioned above are commonly used throughout Korea. However, it’s worth mentioning that there might be some regional variations in the choice of words or pronunciation. Such variations are mostly minor and won’t hinder your communication. Feel free to adapt these expressions based on the region you are in.
Conclusion:
Congratulations! You have learned how to say “What are you doing here?” in Korean. Always remember to consider the context and level of formality before using these expressions. Being able to communicate in Korean will undoubtedly enrich your cultural experiences and interactions. Practice these phrases, and don’t be afraid to start conversations with “What are you doing here?” in both formal and informal settings. Happy Korean learning!
