A1 Expression رسمي

저게 뭐예요?

jeoge mwoyeyo?

What is that?

Phrase in 30 Seconds

Use this to ask about an object that is far away from both you and the person you are talking to.

  • Means: 'What is that thing over there?'
  • Used in: Sightseeing, shopping, or pointing out something unusual in the distance.
  • Don't confuse: Don't use '이게' (this) for things far away; use '저게' for distance.
👉 + ☁️ + ❓ = 저게 뭐예요?

Explanation at your level:

This is a very simple way to ask 'What is that?' Use it when you see something far away. '저게' (jeo-ge) means 'that thing' and '뭐예요?' (mwo-ye-yo) means 'is what?'. It is polite and safe to use with everyone.
At this level, you should recognize that '저게' is a contraction of '저것이'. You can use this pattern to ask about distant objects in shops or on the street. It follows the standard [Subject] + [Question Word] + [Verb] structure of Korean.
Intermediate learners use this phrase to initiate conversation. You can expand it by adding adverbs like '도대체' (on earth) to express surprise: '저게 도대체 뭐예요?'. You should also be comfortable switching between '저게' (distal) and '그게' (medial) based on the listener's position.
Upper-intermediate learners understand the nuance of the '-예요' vs '-죠' endings. Using '저게 뭐죠?' implies you are thinking out loud or inviting the listener to speculate with you. You can also use it metaphorically to describe a distant goal or an abstract concept in a discussion.
Advanced learners analyze the deictic shift. In narrative storytelling, '저' can be used to create psychological distance from a topic. You might use this phrase to critically question a distant phenomenon or a complex visual element in art, using sophisticated intonation to convey irony or skepticism.
At a near-native level, you master the pragmatic functions of '저게 뭐예요?'. You understand how it functions in 'Chemyeon' (saving face) contexts—perhaps using it to indirectly point out a mistake far from the speaker's responsibility. You also recognize its use in classical literature or period dramas where the spatial logic was even more strictly defined.

المعنى

Asking for the identity or nature of an object far from the speaker.

🌍

خلفية ثقافية

When pointing at something to ask '저게 뭐예요?', it is considered more refined to use your whole hand rather than just your index finger, especially in formal settings. On social media, '저게 뭐야' is often used as a comment on bizarre or funny photos, often shortened to '저게뭐임' or just '??'. In the past, directly pointing at elders or their belongings while asking '저게 뭐예요?' was taboo. One would use more indirect language. Tour guides expect this question! It's one of the most helpful phrases for foreigners to learn to show interest in Korean history and architecture.

💡

The Palm Rule

Gesture with an open palm to look more like a native speaker and show respect.

⚠️

Don't use for people

Calling a person '저게' (that thing) is very rude. Use '저분' (that person) instead.

المعنى

Asking for the identity or nature of an object far from the speaker.

💡

The Palm Rule

Gesture with an open palm to look more like a native speaker and show respect.

⚠️

Don't use for people

Calling a person '저게' (that thing) is very rude. Use '저분' (that person) instead.

🎯

Add '저기'

Saying '저기, 저게 뭐예요?' makes you sound much more natural and fluent.

💬

Curiosity is good

Koreans generally appreciate it when foreigners ask questions about their culture or surroundings.

اختبر نفسك

You are pointing at a bird in a tree far away. Which phrase is correct?

Pointing at a distant bird:

✓ صحيح! ✗ ليس تمامًا. الإجابة الصحيحة: 저게 뭐예요?

Since the bird is far from both you and the listener, '저게' is the correct choice.

Complete the sentence to ask 'What is that?' in a polite way.

저게 ____?

✓ صحيح! ✗ ليس تمامًا. الإجابة الصحيحة: 뭐예요

'뭐예요' is the standard polite ending for this question.

Match the Korean phrase to its spatial meaning.

Match the following:

✓ صحيح! ✗ ليس تمامًا. الإجابة الصحيحة: a-1, b-2, c-3

This tests the fundamental I-Geu-Jeo distinction.

Fill in the missing line in the dialogue.

A: 저기 산 위에 있는 ____? B: 아, 저건 절(temple)이에요.

✓ صحيح! ✗ ليس تمامًا. الإجابة الصحيحة: 저게 뭐예요

The context 'on top of the mountain' implies distance, requiring '저게'.

🎉 النتيجة: /4

وسائل تعلم بصرية

الأسئلة الشائعة

14 أسئلة

No, '저게' literally means 'that thing'. For a person, say '저분은 누구예요?' (Who is that person?).

'저게' uses the subject marker (-이), while '저건' uses the topic marker (-은). Use '저게' for general questions and '저건' when comparing it to something else.

It is only rude if you say it to someone older or a stranger. Use it only with close friends or children.

Use the past tense: '저게 뭐였어요?'.

Yes! If you see a dish on another table far away, you can ask the waiter '저게 뭐예요?'.

If you are unsure, '그게' is often a safe middle ground, but '저게' is best for anything clearly across the room.

Yes, it is the shortened form of '무엇'.

Yes, '저것이 무엇입니까?' is the most formal version.

Because '뭐' ends in a vowel. After a vowel, we use '예요'.

