Which one should you use?
While 어떡하지? is a common way to express this thought, other forms exist depending on the situation. 어떡해? and 나 어떡하지? are also used in informal settings to seek advice or help. For more formal or polite requests for guidance, you can use 어떻게 하면 좋을까요?, 어떻게 해야 합니까? or 제가 무엇을 해야 하나요?
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
어떡하지? is an informal way to ask for advice or help among friends or peers. For a polite tone suitable for speaking to someone older or in a formal setting, you can use the suffix –죠 to say 어떡하죠? If you need to show respect in a formal setting, use 어떻게 해야 합니까? or the polite way to ask for guidance, 어떻게 하면 좋을까요? and 제가 무엇을 해야 하나요?
How does it change in a sentence?
The form 어떡해 is the non-past, non-honorific version of this expression and is often used in casual speech.
How do you pronounce it?
eotteokhaji?
What mistakes should you avoid?
Be careful not to confuse the contraction 어떡해 (meaning "what to do") with the adverbial phrase 어떻게 해 (meaning "do how").
Did you know?
- Depending on the tone, saying 어떡해? to another person can shift from a gesture of sympathy to a way of teasing them about a mistake.
- While 어떡하지? sounds like a question, it is often used as a rhetorical exclamation to express distress rather than a genuine request for a solution.
- Because 어떡해 is a contraction of 어떻게 해, many native Korean speakers frequently make spelling errors in written text by confusing the two forms.
Examples in context
- 존경하는 선생님, 어떻게 하면 좋을까요?Respected teacher, what should I do?
- 혹시 이런 상황에서 어떻게 해야 합니까?In this situation, what should I do?
- 형, 이럴 때 어떡하지?Hyung, what do I do at a time like this?
- 친구야, 어떡해야 할까?Friend, what should I do?
- 오빠, 내가 어떡해야 돼?Oppa, what should I do?
- 지갑을 잃어버렸어. 어떡하지?ji-gap-eul il-eo-beo-ryeot-eo. eo-tteok-ha-ji?I lost my wallet. What do I do?
- 비가 너무 많이 오는데 어떡하지?bi-ga neo-mu man-i o-neun-de eo-tteok-ha-ji?It's raining too much, what should I do?
Example conversation
Minjun is panicked because he broke a vase at home.
- 민준 Min-jun유리 화병을 깨뜨렸어. 어떡하지?yu-ri hwa-byeong-eul kkae-tteu-ryeot-eo. eo-tteok-ha-ji?I broke the glass vase. What do I do?
- 수빈 Su-bin일단 괜찮으니까 진정해.il-dan gwaen-chan-eu-ni-kka jin-jeong-hae.It's okay for now, so calm down.
- 민준 Min-jun정말 미안해, 어떡하지?jeong-mal mi-an-hae, eo-tteok-ha-ji?I'm so sorry, what do I do?
- 수빈 Su-bin내가 같이 치워줄게.nae-ga gat-i chi-wo-jul-ge.I will help you clean it up.
