네가 뭔데?
nega mwonde?
The English phrase "who do you think you are?" can be translated into Korean as 네가 뭔데? (nega mwonde?)
This phrase is a rhetorical question used to challenge someone who is acting too important, overstepping their authority or to express indignation at someone's arrogance or presumption.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase literally translates to "What are you?" The part 네가 means "you" and 뭔데 means "what are you" or "what is it".
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
This phrase uses the informal/low form (반말), which makes it highly confrontational. It is unsuitable for use with strangers or superiors.
How does it change in a sentence?
In the word 네가, the particle 가 is the subject marker. The word 뭔데 is a contraction of 무엇인데 and functions as a rhetorical question in this context.
How do you pronounce it?
nega mwonde?
Did you know?
- Although 네가 is written with the vowel 'e', many speakers pronounce it as 니가 (with an 'i') to avoid confusion with the word for 'my' (내), which sounds almost identical in spoken speech.
- Even if you were to use polite verb endings, simply using the word 네 (you) in this way can act as a 'social grenade'. In many Korean social contexts, the mere use of this specific pronoun is enough to turn a calm conversation into a heated confrontation.
- The phrase 네가 뭔데? is a staple of 'class clash' tropes in Korean dramas. It is strategically used by writers to signal a sudden power shift or to highlight a character's perceived social insignificance.
Examples in context
- 누구야? 이 정도로 잘한다고 생각해?Who do you think you are? You think you're that good?
