Korean word

도대체

Pronunciation

Romanizationtodaeche

Meaning

  • adverbon earth

Example

도대체 왜 안 왔어?to dae che wae an wa sseo

Why on earth didn't you come?

Illustration for 도대체 (on earth)

More examples

도대체 왜 그런 말을 해?to dae che wae keu reon ma reul hae

Why on earth would you say that?

Core concept

Adds disbelief or frustration to a question about an unexplained situation.

Common phrases

  • 도대체 왜to dae che wae

    why on earth

  • 도대체 어떻게to dae che eo tteo ke

    how on earth

Similar words

대체taeche: Adds a sharp demand for the reason behind confusing behavior or events.
설마seolma: Raises an unlikely possibility with surprise or disbelief.
도무지tomuji: Emphasizes that something cannot happen or be understood at all.

Definition in Korean

불신이나 답답함을 드러내는 부사로, 상황이 이해되지 않거나 상대의 행동을 책망할 때 이유나 경위를 강하게 묻는 말로 씀.pul si ni na tap tta pa meul teu reo nae neun pu sa ro sang hwang i i hae doe ji an keo na sang dae ui haeng dong eul chaeng mang hal ttae i yu na kyeong wi reul kang ha ge mun neun mal lo sseum

Word origin

도대체 (dodaeche, "on earth") is traditionally analyzed as a Sino-Korean formation meaning roughly the whole situation, later becoming an adverb that presses for an explanation.

Usage tips

  • In conversation, it makes a question sound pressing rather than neutral, so it can express frustration and may feel too sharp in a formal request.

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