KoreanBlueprint
Daily Korean
Today’s Phrase
왜 그래요?
wae geu·rae·yo
wae geuraeyo?
What’s wrong? / Why are you acting like that?
Learning Tip
왜 그래요? can come across as accusatory if said with a harsh tone. Use a soft, concerned tone to show you genuinely care. Pair it with 괜찮아요? to clearly signal empathy rather than judgment.
Phrase Breakdown
왜
wae
why
Interrogative adverb for reason
그래요?
geuraeyo?
are you being like that?
그러다 (to be/act like that) → 그래요 (polite)
Asks about the reason for someone’s behavior or emotional state.
Example Phrases
왜 그래요? 무슨 일 있어요?
Wae geuraeyo? Museun il isseoyo?
What’s wrong? Did something happen?
무슨 일 있어요? = ‘Is there something going on?’
왜 그렇게 슬퍼요?
Wae geureoke seulpeoyo?
Why are you so sad?
그렇게 means ‘that much/in that way’.
갑자기 왜 그래요?
Gapjagi wae geuraeyo?
Why are you suddenly acting like this?
갑자기 means ‘suddenly’.
Related Phrases
무슨 일이에요?
museun irieyo?
What’s the matter?
Asks what happened or what is going on.
괜찮아요?
gwaenchanayo?
Are you okay?
Checks if someone is alright.
이야기해 봐요
iyagihae bwayo
Tell me about it
Inviting someone to share what’s on their mind.
Quick Review
제가 할게요
Can you recall what this means?
jega halgeyo
I’ll do it