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.
Explanation at your level:
意味
Asking for the identity or nature of an object far from the speaker.
文化的背景
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.
意味
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.
自分をテスト
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'.
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ビジュアル学習ツール
よくある質問
14 問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.
関連フレーズ
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?
どこで使う？
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!
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
チャレンジ
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
¿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.
Easily Confused
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'.
よくある質問 (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.
