A2 Expression Formal

무슨 뜻이에요?

1036

What does it mean?

Phrase in 30 Seconds

The essential tool for any Korean learner to ask for definitions or clarify someone's intentions politely.

  • Means: 'What does [this/that] mean?' in a polite, standard way.
  • Used in: Classrooms, restaurants, or when a friend uses slang you don't know.
  • Don't confuse: With '뭐예요?' which asks 'What is it?' rather than the meaning.
❓ + 📖 = 무슨 뜻이에요?

Explanation at your level:

This phrase is used to ask 'What does it mean?'. You use it when you hear a Korean word you don't know. It is very polite. You can say the word first, then say '무슨 뜻이에요?'. For example: 'Kimbap 무슨 뜻이에요?'. It helps you learn new words quickly.
At the A2 level, you use '무슨 뜻이에요?' to clarify definitions and intentions. It consists of '무슨' (what kind of), '뜻' (meaning), and the polite ending '이에요'. It's essential for social interactions where you might not understand slang or specific verbs. You should also learn the casual version '무슨 뜻이야?' for friends.
Intermediate learners use this phrase to navigate more complex social nuances. Beyond simple definitions, it's used to ask for the 'why' behind a statement. You might start using variations like '무슨 {의미|意味}로 말씀하신 거예요?' to sound more natural. It's a key tool for resolving misunderstandings in work or dating contexts.
At this stage, you recognize that '무슨 뜻이에요?' can carry different pragmatic weights. Depending on intonation, it can be a neutral inquiry, a sign of disbelief, or a subtle challenge to someone's logic. You understand the difference between native '뜻' and Sino-Korean '{의미|意味}', choosing the latter for more abstract or formal discussions.
Advanced learners analyze the lexical-semantic properties of '뜻'. You use this phrase to explore the 'inner intention' (의도) versus the 'literal meaning' (어구의 의미). You can discuss how the phrase functions as a speech act in high-context Korean society, often serving as a polite request for the speaker to clarify their 'Nunchi'-heavy implications.
Mastery involves understanding the cognitive linguistics behind '뜻' as a container for human will. You can navigate the subtle boundary between '무슨 뜻이에요?' and more aggressive forms like '무슨 소리예요?'. You use the phrase to deconstruct metaphors, cultural idioms, and the philosophical underpinnings of Korean discourse, recognizing it as a fundamental tool for semantic negotiation.

Significado

Asking for the meaning or interpretation of a word or phrase.

🌍

Contexto cultural

The concept of 'Nunchi' (social sensing) means that people often speak indirectly. Asking '무슨 뜻이에요?' can be a polite way to ask someone to be more direct without being rude. In KakaoTalk, young Koreans use many abbreviations (e.g., '별다줄' - meaning 'You shorten everything'). This phrase is used constantly by older generations or learners to keep up. In formal settings, the Sino-Korean word '{의미|意味}' is preferred over the native '뜻'. It sounds more intellectual and precise. A common trope is a character saying something romantic or cryptic, and the other character asking '무슨 뜻이에요?' while blushing, hoping for a confession.

🎯

Add '정확히' for precision

Say '정확히 무슨 뜻이에요?' (What does it mean exactly?) to sound more like a native speaker who wants a clear answer.

⚠️

Watch your intonation

A rising intonation is a question. A falling, heavy intonation can sound like you are annoyed or challenging someone.

Significado

Asking for the meaning or interpretation of a word or phrase.

🎯

Add '정확히' for precision

Say '정확히 무슨 뜻이에요?' (What does it mean exactly?) to sound more like a native speaker who wants a clear answer.

⚠️

Watch your intonation

A rising intonation is a question. A falling, heavy intonation can sound like you are annoyed or challenging someone.

💬

Don't be afraid to ask

Koreans generally appreciate it when learners ask for meanings; it shows you are paying attention to the details of their language.

💡

Use with '말씀'

When asking an elder, say '무슨 말씀이세요?' to be extra respectful.

Teste-se

Fill in the missing word to ask for the meaning of '사랑' (love).

'사랑'이 ____ 뜻이에요?

✓ Correto! ✗ Quase. Resposta certa: 무슨

'무슨' is the correct modifier to use with '뜻' when asking for a general definition.

Which of the following is the most appropriate casual form to use with a close friend?

Choose the casual version:

✓ Correto! ✗ Quase. Resposta certa: 무슨 뜻이야?

Dropping '요' and adding '야' is the standard way to make this phrase casual (Banmal).

Complete the dialogue between a student and a teacher.

Student: 선생님, '경제'가 ____ ____? Teacher: 아, 경제는 'Economy'라는 뜻이에요.

✓ Correto! ✗ Quase. Resposta certa: 무슨 뜻이에요

The student is asking for the definition of a word, so '무슨 뜻이에요' is the correct fit.

Match the phrase to the correct situation.

Situation: You are shocked by a friend's sudden news.

✓ Correto! ✗ Quase. Resposta certa: 무슨 뜻이에요?

In this context, '무슨 뜻이에요?' expresses disbelief or a request for clarification of intent.

🎉 Pontuação: /4

Recursos visuais

뭐예요? vs 무슨 뜻이에요?

뭐예요?
Objects Apple, Chair, Phone
무슨 뜻이에요?
Concepts Love, Slang, Metaphors

Perguntas frequentes

10 perguntas

You can use it for both! Just point at the sentence or say the whole sentence followed by '무슨 뜻이에요?'.

No, it's not rude, but '어떤 {의미|意味}입니까?' sounds slightly more professional.

'뜻' is a native Korean word used in daily life. '{의미|意味}' is a Sino-Korean word used in more formal or abstract contexts.

