❓How to Ask Questions in Korean: A Beginner’s Guide

Want to speak Korean more naturally? Then you need to ask questions!

Asking “what,” “where,” and “how” in Korean helps you connect, clarify, and keep conversations going. 💬

In this guide, we’ll go over the top 6 Korean question words, sentence patterns, and real-life examples so you can start speaking right away. 🎯🇰🇷

🧠 Korean Question Word List

Korean	Romanization	English Meaning
뭐	mwo	What
어디	eodi	Where
언제	eonje	When
왜	wae	Why
어떻게	eotteoke	How
누구	nugu	Who

These are called 의문사 (question words) and they usually appear at the beginning of the sentence — but remember, the verb still comes last!

🧩 Basic Question Structure

[Question Word] + [Object/Subject] + [Verb]?

Example:

뭐 + 먹어요? → 뭐 먹어요? → What are you eating?

Add politeness markers like 요 or use full sentences for more formal questions.

💬 6 Common Question Patterns + Examples

1️⃣ 뭐 (What)

뭐예요? → What is it?
이게 뭐예요? → What is this?
뭐 좋아해요? → What do you like?

2️⃣ 어디 (Where)

어디예요? → Where is it?
어디 가요? → Where are you going?
집이 어디예요? → Where is your home?

3️⃣ 언제 (When)

언제 만나요? → When shall we meet?
생일이 언제예요? → When is your birthday?
수업이 언제예요? → When is the class?

4️⃣ 왜 (Why)

왜 그래요? → Why? / What’s wrong?
왜 울어요? → Why are you crying?
왜 한국어를 배워요? → Why are you learning Korean?

5️⃣ 어떻게 (How)

어떻게 해요? → How do you do it?
한국어는 어떻게 공부해요? → How do you study Korean?
이거 어떻게 먹어요? → How do you eat this?

6️⃣ 누구 (Who)

누구예요? → Who is it?
누구 만났어요? → Who did you meet?
전화한 사람이 누구예요? → Who called?

📝 Practice Tips

Use question word flashcards to quiz yourself.
Try converting your daily thoughts into questions (ex: “What should I eat today?” → 오늘 뭐 먹을까?)
Watch K-dramas and listen for questions — especially 왜 and 어떻게!
Practice aloud with a partner or teacher.
Write down 5 questions about your friend in Korean.

👩‍🏫 Want to Practice Asking & Answering Questions Live?

Knowing the words is one thing—speaking them naturally is another!
I can help you ask and answer everyday Korean questions through real-time conversation.

👉 Book a 1-on-1 class with me on italki:
https://www.italki.com/ko/teacher/7916559

Let’s make your Korean conversations smoother and more interactive! 💬😊