뭐
mwo
What
어떤
eotteon
Which / What kind of
뭐 (Mwo) vs 어떤 (Eotteon): "What" vs "Which/What Kind" in Korean
뭐 (mwo) is the Korean word for 'what' and asks for an open-ended answer about identity or content. 어떤 (eotteon) means 'which' or 'what kind of' and asks about the type, quality, or selection from a group.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| 뭐 (mwo) | 어떤 (eotteon) | |
|---|---|---|
| Question Type | Open-ended (identity/content) | Selective (type/quality/choice) |
| Formal Form | 무엇 (mueot) | 어떠한 (eotteohan) |
| Followed By | Verb or particle (뭐 해?, 뭐가?) | Noun (어떤 음식, 어떤 사람) |
| Answer Expected | A specific thing or identity | A description, type, or selection |
| Example | 뭐 먹을래? (What will you eat?) | 어떤 음식 좋아해? (What kind of food do you like?) |
Examples in Context
Asking what someone is doing — using 뭐
지금 뭐 해?
What are you doing now?
Asking about preferences — using 어떤
어떤 음악 좋아해요?
What kind of music do you like?
Asking what something is — using 뭐
이게 뭐예요?
What is this?
Choosing from options — using 어떤
어떤 색깔로 할까요?
Which color shall we go with?
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- ✗Using 뭐 when asking about types — '뭐 음식 좋아해?' sounds unnatural; say '어떤 음식 좋아해?' (what kind of food do you like?)
- ✗Using 어떤 when asking about identity — '어떤 해?' makes no sense; say '뭐 해?' (what are you doing?)
- ✗Confusing 어떤 with 어떻게 (eotteoke, 'how') — 어떤 modifies nouns (what kind of), 어떻게 modifies verbs (how)
- ✗Forgetting that 뭐 is the casual contraction of 무엇 — in formal writing, use 무엇 instead
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between 뭐 and 어떤?
뭐 (mwo) asks 'what' to identify something unknown: 뭐 먹을래? (What will you eat?). 어떤 (eotteon) asks 'which' or 'what kind of' to describe or select: 어떤 영화 볼까? (Which movie shall we watch?). 뭐 seeks identity; 어떤 seeks description or choice.
Can 어떤 be used in statements, not just questions?
Yes! 어떤 is also used in statements meaning 'some' or 'certain': 어떤 사람들은 매운 음식을 못 먹어요 (Some people can't eat spicy food). In this usage, it means 'certain/some' rather than 'which.'
How is 어떤 different from 어떻게?
어떤 (eotteon) is an adjective meaning 'which/what kind of' and goes before nouns: 어떤 책 (which book). 어떻게 (eotteoke) is an adverb meaning 'how' and modifies verbs: 어떻게 해요? (How do you do it?).
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