며칠
myeochil
In Korean, "what date" is expressed as 며칠 (myeochil).
The word 며칠 is used both to ask for a specific date and to ask for a duration of days.
What does it mean word for word?
The word 며칠 can mean "what date" or "how many days".
How does it change in a sentence?
To ask "What date is it today?" in a polite, standard way, you add the polite copula to the word to get 며칠이에요?
How do you pronounce it?
myeochil
Did you know?
- In traditional Korean contexts, people may answer a question about the date by referring to the lunar calendar rather than the solar calendar used globally.
- The word 며칠 is a linguistic fossil that contains a remnant of a Proto-Korean word for 'day' that has otherwise disappeared from the modern language.
- The word 며칠 is considered a linguistic 'trap' for many native Korean speakers. Because the word's actual origin does not follow standard Sino-Korean patterns, many people reflexively use the incorrect spelling in daily writing.
Examples in context
- 오늘 날짜를 알려 주세요.Today's date, please.
- 오늘 날짜 알아?Do you know the date today?
- 오늘이 며칠이에요?oneul-i myeochil-ieyo?What date is it today?
- 시험이 몇 월 며칠이에요?siheom-i myeot wol myeochil-ieyo?What date in what month is the exam?
- 생일이 며칠인지 알려주세요.saeng-il-i myeochil-inji allyeojuseyo.Please tell me what date your birthday is.
Example conversation
Jihoon and Jieun are checking their appointment schedule.
- 지훈 Ji-hun지은 씨, 우리 약속이 며칠이에요?Jieun ssi, uri yaksok-i myeochil-ieyo?Jieun, what date is our appointment?
- 지은 Ji-eun이번 달 십오일이에요.Ibeon dal sip-o-il-ieyo.It is the 15th of this month.
- 지훈 Ji-hun아, 그렇군요. 알겠습니다.A, geureokgunyo. Algetseumnida.Ah, I see. I understand.
- 지은 Ji-eun그날 시간 괜찮아요?Geunal sigan gwaenchannayo?Are you free on that day?
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 며칠, CC BY-SA 4.0.
