KoreanBlueprint
Daily Korean
Today’s Phrase
왜 늦었어요?
wae neu·jeo·sseo·yo
wae neujeosseoyo?
Why were you late?
Grammar Spotlight
왜 + past tense question is a powerful pattern: 왜 했어요? (Why did you do it?), 왜 갔어요? (Why did you go?), 왜 먹었어요? (Why did you eat it?). This structure is fundamental for expressing curiosity about past actions.
Phrase Breakdown
왜
wae
why
Interrogative adverb for reason
늦었어요?
neujeosseoyo?
were you late?
늦다 (to be late) + -었어요 (past polite)
Asks for an explanation of someone’s lateness — direct but natural in Korean conversation.
Example Phrases
왜 이렇게 늦었어요?
Wae ireoke neujeosseoyo?
Why were you so late?
이렇게 = ‘like this / this much’.
길이 막혀서 늦었어요.
Giri makgyeoseo neujeosseoyo.
I was late because of traffic.
길이 막히다 = ‘the road is blocked/traffic jam’.
늦어서 미안해요. 버스를 놓쳤어요.
Neujeoseo mianhaeyo. Beoseureul nochyeosseoyo.
Sorry for being late. I missed the bus.
놓치다 = to miss (a bus, opportunity, etc.).
Related Phrases
늦어서 죄송해요
neujeoseo joesonghaeyo
I’m sorry for being late
Apologizing for tardiness.
제시간에 왔어요?
jesigane wasseoyo?
Did you come on time?
Checking if someone was punctual.
다음엔 늦지 마세요
daeumyeon neutji maseyo
Please don’t be late next time
Asking someone to be punctual in the future.
Quick Review
빨리 와요
Can you recall what this means?
ppalli wayo
Come quickly / Hurry up and come