What does it mean word for word?
The phrase 뭐 했어요? is composed of 뭐 (what) and 했어요 (did), which is the polite past tense of the verb 하다 (to do).
Which one should you use?
While 뭐 했어요? is a way to ask acquaintances about their activities while maintaining a slightly more polite tone, you might use 무엇을 했습니까? for a standard and most formal way to ask 'What did you do?' If you want to ask specifically about someone's work, you can use 어떤 일을 하셨나요?, which literally means "What work did you do?" For a version that emphasizes the notion of activity or highlight a specific action, use 어떤 활동을 하셨습니까?
How does it change in a sentence?
To elevate the phrase to an honorific level, add the honorific marker 시 to create 뭐 하셨어요?, which is used when asking someone of higher social status or older age.
How do you pronounce it?
mwo haesseoyo?
Did you know?
- While English speakers always use a subject like 'you', Koreans often omit it entirely because using the actual word for 'you' 당신 can actually sound aggressive or confrontational in this context.
- If you use the formal version 무엇을 했습니까? in a casual setting, like a cafe with a friend, you might accidentally sound like a character in a historical drama or a soldier.
- The verb 하다 in 뭐 했어요? is one of the most versatile tools in the language, acting as a 'helper' that can turn many nouns into active verbs.
Examples in context
- 주말에 뭐 했어요?jumare mwo haesseoyo?What did you do over the weekend?
- 어제 퇴근하고 뭐 했어요?eoje toegeunhago mwo haesseoyo?What did you do after work yesterday?
- 방학 동안 뭐 했어요?banghak dongan mwo haesseoyo?What did you do during the vacation?
Example conversation
Subin and Minjun are catching up at a cafe.
- 수빈 Su-bin민준 씨, 어제 뭐 했어요?Minjun ssi, eoje mwo haesseoyo?Minjun, what did you do yesterday?
- 민준 Min-jun친구를 만났어요.chingureul mannasseoyo.I met a friend.
- 수빈 Su-bin그럼 영화도 봤어요?geureom yeonghwado bwasseoyo?Then, did you watch a movie too?
- 민준 Min-jun네, 재미있게 봤어요.ne, jaemiitge bwasseoyo.Yes, I enjoyed it.
