이제 어쩌지?
ije eojjeoji?
The English phrase "what now?" can be translated into Korean as 이제 어쩌지? (ije eojjeoji?)
This phrase is used to ask what should be done next, often when facing a problem or a difficult situation.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of 이제 (now) and 어쩌지? (a contraction of 어찌 하지, meaning "what should I do?").
Which one should you use?
Other forms exist depending on the level of politeness. For instance, 어떡하지? is a casual and friendly way to say "what now?" and 이제 어떡해? is a very common, slightly more colloquial way to express the same sentiment.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
If you are in a polite or formal setting, you should use 이제 어떻게 하죠? instead. For seeking guidance in a formal and polite way, you can use 지금 어떻게 해야 하나요? or use 다음에 어떻게 해야 할까요? to inquire about the next steps or what to do next in a polite tone.
How does it change in a sentence?
The ending -지 in 어쩌지 often implies the speaker is talking to themselves or expressing a worried thought aloud.
How do you pronounce it?
ije eojjeoji?
Did you know?
- When Koreans use 어쩌지? as a monologue, it can function as a 'soft' social cue to signal others that they need help without explicitly asking for it.
- While both mean 'now', 이제 specifically signals a transition into a new state or a change in circumstances. In contrast, 지금 refers only to the current moment in time.
- The phrase 어떡해 is so common in modern Korean pop culture that it is frequently used as a dramatic exclamation in song lyrics to express heartbreak or helplessness.
Examples in context
- 오늘 뭐 할까?What should we do today?
- 이제 어쩌지?ije eojjeoji?What should I do now?
- 길을 잃었는데 이제 어쩌지?gil-eul il-eot-neun-de ije eojjeoji?I'm lost, what should I do now?
- 비가 오는데 이제 어쩌지?bi-ga o-neun-de ije eojjeoji?It's raining, what should we do now?
Example conversation
Ji-eun and Do-hyeon are looking at a broken laptop screen.
- 지은 Ji-eun화면이 안 나와. 이제 어쩌지?hwam-yeon-i an na-wa. ije eojjeoji?The screen won't turn on. What should I do now?
- 도현 Do-hyeon수리점에 먼저 가보자.su-ri-jeom-e meon-je ga-bo-ja.Let's go to a repair shop first.
- 지은 Ji-eun도현 씨, 같이 가줄 거야?Do-hyeon ssi, gat-i ga-jul geo-ya?Do-hyeon, will you go with me?
- 도현 Do-hyeon응, 내가 같이 가줄게.eung, nae-ga gat-i ga-jul-ge.Yes, I will go with you.
