What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of 무슨, which means 'what' or 'what kind of' when modifying a noun and 뜻, which means 'meaning' or 'significance'.
Which one should you use?
While 무슨 뜻이에요? asks for the definition or intent of a word or statement, 뭐라고요? is more commonly used to ask 'What did you say?' when you didn't hear someone clearly.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The default form 무슨 뜻이에요? uses the polite ending -이에요 (-ieyo), making it suitable for speaking to strangers or people older than you. For close friends or people younger than you, you can use the informal version 무슨 뜻이야? In more formal or respectful situations, you can use 무슨 말씀이세요? which uses the honorific form of 'words' or even more formal variations like 무슨 말씀이신지요? and 무슨 의미로 말씀하시는 건가요? to politely ask for the intended meaning.
How do you pronounce it?
museun tteus-ieyo?
What mistakes should you avoid?
Be aware that 무슨 소리야? literally translates to 'What sound is that?', but is commonly used to ask someone to explain what they mean.
Did you know?
- The term 무슨 was first documented as 沒審 in the 1103 text 계림유사, one of the earliest records of the Korean language.
- The word 뜻 for 'meaning' is also used to describe a person's 'will' or 'intention' when making a life decision.
- The word 뜻 describes not just a dictionary definition, but also the 'significance' or 'intent' behind a person's actions.
Examples in context
- 그게 무슨 뜻이에요?geuge museun tteusieyo?What does that mean?
- 방금 한 말이 무슨 뜻이에요?banggeum han mari museun tteusieyo?What do you mean by what you just said?
- 무슨 뜻이에요? 다시 설명해 주세요.museun tteusieyo? dasi seolmyeonghae juseyo.What do you mean? Please explain it again.
Example conversation
Dohyun and Jieun are talking about a movie.
- 도현 Do-hyeon이 영화는 조금 이상해요.i yeonghwaneun jogeum isanghaeyo.This movie is a bit strange.
- 지은 Ji-eun무슨 뜻이에요?museun tteusieyo?What do you mean?
- 도현 Do-hyeon결말이 이해가 안 돼요.gyeolmari ihaega an dwaeyo.I don't understand the ending.
- 지은 Ji-eun아, 저도 그렇게 생각해요.a, jeodo geureoke saenggakhaeyo.Ah, I think so too.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 무슨, CC BY-SA 4.0.
