왜요 (wae-yo, waeyo)
왜요 is a polite way to ask 'why' in Korean, commonly used in daily conversations to inquire about reasons.
Core meaning and shades learners miss.
왜요 is the polite form of '왜' (why), used to politely ask someone the reason or cause of something.
Nuances
When to use
daily conversation, workplace question, talking with friends
In context
왜요 is attached at the end of a question sentence to politely ask the reason behind someone's words or actions. It replaces the informal '왜?' with a polite form.
왜요?
wae-yo?, wae yo?
A short, simple, polite question asking 'why'.
그렇게 늦게 왔는데 왜요?
geu-reoh-ge neuj-ge wass-neun-de wae-yo?, geu reoh ge neuj ge wass neun de wae yo?
A natural sentence asking the reason for someone's action.
왜요, 무슨 일이에요?
wae-yo, mu-seun il-i-e-yo?, wae yo, mu seun il i e yo?
A polite way to ask for a reason and check the situation.
왜요? 왜요?
wae-yo? wae-yo?, wae yo? wae yo?
Repeating the same question sounds unnatural and burdensome.
왜요 하지 마세요.
wae-yo ha-ji ma-se-yo., wae yo ha ji ma se yo.
왜요 is a question form and cannot be used in commands.
왜요라고 말했어요.
wae-yo-ra-go mal-haess-eo-yo., wae yo ra go mal haess eo yo.
A natural sentence stating that someone said '왜요'.
When do you use '왜요'?
Which is a correct example of using '왜요'?
What is the informal form of '왜요'?