You can say '지금 그게 무슨 뜻이에요?' with a sharp tone, or more aggressively, '지금 뭐라 그랬어요?' (What did you just say?).

Yes! Point at the sign and ask '저게 무슨 뜻이에요?'.

Because '뜻' ends in a consonant (받침), we use '이에요'.

In texting, people often just write '무슨 뜻?' or '뭔 뜻?'.

Not really. If you didn't hear them, say '다시 말씀해 주세요' (Please say it again). Use '무슨 뜻이에요?' if you heard the words but don't know what they mean.

Yes, it can also mean 'will' or 'intention', as in '뜻이 있는 곳에 길이 있다' (Where there is a will, there is a way).

Say '이 {한자|漢字}는 무슨 뜻이에요?'.

Frases relacionadas

🔗

무슨 {의미|意味}예요?

similar

What does it mean? (slightly more formal)

🔗

무슨 말이에요?

similar

What are you saying?

🔗

설명해 주세요

builds on

Please explain it.

🔗

이해가 안 돼요

similar

I don't understand.

🔗

다시 말씀해 주세요

related

Please say it again.

Onde usar

🍲

At a Restaurant

Learner: 저기요, '공기밥'이 무슨 뜻이에요?

Waiter: 아, 그건 그냥 흰 쌀밥이에요.

formal
📱

Texting a Friend

Friend: 오늘 완전 '얼죽아'네 ㅋㅋㅋ

Learner: 얼죽아? 그게 무슨 뜻이야?

Friend: 얼어 죽어도 아이스 아메리카노라는 뜻이야!

informal
🏫

In a Classroom

Student: 선생님, '경제'가 무슨 뜻이에요?

Teacher: 경제는 {Economy|經濟}라는 뜻이에요.

formal
📺

Watching a Drama

Character A: 우리 이제 그만하자.

Character B: 그게 무슨 뜻이에요? 헤어지자는 거예요?

neutral
💼

Job Interview

Interviewer: 우리 회사의 인재상에 대해 어떻게 생각하시나요?

Applicant: 죄송하지만, '인재상'이 정확히 어떤 {의미|意味}입니까?

very_formal
🎨

Reading a Webtoon

Reader: 이 대사가 무슨 뜻이에요? 이해가 안 돼요.

Commenter: 주인공이 화가 났다는 뜻이에요.

neutral

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of 'Museun' as 'Museum'. When you go to a museum, you ask 'What does this art mean?' -> Museun 뜻이에요?

Visual Association

Imagine a giant question mark (?) sitting inside a book. The book is titled 'TTEUS' (뜻). You are pointing at it with a confused face.

Rhyme

Don't be in a mess, just ask for the 'Tteus'!

Story

You are at a Korean restaurant. The menu says 'Bulgogi'. You know 'Bul' is fire, but what is the whole thing? You turn to the waiter, point at the word, and say '무슨 뜻이에요?'. He smiles and explains it's 'fire meat'. Now you've learned a word and got a meal!

Word Web

의미 (Meaning)의도 (Intention)말 (Word/Speech)설명 (Explanation)이해 (Understanding)질문 (Question)정의 (Definition)

Desafio

Go to a Korean news site or Instagram post. Find one word you don't know. Type it into a translator, but before you look at the result, say '무슨 뜻이에요?' out loud three times.

In Other Languages

Spanish high

¿Qué significa?

Korean distinguishes between 'what kind of meaning' (무슨 뜻) and 'what is it' (뭐예요).

French moderate

Que veut dire...?

French personifies the word/object as 'wanting' to say something.

German high

Was bedeutet das?

German word order is more rigid than Korean's flexible spoken structure.

Japanese high

どういう意味ですか？

Japanese often uses 'imi' (Sino-Korean) where Korean might prefer the native '뜻'.

Arabic moderate

ماذا يعني هذا؟

Arabic is verb-centric; Korean is noun-centric in this phrase.

Chinese high

什么意思？

Chinese often omits the verb 'to be', whereas Korean usually includes '이에요'.

Korean (Dialect) moderate

뭐라카노?

It is much more informal and can sound aggressive to non-dialect speakers.

Portuguese high

O que isso significa?

Portuguese uses 'O que' (What) while Korean uses '무슨' (What kind of).

Easily Confused

무슨 뜻이에요? vs 뭐예요?

Learners often use '뭐예요?' (What is it?) when they mean 'What does it mean?'.

Use '뭐예요?' for objects you can touch; use '무슨 뜻이에요?' for words or ideas.

무슨 뜻이에요? vs 무슨 일이에요?

Both start with '무슨' and are used in confusing situations.

'무슨 일' means 'What's happening?' or 'What's the matter?'.

Perguntas frequentes (10)

You can use it for both! Just point at the sentence or say the whole sentence followed by '무슨 뜻이에요?'.

No, it's not rude, but '어떤 {의미|意味}입니까?' sounds slightly more professional.

'뜻' is a native Korean word used in daily life. '{의미|意味}' is a Sino-Korean word used in more formal or abstract contexts.

You can say '지금 그게 무슨 뜻이에요?' with a sharp tone, or more aggressively, '지금 뭐라 그랬어요?' (What did you just say?).

Yes! Point at the sign and ask '저게 무슨 뜻이에요?'.

Because '뜻' ends in a consonant (받침), we use '이에요'.

In texting, people often just write '무슨 뜻?' or '뭔 뜻?'.

Not really. If you didn't hear them, say '다시 말씀해 주세요' (Please say it again). Use '무슨 뜻이에요?' if you heard the words but don't know what they mean.

Yes, it can also mean 'will' or 'intention', as in '뜻이 있는 곳에 길이 있다' (Where there is a will, there is a way).

Say '이 {한자|漢字}는 무슨 뜻이에요?'.

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