제일 좋아하는 색이 뭐야?
jeil joh-ahaneun saeg-i mwoya?
In Korean, "what is your favorite color?" is 제일 좋아하는 색이 뭐야? (jeil joh-ahaneun saeg-i mwoya?)
This phrase is used to ask someone which color they like more than all others.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is built from 제일 (most/best), 좋아하는 (liking/favorite), 색 (color) and 뭐야 (what is it).
How does it change in a sentence?
The concept of 'favorite' is expressed by the word 좋아하는 (liking) being modified by 제일 (most/best).
How do you pronounce it?
jeil joh-ahaneun saeg-i mwoya?
Did you know?
- In traditional Korean culture, the concept of 'favorite colors' was often tied to 'obangsaek', the five cardinal colors representing directions and elements of the universe.
- The word 제일 used here as 'most' is a Sino-Korean term originating from the characters for 'first' and 'one', 第 and 一.
- If you were speaking to a stranger or an elder, you could not use the version 뭐야? provided here, as it is the informal way to say 'what is it'.
Examples in context
- 제일 좋아하는 색이 뭐야?jeil joahaneun saegi mwoya?What is your favorite color?
Example conversation
Two friends are talking about art supplies at a cafe.
- 지훈 Ji-hun지은아, 제일 좋아하는 색이 뭐야?jieuna, jeil joahaneun saegi mwoya?Jieun, what is your favorite color?
- 지은 Ji-eun나는 하늘색을 제일 좋아해.naneun haneulsaegeul jeil joahae.I like sky blue the most.
- 지훈 Ji-hun그 색은 정말 예쁘다.geu saegeun jeongmal yeppeuda.That color is really pretty.
- 지은 Ji-eun너는 어떤 색을 좋아해?neoneun eotteon saegeul joahae?What color do you like?
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 제일, CC BY-SA 4.0.
