How to say “Why?” in Korean
- 왜요?waeyo?
Why?
"Why?" in Korean is 왜? (wae?) with friends and 왜요? (waeyo?) in polite speech. To ask "What's wrong?" you can say 왜 그래? (wae geurae?).
Ways to say it
| Korean | Level | When to use it |
|---|---|---|
| 왜 wae | Casual | The basic "why?" with friends and family. Also starts longer questions. |
| 왜요 waeyo | Polite | Polite "why?" Keep your tone soft, or it can sound like you are challenging the person. |
| 왜 그래 wae geurae | Casual | "What's wrong?" or "Why are you acting like that?" Tone decides if it is caring or annoyed. |
| 왜 그러세요 wae geureoseyo | Polite | Polite and respectful "What's the matter?" Good for older people. |
| 어째서 eojjaeseo | Any | "How come?" Sounds a bit more serious or written. |
Examples
Tap a word to see what it means and save it to your flashcards.
Comforting a friend in tears
Asking a friend who skipped a meetup
A close friend is acting strange
Tips
A sharp 왜요? to a teacher or boss can sound like "Why should I?" If you are asking an older person what is wrong, 왜 그러세요? or 무슨 일 있으세요? (museun il isseuseyo?) sounds kinder.
왜 also answers someone calling your name. If a friend says your name, replying 왜? just means "Yeah? What's up?", not "why?"
More on 왜 in our Korean phrase guides.
Questions learners ask
How do you say "because" in Korean?
The word is 왜냐하면 (waenyahamyeon), often shortened to 왜냐면 (waenyamyeon). It usually starts the answer to a why question.
Is 왜요 rude?
No, it is polite. But a flat or sharp tone can make it sound defensive, so say it gently with people you respect.