Lesson 04 · Question Words & Classroom Expressions
Hyeju’s Beginner Korean Vocabulary · Lesson 04
Question Words &
Classroom Expressions
What? Who? Where? Learn twelve useful Korean words that help you ask and understand simple questions in class and in daily life.
Today’s Goal
By the end of this lesson, you will be able to recognize common Korean question words and combine them with the formal question ending from Grammar Lesson 04.
HYEJU LANGUAGE LAB · ENGLISH EXPLANATIONS
Watch Lesson 4 with Hyeju
Learn the vocabulary and grammar with English explanations, then review the examples and try the practice below.
Part 1 · Essential Question Words
Korean question words usually stay where the missing information would normally appear in the sentence.
무엇 / 뭐
mueot / mwo
what
무엇 is the full form. 뭐 is more common in conversation.
누구
nugu
who
Use it when asking about a person.
어디
eodi
where
Combine it with a place particle: 어디에, 어디에서.
언제
eonje
when
Use it to ask about time.
왜
wae
why
It usually appears before the verb or the phrase being questioned.
어떻게
eotteoke
how
Use it to ask about a method or way.
Part 2 · More Useful Question & Class Words
어느
eoneu
which
어느 must come before a noun: 어느 나라, 어느 학교.
몇
myeot
how many; what number
It comes before a counting unit: 몇 명, 몇 개, 몇 시.
질문
jilmun
question
Use 질문하다 for “to ask a question.”
대답
daedap
answer; response
Use 대답하다 for “to answer.”
수업
sueop
class; lesson
수업하다 means “to have or teach a class.”
숙제
sukje
homework
숙제하다 means “to do homework.”
🌿 Hyeju’s Note · 무엇 vs. 뭐
무엇 and 뭐 have the same basic meaning. 무엇 sounds complete and is common in careful or formal language. 뭐 is the shortened form you will hear very often in everyday conversation.
무엇을 공부합니까? → formal and careful
뭐 공부해요? → natural everyday conversation
Quick Reference
| Ask about | Korean | Example combination |
|---|---|---|
| a thing | 무엇 / 뭐 | 무엇을 공부합니까? |
| a person | 누구 | 누구를 만납니까? |
| a place | 어디 | 어디에서 공부합니까? |
| time | 언제 | 언제 숙제합니까? |
| a reason | 왜 | 왜 한국어를 공부합니까? |
| a method | 어떻게 | 어떻게 공부합니까? |
| a choice | 어느 + noun | 어느 책을 읽습니까? |
| a number | 몇 + counter | 몇 명입니까? |
Practice
Choose the best word for each blank.
Check the answers
6. Example: 언제 공부합니까? / 어떻게 공부합니까?
Today’s Key Point
- 무엇/뭐 = what · 누구 = who · 어디 = where
- 언제 = when · 왜 = why · 어떻게 = how
- 어느 and 몇 come before a noun or counting unit.
- Put the question word where the missing information belongs.
Hyeju Word Match
KOREAN VOCABULARY · BEGINNER
Words from the Korean Vocabulary lessons · Hyeju Language Lab
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