Learn Korean: 어떤 + Noun

Let’s take a look at the Korean sentence pattern 어떤 + Noun. 어떤 is normally a question word similar to which (one) or what kind of in English. For example, we say 어떤 거 좋아요? (Which one do you like?) and 어떤 남자가 좋아요? (What type of man do you like?) But when used in a plain statement, it works similarly to the phrase a certain someone when telling a story. We use it when we don’t know the person or when the subject is not worth mentioning because the listener doesn’t know him or her anyway. For example, just a few meters before I reached the gate, I saw a man left a box outside and walked off. I picked it up and showed it to my mom. I said A (certain) man / left this box outside. I didn’t know the man so the only way to address him is by using 어떤. I would say 어떤 남자 (a certain man) or 어떤 아저씨 (a certain middle-aged man). When combined with the predicate, the actual sentence is 어떤 남자(가)/아저씨(가) 이걸 (이 상자를) 두고 갔어(요).

어떤 친구 때문에 벌 받았어요.

Because of a friend (you don’t know), we got punished.

어떤 여자가 밖에서 서 있더라.

I recall there was this woman (I don’t know) standing outside.

어떤 사람이 나보고 꺼지라고 했어.

There was this guy (I don’t know) who told me to get lost.