왜 그래?
wae geurae?
The English phrase "what is wrong with you?" can be translated into Korean as 왜 그래? (wae geurae?)
This phrase is used to ask someone why they are acting strangely or behaving in an unusual way. It can be used both to express genuine concern for someone's well-being or to express annoyance at someone's strange behavior. If you want to specifically ask "Is something wrong?", you can use 무슨 일 있어? instead.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
For a polite version suitable for people you are not close with or who are older than you, use 왜 그래요? by adding the suffix –요.
How do you pronounce it?
wae geurae?
Did you know?
- The polite suffix 요 transforms the phrase into 왜 그래요?, but using it with a close friend can suddenly create a sense of emotional distance or passive-aggression.
- While 왜 usually means 'why', it is also the historical name for Japan in Korean, derived from the Chinese character 倭.
- If you use the version 왜 그래? with a higher pitch at the end, it sounds like a worried friend, but if you use a falling or flat tone, it sounds like an angry confrontation.
Examples in context
- 갑자기 왜 그래?gapjagi wae geurae?Why are you acting like this all of a sudden?
- 너 오늘 왜 그래?neo oneul wae geurae?What is wrong with you today?
Example conversation
At a cafe, a girl is acting unusually quiet and upset.
- 도현 Do-hyeon지은아, 오늘 왜 그래?jieun-a, oneul wae geurae?Jieun, what is wrong with you today?
- 지은 Ji-eun아니야, 아무것도 아니야.aniya, amugeotdo aniya.Nothing, it's nothing.
- 도현 Do-hyeon진짜 왜 그래? 무슨 일 있어?jinja wae geurae? museun il isseo?Really, what is wrong with you? Did something happen?
- 지은 Ji-eun그냥 좀 피곤해.geunyang jom pigonhae.I'm just a bit tired.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 왜, CC BY-SA 4.0.
