어때요?

§ What does 어때요 (eottaeyo) mean?

The Korean word 어때요 (eottaeyo) is a super common and useful interjection. It's usually translated as "How is it?" or "How about...?" Think of it as your go-to phrase when you want to ask someone their opinion, check on a situation, or suggest something. It's polite enough for most everyday interactions because it uses the polite '요' ending, making it appropriate for talking to people you don't know well or who are older than you.

DEFINITION

How is it? How about...?

§ When to use 어때요 (eottaeyo)

You'll hear and use 어때요 (eottaeyo) in a ton of different situations. Here are the main ways Koreans use it:

• Asking for an opinion: This is probably the most frequent use. If you've just shown someone something, or they've experienced something new, you can ask 어때요? to get their thoughts.
• Checking on a situation: If you're wondering how a task is going, how someone is feeling, or how a plan is progressing, 어때요? fits perfectly.
• Making a suggestion: You can use 어때요? to propose an idea or an activity. It's a gentle way to suggest something and see if the other person is interested.
• Asking about a price or condition: While you might use more specific phrases, 어때요? can sometimes be used informally to inquire about the state of something, including its cost or condition.

§ Examples of 어때요 (eottaeyo) in action

Let's look at some practical examples to help you get a feel for it.

Here, you're asking for someone's opinion on a movie you just watched or are about to watch.

This is a great example of using 어때요 (eottaeyo) to make a suggestion. It's very common and sounds natural.

You're asking about the condition or performance of their new computer here.

This is how you'd politely ask someone how they are feeling, especially if they've been unwell.

§ Understanding 어때요?

The Korean word 어때요? (eottaeyo?) is a super useful interjection that you'll hear all the time. It's essentially asking for someone's opinion or status. Think of it as 'How is it?' or 'How about...?' This single word can be used in a variety of situations, making it a must-know for beginners.

DEFINITION

How is it? How about...?

§ How to use 어때요? in a sentence

You'll often find 어때요? at the end of a sentence or as a standalone question. It's versatile and can follow nouns, verbs, and adjectives. Let's break down some common ways to use it.

§ Asking about a situation or condition

This is one of the most straightforward uses. You're simply inquiring about the state of something or someone.

§ Suggesting or proposing something

You can use 어때요? to suggest an activity or ask for an opinion on a plan. It's similar to saying 'How about...?' or 'What do you think about...?'

§ Asking for an opinion on an object or choice

If you're showing someone something or asking for their input on a decision, 어때요? is your go-to phrase.

§ Grammar Notes and Common Prepositions/Particles

While 어때요? is often used on its own or directly after a noun, it's helpful to understand how it interacts with other parts of a sentence.

• Nouns + 어때요?: This is the most common structure. You attach 어때요? directly to a noun to ask 'How is [noun]?' or 'What do you think of [noun]?' The topic particle -은/는 or the subject particle -이/가 can be used, but are often omitted in casual speech.

• Verb/Adjective Stem + -는/은/을 것 + 어때요?: While 어때요? can sometimes stand alone as a suggestion, you'll often see it used with the grammatical construction -는/은/을 것 어때요? to ask 'How about doing/being something?'

Mastering 어때요? will significantly boost your ability to engage in natural conversations in Korean. Practice using it in different contexts, and you'll find it becoming second nature very quickly!

§ What '어때요?' means

KOREAN WORD

어때요? (interjection)

DEFINITION

How is it? How about...?

CEFR LEVEL

A1

You'll hear '어때요?' all the time in Korea. It's a super useful phrase for asking for opinions, making suggestions, or just generally checking in on something or someone. Think of it as a versatile tool in your Korean communication toolbox.

§ '어때요?' in daily conversation

This word is common in everyday chats. You can use it in many situations. Here are a few:

• Asking how someone is feeling.
• Getting an opinion on food, weather, or a movie.
• Suggesting an activity or item.

It's polite and friendly, which makes it good for most social settings.

§ '어때요?' in work and school settings

At work or school, '어때요?' helps you collaborate and get feedback. It's a respectful way to ask for opinions from colleagues or classmates.

• When you're presenting an idea and want input.
• Asking a coworker if a task is going well.
• Checking with a student about their understanding.

§ '어때요?' in news and media

While '어때요?' is less common in formal news reports, you'll definitely hear it in interviews, talk shows, and documentaries. It's used when a reporter or host is asking for the public's or an expert's opinion on a current event or social issue.

• When a journalist asks a citizen for their reaction to a new policy.
• A host on a talk show asking panelists for their thoughts on a trending topic.
• A documentary narrator posing a rhetorical question to the audience about a presented situation.

§ Practice using '어때요?'

The best way to get comfortable with '어때요?' is to use it. Try to incorporate it into your daily Korean practice:

• Ask your Korean language exchange partner how their day was: "오늘 하루 어때요?"
• Suggest trying a new Korean restaurant to a friend: "새로운 한국 식당, 어때요?"
• Ask your teacher for feedback on your homework: "제 숙제, 어때요?"

The more you use it, the more natural it will feel.

§ Mistake 1: Using 어때요? for 'What is...?'

Many learners, fresh from English, try to use 어때요? when they mean 'What is...?' This is incorrect. 어때요? asks about the state or quality of something, not its identity. Think of it as 'How is it?' or 'What do you think of it?'

This is correct. You are asking for an opinion on the book.

This is incorrect if you want to know 'what' the object is. You'd say '이게 뭐예요?' (ige mwoyeyo?).

§ Mistake 2: Not considering formality levels

어때요? is a polite, standard formal ending (해요체 - haeyoche). It's generally safe to use in most situations. However, if you are speaking to someone much older or in a very formal setting, you might need an even more formal expression, though 어때요? is often sufficient.

§ Mistake 3: Overusing it as a direct translation of 'How about...?'

While 어때요? can translate to 'How about...?', especially when suggesting something, it's not a universal replacement. For instance, if you're asking 'How about going to the park?', you might say '공원에 가는 게 어때요?' (gongwone ganeun ge eottaeyo?). Here, it works well. But if you mean 'How about that time?' or 'How about the weather?', you need to be careful with the context.

This is a common and correct usage for suggesting something.

Instead, you might ask '어제 비가 많이 왔어요?' (Did it rain a lot yesterday?) or '어제 날씨가 어땠어요?' (How was the weather yesterday?). You'd use 어땠어요? (eottaesseoyo?), the past tense form, to ask about the past state of something.

§ Mistake 4: Confusing it with 'Why not?'

While 'How about...?' can sometimes imply 'Why not?' in English, 어때요? doesn't directly carry that meaning. If you want to ask 'Why not?', you'd typically use 왜 안 돼요? (wae an dwaeyo?) or 굳이 왜요? (gudi waeyo?) depending on the context.

Correct usage of 어때요?

It's for asking opinions, conditions, or making suggestions. Focus on 'How is it?' or 'What do you think?'

By being mindful of these common pitfalls, you'll use 어때요? more accurately and naturally in your Korean conversations.