Learn Korean: 뭐긴요 + Noun

Let’s take a look at the Korean sentence pattern 뭐긴요 + Noun. We use it when someone asks what something is when the answer is already clear or obvious. For example, today is my friend's birthday and I got her a beautifully wrapped gift. I gave it as soon as I greeted happy birthday. Though she knew what it could be, she still asked What is it? So I replied What else? Of course it's a gift. She should expect a gift anyway. The main noun is 선물 (gift). 뭐긴(요) comes before it and 이다 (be verb) is attached at the end. 이다 is conjugated further using the verb ending 지/죠 to add the nuance of-course. The actual sentence is 뭐긴? 선물이지? or 뭐긴요? 선물이죠.

뭐긴? 꽃이지.

What else could this be? It’s a flower.

뭐긴요? 기념품이죠.

What else could this be? Of course a souvenir. (I just arrived from my trip to Paris right)

뭐긴? 핸드폰이지.

What what? It’s a phone can’t you see?