방금 그게 뭐야?
banggeum geuge mwoya?
The English phrase "what was that?" can be translated into Korean as 방금 그게 뭐야? (banggeum geuge mwoya?)
This phrase is used to ask about something that was just seen or heard. If you are referring specifically to a sound, you might use the word 소리 or if the sound was a noise, you might use 소음.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase 방금 그게 뭐야? is composed of 방금 (just now), 그게 (that thing) and 뭐야? (what is it?).
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The default form 방금 그게 뭐야? is informal and should only be used with close friends or people younger than you. If you are speaking to someone older or in a formal setting, you should use the polite form 방금 그게 뭐예요? instead.
How does it change in a sentence?
To specifically use the past tense "was" in an informal way, you can change the ending to 뭐였어? In informal speech, it is also common to drop the subject 그게 and simply say 뭐였어?
How do you pronounce it?
banggeum geuge mwoya?
Did you know?
- Using the informal 뭐야? with a stranger or a superior is considered very rude and can be interpreted as an aggressive confrontation rather than a simple question.
- When asking 'what was that?' about a sound, Koreans may use 뭐지? (what is it?) to indicate they are thinking out loud to themselves rather than asking someone else.
- The word 방금 (just now) has its roots in Hanja, specifically the characters 方 meaning 'direction' or 'side' and 今 meaning 'now'.
Examples in context
- 그건 무슨 소리였어요?What was that sound?
- 방금 그게 뭐야?banggeum geuge mwoya?What was that just now?
- 방금 그게 뭐야? 소리가 났어.banggeum geuge mwoya? soriga nasseo.What was that just now? I heard a sound.
- 방금 그게 뭐야? 아주 이상했어.banggeum geuge mwoya? aju isanghaesseo.What was that just now? It was very strange.
Example conversation
Ji-eun and Hyeon-woo are sitting in a quiet room when they hear a strange noise.
- 지은 Ji-eun현우야, 방금 그게 뭐야?Hyeon-u-ya, banggeum geuge mwoya?Hyeon-woo, what was that just now?
- 현우 Hyeon-woo글쎄, 바람 소리 아닐까?geulsse, baram sori anilkka?I don't know, maybe it was the wind?
- 지은 Ji-eun아니야, 뭔가 부딪히는 소리였어.aniya, mwon-ga budichineun sori-yeosseo.No, it sounded like something hitting something.
- 현우 Hyeon-woo내가 한번 확인해 볼게.naega hanbeon hwaginhae bolge.I will go check it out.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 그게, 방금, CC BY-SA 4.0.
