누구세요?
Nuguseyo?
The Korean phrase for "who is it?" is 누구세요? (Nuguseyo?)
누구세요? is the standard, polite way to ask for the identity of someone who is knocking at a door or calling on the phone.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase contains 누구, which means "who".
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
For a formal version, you can use 누구입니까? If you are in a professional setting or need to be very respectful, use the highly formal 누구십니까? When speaking to friends or people younger than you, use the informal 누구야?
How do you pronounce it?
Nuguseyo?
Did you know?
- In Korea, it is common to answer the phone by saying 여보세요 ('hello') before asking 누구세요? While the latter asks who the caller is, the former literally means 'look here', acting as a signal that you are listening.
- In some very formal or traditional settings, if you are asking for someone's identity, you might avoid the word 'who' entirely and instead ask about their 'relationship' to the house or company.
- In some contexts, saying 누구세요? with a specific rising intonation can imply a sense of 'who do you think you are?', shifting the meaning from a question of identity to a challenge of authority.
Examples in context
- 밤늦게 누구세요?bamneukge nuguseyo?Who is it, so late at night?
Example conversation
Minji hears a knock at her apartment door.
- 민지 Min-ji누구세요?nuguseyo?Who is it?
- 지훈 Ji-hun저 지훈이에요.jeo ji-hun-ieyo.It is me, Jihoon.
- 민지 Min-ji지훈 씨였어요? 들어오세요.ji-hun ssi-yeosseoyo? deureo-oseyo.Was it you, Jihoon? Come in.
- 지훈 Ji-hun고마워요, 민지 씨.gomawoyo, minji ssi.Thank you, Minji.
