Learn Korean: 왜 + Verb

Let’s take a look at the Korean sentence pattern 왜 + Verb. We use this to make why questions. Unlike other question words, 왜 is not compatible with 이다 (be verb). We simply say 왜요 (polite speech) and 왜 (casual speech). But it can be used with a noun in the absence of a verb. You would hear people say something like 가위는 왜요?, 젓가락은 왜요?, and 마스크는 왜요? The topic marker (은/는) is attached to the nouns (scissors, chopsticks, and mask). We use it when someone asks for something out of the blue and we have no clue what it is for. If we are at the beach and you suddenly ask for a chopstick, I would ask 젓가락은 왜? The verb is somehow implied. In the case of other verbs, 왜 comes before them. Here are some examples:  왜 울어요? (Why are you crying?), 왜 때려? (Why did you hit me?), 왜 그래? (What’s wrong?) The absence of particles makes 왜 the easiest and least complicated WH-word.

한국말 왜 배워?

Why are you learning Korean?

왜 날 버렸어?

Why did you abandon me?

왜 그랬어?

Why did you do that?