How to Say “What to Do” in Korean: A Comprehensive Guide232

If you're wondering how to say "What to do" in Korean, you've come to the right place. In this article, we'll provide a comprehensive guide to the various ways to express this phrase in Korean, depending on the context and level of formality required.

Formal Expressions

In formal settings, there are two main ways to say "What to do":
어떻게 해야 하죠? (eo-tteo-hae-ya ha-jo?)
어떻게 하셔야 할까요? (eo-tteo-hae-syo-ya hal-kka-yo?)

The first expression, "어떻게 해야 하죠?", is used when speaking to someone you don't know well or who is considered your superior. The second expression, "어떻게 하셔야 할까요?", is used when speaking to someone you respect or who is older than you.

Informal Expressions

In informal settings, there are several ways to say "What to do":
어떡하지? (eo-tteok-ha-ji?)
어쩌지? (eo-jje-ji?)
뭐야? (mwo-ya?)
야! 어떡해? (ya! eo-tteok-hae?)

The first expression, "어떡하지?", is the most common way to say "What to do" in informal Korean. It can be used in a variety of situations, from expressing frustration to asking for advice.

The second expression, "어쩌지?", is similar to "어떡하지?" but is often used when the speaker is feeling more desperate or uncertain.

The third expression, "뭐야?", is a more casual way to say "What to do" and is often used when the speaker is surprised or confused.

The fourth expression, "야! 어떡해?", is a more emphatic way to say "What to do" and is often used when the speaker is feeling frustrated or angry.

Examples of Usage

Here are some examples of how to use these expressions in context:
어떻게 해야 하죠? 저는 이 문제를 어떻게 풀어야 할지 모르겠습니다. (eo-tteo-hae-ya ha-jo? Jeo-neun i mun-je-reul eo-tteo-pul-eo-ya hal-ji mot-ge-seub-ni-da.) - How can I do this? I don't know how to solve this problem.
어떻게 하셔야 할까요? 저는 이 일에 대해 조언이 필요합니다. (eo-tteo-hae-syo-ya hal-kka-yo? Jeo-neun i il-e dae-hae jo-eon-i pi-yo-hap-ni-da.) - What should I do? I need advice on this matter.
어떡하지? 저는 지금 정말 난감해요. (eo-tteok-ha-ji? Jeo-neun ji-geum jeong-mal nan-gam-hae-yo.) - What am I going to do? I'm really stuck right now.
어쩌지? 이 상태가 계속되면 어떡하지? (eo-jje-ji? I sang-tae-ga gye-sok-dwae-myeon eo-tteok-ha-ji?) - What am I going to do? What if this situation continues?
뭐야? 이게 무슨 일이야? (mwo-ya? I-ge mu-seun il-i-ya?) - What's going on? What's happening?
야! 어떡해? 넌 정말 짜증나! (ya! eo-tteok-hae? Neon jeong-mal jja-jeung-na!) - What are we going to do? You're really pissing me off!

Conclusion

In this article, we've provided a comprehensive guide to the various ways to say "What to do" in Korean, depending on the context and level of formality required. We hope this information has been helpful. If you have any further questions, please feel free to leave a comment below.

2024-11-12

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