Key Facts
- Hangul: 문제; Revised Romanization: munje
- Part of speech: noun
- Origin: Sino-Korean, hanja 問題 (問 ask + 題 topic)
- Register: Neutral and very common.
Problem in Korean: What Does 문제 Mean?
문제 covers two ideas: a problem, and a question on an exam. It is neutral and very common, so you meet it in daily trouble, in school, and in the set phrase 문제없어요, no problem.
How Do You Pronounce 문제?
Two syllables, mun-je. The n sits at the end of mun and the second syllable starts with a j.
Example Sentences with 문제
문제가 생겼어요.
Munjega saenggyeosseoyo.
A problem has come up.
생겼어요 is the past of arising, so this announces a problem that has just come up.
시험 문제가 너무 어려웠어요.
Siheom munjega neomu eoryeowosseoyo.
The exam questions were too hard.
시험 문제가 are exam questions, and 어려웠어요 is the past of hard. This is the test-item sense.
그건 문제없어요.
Geugeon munjeeopseoyo.
That is no problem.
The reassurance sentence. 문제 and 없어요 combine into the idiom 문제없어요.
Common Phrases and Collocations
| Korean | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 문제가 생기다 | a problem arises |
| 문제를 풀다 | to solve a problem |
| 문제없다 | to be no problem |
The Mistake to Avoid
Wrong: 문제 for a question you ask someone, for example in class.
Correct: 질문, the word for a question you ask. 문제 is a test item or a problem.
문제 Compared with Related Words
Three words sit near 문제, each narrower than it.
| Word | Meaning | How it differs |
|---|---|---|
| 문제 | problem | This page's word |
| 질문 | question (inquiry) | A question you ask; 문제 is a problem or test item. |
| 어려움 | difficulty | A difficulty someone is going through, not a specific issue to fix. |
| 고민 | worry | An inner worry, not a problem in the abstract. |
문제 is a problem or test item. 질문 is a question you ask, 어려움 is a difficulty someone is going through, and 고민 is an inner worry rather than an abstract problem.
Where Does the Word Come From?
문제 is Sino-Korean, written 問題 in hanja: 問 (ask) plus 題 (topic).
At Work: a Laptop Will Not Turn On
A colleague notices trouble with a laptop before a meeting. The speakers identify a specific fault instead of leaving 문제 as a vague announcement.
Jisoo
노트북에 문제가 있어요.
Noteubuge munjega isseoyo.
There is a problem with the laptop.
Minho
어떤 문제예요?
Eotteon munjeyeyo?
What kind of problem is it?
Jisoo
전원이 안 켜져요.
Jeonwoni an kyeojyeoyo.
It will not turn on.
Minho
다른 노트북을 써요.
Dareun noteubugeul sseoyo.
Let us use another laptop.
노트북에 identifies where the trouble is: “with the laptop”. 어떤 asks what kind of problem. The answer then gives something the colleague can act on. In this scene 써요 is a suggestion to use another machine, rather than a statement about a regular habit.
Which Verbs Go with 문제?
문제가 있다 says that a problem exists. 문제가 생기다 focuses on one developing or coming up. The difference matters when reporting a fault: the first describes the current situation, while the second draws attention to something that has happened.
문제를 풀다 literally suggests undoing or working out a problem. It is especially useful for maths exercises, puzzles and test items. 문제를 해결하다 means to resolve a problem and fits practical trouble, such as fixing an order or a technical fault. For a broken laptop, 해결하다 points to putting the situation right; 풀다 could make it sound like an exercise.
문제없다 is a single descriptive word meaning “to be without problems”. The existing example 그건 문제없어요 reassures the listener about something already mentioned. It can accept an arrangement or say that a task is manageable. It does not by itself explain how a fault was fixed.
문제는 means “the problem is” or “as for the problem”. A speaker can use it to introduce the obstacle after describing the situation. In English, “The problem is the time” singles out timing; Korean can do the same with 문제는 시간이에요. The speaker is identifying the main difficulty, not asking a question.
Where Will You Hear or Read 문제?
In class, 문제 can name one numbered item even if that item is a statement or calculation rather than a sentence ending in a question mark. 수학 문제 means a maths problem, and 연습 문제 means a practice exercise. Look at the task before translating 문제 as “trouble”.
In news, 환경 문제 means environmental issues and 사회 문제 means social issues. Here “issue” is often a better English translation than an individual fault. These phrases describe broad topics that people discuss, investigate or try to address.
In everyday conversation, 무슨 문제 있어요? asks whether something is wrong. Tone matters: it can show concern, but a sharp delivery can sound challenging. 문제 is neutral vocabulary; the question and the situation create the emotional force. At work, naming the affected item first makes a report clearer.
문제 해결 is the noun phrase “problem solving” or “problem resolution”. It can label a lesson activity or a support guide. 해결하다 turns the same idea into an action: resolving the problem.
Words for Explaining What Went Wrong
| Korean | Meaning | Useful distinction |
|---|---|---|
| 원인 | cause | Explain why the problem happened. |
| 해결 | resolution | Name the act or result of dealing with it. |
| 고장 | breakdown | Use for equipment that stops working properly. |
| 실수 | mistake | Identify an error someone made. |
The reasoning words lesson gives the wider set for connecting a problem with a reason or result. A 고장 can create a 문제, while a 실수 can be its 원인. These words help you move from “something is wrong” to a useful explanation.
Quick Self-Test
- Your teacher gives you a maths exercise. Is it a 문제 or a 질문?
- Which phrase focuses on a problem coming up: 문제가 있다 or 문제가 생기다?
- Which word specifically describes a machine breaking down?
Show answers
- A 문제. 질문 is an inquiry you ask someone.
- 문제가 생기다.
- 고장.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you say "problem" in Korean?
Say 문제 (munje).
How do I say "no problem"?
Use 문제없다, as in 그건 문제없어요.
How do I say to solve a problem?
Use 문제를 풀다, which also fits an exam question.
Can 문제 mean a question?
Only a test question. For asking something, use 질문.
Related Words and What to Learn Next
- Theme list: Reasoning words groups 문제 with its neighbours.
- Index: Korean words A to Z.
- Compare 문제 with 질문, a question you ask.