Usually, you'd say '저게 무슨 소리예요?' (What is that sound?), but '저게 뭐예요?' works if you are pointing at the source.

Pointing at objects is fine, but use an open hand for better etiquette.

The Hanja is {何|하}, though '무엇' is a native Korean word.

You can say '저건 [Noun]예요' or '이건 [Noun]예요' depending on where you are.

Yes, the spatial logic is the same, though the polite endings may differ slightly.

عبارات ذات صلة

🔗

이게 뭐예요?

contrast

What is this? (Near me)

🔗

그게 뭐예요?

contrast

What is that? (Near you)

🔗

저분은 누구예요?

builds on

Who is that person over there?

🔗

저기요

similar

Excuse me

🔗

저건 얼마예요?

builds on

How much is that thing over there?

أين تستخدمها

🍢

At a Street Food Stall

Learner: 저게 뭐예요? 맛있어 보여요.

Vendor: 이거요? 이건 떡볶이예요.

neutral
⛰️

Hiking a Mountain

Friend: 저기 좀 보세요!

Learner: 와, 저게 뭐예요? 성이에요?

neutral
🖼️

In a Museum

Learner: 실례합니다, 저게 뭐예요?

Guide: 저것은 고려 시대의 청자입니다.

formal
🌌

Looking at the Night Sky

Child: 엄마, 저게 뭐야? 별이야?

Mother: 아니, 저건 인공위성이야.

informal
💻

Shopping for Electronics

Customer: 저기 위에 있는 저게 뭐예요?

Clerk: 아, 저건 최신형 드론입니다.

neutral
📺

Watching a K-Drama

Viewer A: 저 배경에 있는 저게 뭐예요?

Viewer B: 남산타워잖아요!

neutral

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of 'Jeo' as 'Just over there'. J-O-T. Jeo is for things Just Over There.

Visual Association

Imagine a giant telescope. You are looking through it at a distant star. You point and say 'Jeo-ge mwo-ye-yo?' because the star is far from everyone.

Rhyme

Jeo-ge mwo-ye-yo? / I don't know, do you?

Story

You are on a boat in the middle of the Han River. You see a strange monster (like in the movie 'The Host'). You point to the distant shore and scream '저게 뭐예요?!' to the captain. He looks, gasps, and hands you a life jacket.

Word Web

저것 (that thing)저기 (over there)저분 (that person)뭐 (what)무엇 (what - full)이게 (this thing)그게 (that thing near you)

تحدٍّ

Go for a walk. Every time you see something more than 10 meters away that you can't name in Korean, whisper '저게 뭐예요?' to yourself.

In Other Languages

Spanish high

¿Qué es aquello?

Spanish requires gender agreement (aquello/aquella), while Korean does not.

French moderate

Qu'est-ce que c'est que ça, là-bas ?

French lacks a dedicated distal pronoun like '저'.

German partial

Was ist das dort hinten?

Korean's distance is baked into the pronoun '저', whereas German relies on adverbs.

Japanese high

あれは何ですか？

The particles differ (wa vs ge), but the spatial logic is identical.

Arabic moderate

ما ذلك؟ (Ma dhalika?)

Arabic doesn't have a specific 'near you' vs 'far from both' distinction as clearly as Korean.

Chinese moderate

那是什么？ (Nà shì shénme?)

Chinese lacks the 'near you' (Geu) category, grouping it with 'far away' (Jeo).

Korean high

저것이 무엇입니까?

It uses the '-mnida' ending for high respect.

Portuguese high

O que é aquilo?

Portuguese pronouns change based on the gender of the object being pointed at.

Easily Confused

저게 뭐예요? مقابل 그게 뭐예요?

Learners often use '그게' for everything that isn't 'this'.

If you have to walk more than a few steps to touch it, use '저게'. If the other person is holding it, use '그게'.

저게 뭐예요? مقابل 저기 뭐예요?

Mixing up '저기' (place) and '저게' (thing).

'저기' means 'over there' (a location). '저게' means 'that thing'.

الأسئلة الشائعة (14)

No, '저게' literally means 'that thing'. For a person, say '저분은 누구예요?' (Who is that person?).

'저게' uses the subject marker (-이), while '저건' uses the topic marker (-은). Use '저게' for general questions and '저건' when comparing it to something else.

It is only rude if you say it to someone older or a stranger. Use it only with close friends or children.

Use the past tense: '저게 뭐였어요?'.

Yes! If you see a dish on another table far away, you can ask the waiter '저게 뭐예요?'.

If you are unsure, '그게' is often a safe middle ground, but '저게' is best for anything clearly across the room.

Yes, it is the shortened form of '무엇'.

Yes, '저것이 무엇입니까?' is the most formal version.

Because '뭐' ends in a vowel. After a vowel, we use '예요'.

Usually, you'd say '저게 무슨 소리예요?' (What is that sound?), but '저게 뭐예요?' works if you are pointing at the source.

Pointing at objects is fine, but use an open hand for better etiquette.

The Hanja is {何|하}, though '무엇' is a native Korean word.

You can say '저건 [Noun]예요' or '이건 [Noun]예요' depending on where you are.

Yes, the spatial logic is the same, though the polite endings may differ slightly.

هل كان هذا مفيداً؟

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