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.
आपके स्तर पर व्याख्या:
मतलब
Asking for the identity or nature of an object far from the speaker.
सांस्कृतिक पृष्ठभूमि
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.
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.
खुद को परखो
You are pointing at a bird in a tree far away. Which phrase is correct?
Pointing at a distant bird:
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 ____?
'뭐예요' is the standard polite ending for this question.
Match the Korean phrase to its spatial meaning.
Match the following:
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.
The context 'on top of the mountain' implies distance, requiring '저게'.
🎉 स्कोर: /4
विज़ुअल लर्निंग टूल्स
अभ्यास बैंक
5 अभ्यासPointing at a distant bird:
Since the bird is far from both you and the listener, '저게' is the correct choice.
저게 ____?
'뭐예요' is the standard polite ending for this question.
बाईं ओर के प्रत्येक आइटम को दाईं ओर के उसके जोड़े से मिलाएं:
This tests the fundamental I-Geu-Jeo distinction.
A: 저기 산 위에 있는 ____? B: 아, 저건 절(temple)이에요.
The context 'on top of the mountain' implies distance, requiring '저게'.
🎉 स्कोर: /5
अक्सर पूछे जाने वाले सवाल
14 सवालNo, '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.
संबंधित मुहावरे
이게 뭐예요?
contrastWhat is this? (Near me)
그게 뭐예요?
contrastWhat is that? (Near you)
저분은 누구예요?
builds onWho is that person over there?
저기요
similarExcuse me
저건 얼마예요?
builds onHow much is that thing over there?
कहाँ इस्तेमाल करें
At a Street Food Stall
Learner: 저게 뭐예요? 맛있어 보여요.
Vendor: 이거요? 이건 떡볶이예요.
Hiking a Mountain
Friend: 저기 좀 보세요!
Learner: 와, 저게 뭐예요? 성이에요?
In a Museum
Learner: 실례합니다, 저게 뭐예요?
Guide: 저것은 고려 시대의 청자입니다.
Looking at the Night Sky
Child: 엄마, 저게 뭐야? 별이야?
Mother: 아니, 저건 인공위성이야.
Shopping for Electronics
Customer: 저기 위에 있는 저게 뭐예요?
Clerk: 아, 저건 최신형 드론입니다.
Watching a K-Drama
Viewer A: 저 배경에 있는 저게 뭐예요?
Viewer B: 남산타워잖아요!
याद करें
स्मृति सहायक
Think of 'Jeo' as 'Just over there'. J-O-T. Jeo is for things Just Over There.
दृश्य संबंध
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.
In Other Languages
Similar to the Japanese 'Are wa nan desu ka?' or the Spanish '¿Qué es aquello?'. Both languages also have a three-way distinction for distance.
Word Web
चैलेंज
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.
Review this on day 1, 3, and 7. Focus on the 'Jeo' vs 'I' vs 'Geu' distinction.
उच्चारण
The 'j' is soft, like 'j' in 'jump' but with less air. The 'e' is like 'e' in 'met'.
The 'mw' is a quick glide. 'Ye' is like 'ye' in 'yes'.
औपचारिकता का स्तर
저것이 무엇입니까? (General inquiry)
저게 뭐예요? (General inquiry)
저게 뭐야? (General inquiry)
저거 머임? (Internet slang) (General inquiry)
The word '저' (jeo) is a native Korean distal demonstrative. It has been used for over a millennium to indicate things outside the immediate circle of the speaker and listener. The '게' part is a relatively modern contraction of '것' (thing) and the subject marker '이'.
रोचक तथ्य
The 'Jeo' in '저게' is the same 'Jeo' used in '저기' (over there) and '저분' (that person).
सांस्कृतिक नोट्स
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.
“Gesturing toward a distant palace with an open palm.”
On social media, '저게 뭐야' is often used as a comment on bizarre or funny photos, often shortened to '저게뭐임' or just '??'.
“Commenting on a photo of a cat sleeping in a weird position.”
In the past, directly pointing at elders or their belongings while asking '저게 뭐예요?' was taboo. One would use more indirect language.
“Using '저것' instead of '저게' to sound slightly more formal.”
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.
“Asking about a specific statue at Gyeongbokgung Palace.”
बातचीत की शुरुआत
You see a strange building in Seoul. Ask your friend about it.
You are at a festival and see a performance in the distance.
Ask about a mysterious object in a historical K-drama.
सामान्य गलतियाँ
이게 뭐예요? (pointing at a distant mountain)
저게 뭐예요?
L1 Interference
저게 뭐입니까?
저게 뭐예요? or 저것이 무엇입니까?
L1 Interference
그게 뭐예요? (pointing at something far from both people)
저게 뭐예요?
L1 Interference
저게 누구예요? (pointing at a rock)
저게 뭐예요?
L1 Interference
In Other Languages
¿Qué es aquello?
Spanish requires gender agreement (aquello/aquella), while Korean does not.
Qu'est-ce que c'est que ça, là-bas ?
French lacks a dedicated distal pronoun like '저'.
Was ist das dort hinten?
Korean's distance is baked into the pronoun '저', whereas German relies on adverbs.
あれは何ですか？
The particles differ (wa vs ge), but the spatial logic is identical.
ما ذلك؟ (Ma dhalika?)
Arabic doesn't have a specific 'near you' vs 'far from both' distinction as clearly as Korean.
那是什么？ (Nà shì shénme?)
Chinese lacks the 'near you' (Geu) category, grouping it with 'far away' (Jeo).
저것이 무엇입니까?
It uses the '-mnida' ending for high respect.
O que é aquilo?
Portuguese pronouns change based on the gender of the object being pointed at.
Spotted in the Real World
“저게... 저게 뭐예요?”
Gi-hun asks about the giant piggy bank filled with money hanging from the ceiling.
“저게 뭐야?”
Asking about a strange drawing or object in the house.
“저게... (implied in the music video)”
Reacting to the various absurd things happening in the background.
“와! 저게 뭐예요?!”
Reacting to a massive mission prop or a guest arriving from afar.
“저게 뭐예요? 너무 귀여워요!”
Commenting on a video of a strange animal in a zoo.
आसानी से भ्रमित होने वाले
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'.
Mixing up '저기' (place) and '저게' (thing).
'저기' means 'over there' (a location). '저게' means 'that thing'.
अक्सर पूछे जाने वाले सवाल (14)
No, '저게' literally means 'that thing'. For a person, say '저분은 누구예요?' (Who is that person?).
usage contexts'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.
grammar mechanicsIt is only rude if you say it to someone older or a stranger. Use it only with close friends or children.
cultural usageUse the past tense: '저게 뭐였어요?'.
grammar mechanicsYes! If you see a dish on another table far away, you can ask the waiter '저게 뭐예요?'.
practical tipsIf you are unsure, '그게' is often a safe middle ground, but '저게' is best for anything clearly across the room.
basic understandingYes, it is the shortened form of '무엇'.
basic understandingYes, '저것이 무엇입니까?' is the most formal version.
grammar mechanicsBecause '뭐' ends in a vowel. After a vowel, we use '예요'.
grammar mechanicsUsually, you'd say '저게 무슨 소리예요?' (What is that sound?), but '저게 뭐예요?' works if you are pointing at the source.
usage contextsPointing at objects is fine, but use an open hand for better etiquette.
cultural usageThe Hanja is {何|하}, though '무엇' is a native Korean word.
grammar mechanicsYou can say '저건 [Noun]예요' or '이건 [Noun]예요' depending on where you are.
practical tipsYes, the spatial logic is the same, though the polite endings may differ slightly.
cultural usage
