Korean word

어찌

Pronunciation

Romanizationeojji

Meaning

  • adverbhow

Example

어찌 해야 할지 모르겠어요.eo jji hae ya hal ji mo reu ge sseo yo

I don't know how to do it.

Illustration for 어찌 (how)

More examples

그가 어찌 알게 되었는지 궁금해요.keu ga eo jji al ge toe eon neun ji kung geum hae yo

I wonder how he came to know.

Core concept

A question that reaches for the way something happens or the reason behind it, often with surprise or confusion.

Common phrases

  • 어찌 알았는지eo jji a ran neun ji

    how they knew

  • 어찌 찾아왔는지eo jji cha ja wan neun ji

    how they came

Similar words

어떻게eotteoke: Asks about the way, method, or state involved in an action or event.
왜wae: Asks for the reason or cause of an event or action.

Definition in Korean

어찌는 이유나 상태를 묻는 의문부사로, 질문에 놀람이나 당혹의 어조를 섞어 표현하는 경우가 많다.eo jji neun i yu na sang tae reul mun neun ui mun bu sa ro chil mu ne nol la mi na tang ho gui eo jo reul seo kkeo pyo hyeon ha neun kyeong u ga man ta

Word origin

어찌 (eojji, "how or why") is a long established Korean question adverb whose older interrogative use continues in expressions about how to act or why something happens.

Usage tips

  • Its somewhat formal tone makes it especially useful to recognize in writing and fixed expressions, even when everyday speech uses more ordinary question words.

Other meanings

  • whyadverb

Related words

  • 어찌어찌eojjieojjisomehowadverb

Word lists with this word