19 two-turn dialogues about 의문, illustrating 9 words from this category at 4급. Every exchange is a 국립국어원 example with its English translation, and every word links back to its full entry.
Showing 1–19 of 19 dialogues
지난번에 고민하던 그 일은 어쩌기로 했니?
What did you decide about that thing you were worried about last time?
그냥 안 한다고 했어.
I just said I wouldn't do it.
네가 뭘 어쩌겠어? 그냥 참아야지.
What can you do about it? You just have to endure it.
그래도 이번에는 그냥 안 넘어가.
Still, I'm not letting this one slide.
시험장에 연필을 안 들고 가다니, 그래서 어쨌어?
You went to the exam without a pencil. So what happened?
옆 사람한테 빌렸어.
I borrowed one from the person next to me.
어머, 지수야! 도대체 이게 얼마 만이니?
Oh my, Jisu! How long has it been, on earth?
졸업하고 처음 보는 거 같다. 정말 반갑다.
I think this is the first time we've seen each other since graduation. It's so good to see you.
아직도 열쇠를 못 찾았어?
You still haven't found the keys?
응. 도대체 어디에 뒀는지 기억이 안 나.
Yeah. I can't remember where on earth I put them.
도대체 오빠는 무슨 생각으로 차를 산 걸까?
What on earth was my brother thinking when he bought a car?
그러게 말이야. 돈도 없는 사람이.
That's what I'm saying. Someone who doesn't even have money.
휴. 정말 속상하다. 어제 회사 면접을 보고 왔는데 면접관들의 반응이 너무 안 좋았어.
Ugh, I'm really upset. I had a job interview yesterday, and the interviewers' reactions were really bad.
어쩌면 그게 더 좋을 수도 있어. 면접관들의 반응이 좋았다는 사람들은 오히려 떨어진다는 말이 있어.
Maybe that's actually better. They say people who think the interviewers reacted well are the ones who fail.
너는 어쩌면 그렇게 말랐니? 밥을 잘 안 먹나 보구나?
How on earth are you so thin? You must not eat well, huh?
아뇨. 많이 먹어요. 많이 먹는데 원래 살이 잘 안 찌는 체질인가 봐요.
No, I eat a lot. I eat a lot, but I guess I'm just naturally skinny.
어쩌면, 네가 나한테 이럴 수가 있니? 내가 너를 도와준 것도 벌써 몇 번인데.
How on earth can you do this to me? I've helped you so many times already.
정말 미안해. 하지만 나도 어쩔 수 없었어.
I'm really sorry. But I had no choice.
오늘은 일찍 집에 왔구나?
You came home early today?
오늘은 왠지 공부가 잘 안 돼서요.
For some reason, studying just wasn't going well today.
이게 웬 밤이야?
What's this chestnut doing here?
우리 시골에서 딴 건데, 달고 맛있어서 너도 먹어 보라고 가져왔어.
I picked it in the countryside. It's sweet and delicious, so I brought it for you to try.
내가 들어오다가 보니까 웬 차가 주차장에 세워져 있더라.
As I was coming in, I saw some car parked in the lot.
집에 손님이 오셨나 보다.
Looks like we have a guest at home.
우리 같은 반이었던 거 기억 안 나?
Don't you remember we were in the same class?
아, 어쩐지 낯이 있다 했어.
Oh, that's why your face seemed familiar.
지수 남자 친구는 잘 있대?
I heard Jisu's boyfriend is doing well?
내가 길에서 어쩌다 봤는데, 둘이 아직 잘 사귀고 있는 것 같더라.
I happened to see them on the street, and they seem to still be dating well.
자주 만나는 것도 아니고 어쩌다 한 번 만나는 건데 그것도 어려워?
It's not like we meet often, just once in a while—is that too hard?
나 요즘 바쁘다고 말했잖아.
I told you I'm busy these days.
휴대폰을 어쩌다 망가뜨린 거야?
How did you happen to break your phone?
나도 모르겠어. 오늘 아침에 보니 망가져 있었어.
I don't know. When I looked this morning, it was already broken.
어제 새로 산 옷인데 어때?
What do you think of the clothes I bought yesterday?
색깔이 조금 화려하지만 너한테 참 잘 어울린다.
The color is a bit flashy, but they really suit you.
어쩌면 그렇게 요리를 잘하니?
How do you cook so well?
이 정도 가지고, 뭘.
It's nothing, really.
선물 너무 마음에 든다, 고마워!
I love the gift, thanks!
별거 아닌데, 뭘.
It's no big deal, really.
Showing 1–19 of 19 dialogues
These 19 exchanges are the dictionary's own examples for the 9 4급 words in this category — 어쩌다, 도대체, 어쩌면, 왠지, 웬 and the rest. Each is two turns, so what you see is not only how the word is used but what it is usually said in answer to.
They are written examples rather than transcribed speech, so they are tidier than a real conversation and shorter. What they are not is translated English: they were written in Korean, by Korean lexicographers, to show how the word behaves — which is why the speech levels and the sentence endings in them are worth copying.
Dialogues, translations and word meanings from the 국립국어원 한국어기초사전, used under CC BY-SA 2.0 KR.