What does 뭐야 mean?

Real-world examples

• ⭕

  뭐야, 갑자기 왜 그래?

  mwo-ya, gap-ja-gi wae geu-rae?, mwo ya, gap ja gi wae geu rae?

  Natural expression of surprise and questioning.

• ⭕

  뭐야, 이게 다 네가 한 거야?

  mwo-ya, i-ge da ne-ga han geo-ya?, mwo ya, i ge da ne ga han geo ya?

  Properly expresses surprise and questioning about someone's action.

• ⭕

  뭐야? 너 오늘 안 왔어?

  mwo-ya? neo o-neul an wass-eo?, mwo ya? neo o neul an wass eo?

  Natural sentence expressing doubt in daily conversation.

• ⭕

  뭐야, 이거 맛있다!

  mwo-ya, i-geo mas-iss-da!, mwo ya, i geo mas iss da!

  Used as an exclamation showing surprise or positive reaction.

• ❌

  뭐야요, 그게 무슨 말이에요?

  mwo-ya-yo, geu-ge mu-seun mal-i-e-yo?, mwo ya yo, geu ge mu seun mal i e yo?

  ‘뭐야요’ is not a valid expression.

• ❌

  뭐야요? 너 누구야?

  mwo-ya-yo? neo nu-gu-ya?, mwo ya yo? neo nu gu ya?

  Incorrect mix of polite and informal speech.

• ⭕

  뭐야, 이거 진짜야?

  mwo-ya, i-geo jin-jja-ya?, mwo ya, i geo jin jja ya?

  Naturally expresses surprise and questioning.

1. In what situation is ‘뭐야’ mainly used?

   ‘뭐야’는 어떤 상황에서 주로 쓰이나요?(‘mwo-ya’neuneo-tteonsang-hwang-e-seoju-rosseu-i-na-yo?, ‘mwoya’neuneotteonsanghwangeseojurosseuinayo?)
   • 공식적인 자리에서(gong-sik-jeok-inja-ri-e-seo, gongsikjeokinjarieseo)
   • 친근한 사이에서 놀라움 표현할 때(chin-geun-hansa-i-e-seonol-ra-umpyo-hyeon-halttae, chingeunhansaieseonolraumpyohyeonhalttae)
   • 글쓰기에서(geul-sseu-gi-e-seo, geulsseugieseo)
   • 존댓말 대화에서(jon-daes-maldae-hwa-e-seo, jondaesmaldaehwaeseo)

2. ‘뭐야’ is a contraction of which phrase?

   ‘뭐야’는 어떤 말의 줄임말인가요?(‘mwo-ya’neuneo-tteonmal-uijul-im-mal-in-ga-yo?, ‘mwoya’neuneotteonmaluijulimmalingayo?)
   • 뭐예요(mwo-ye-yo, mwoyeyo)
   • 무엇이야(mu-eos-i-ya, mueosiya)
   • 무슨 일이야(mu-seunil-i-ya, museuniliya)
   • 뭐라고(mwo-ra-go, mworago)

3. Which sentence correctly uses ‘뭐야’?

   다음 중 ‘뭐야’ 사용에 맞는 문장은?(da-eumjung‘mwo-ya’sa-yong-emaj-neunmun-jang-eun?, daeumjung‘mwoya’sayongemajneunmunjangeun?)
   • 뭐야, 이게 진짜야?(mwo-ya,i-gejin-jja-ya?, mwoya,igejinjjaya?)
   • 뭐야요, 이게 진짜예요?(mwo-ya-yo,i-gejin-jja-ye-yo?, mwoyayo,igejinjjayeyo?)
   • 뭐야요, 누구세요?(mwo-ya-yo,nu-gu-se-yo?, mwoyayo,nuguseyo?)
   • 뭐야요, 안녕하세요?(mwo-ya-yo,an-nyeong-ha-se-yo?, mwoyayo,annyeonghaseyo?)