Key Facts
- Hangul: 질문; Revised Romanization: jilmun
- Part of speech: noun
- Origin: Sino-Korean, hanja 質問 (質 inquire + 問 ask)
- Register: Neutral; used in class, work and daily life.
Question in Korean: What Does 질문 Mean?
질문 is a question you ask, a request for information. It is neutral and used in class, at work and in daily life. The verb form 질문하다 means to ask a question.
How Do You Pronounce 질문?
Two syllables, jil-mun. The ㄹ at the end of jil is a clear l, and mun starts with m. Before a vowel the ㄴ links across: 질문이 is jilmuni.
Example Sentences with 질문
질문이 있어요.
Jilmuni isseoyo.
I have a question.
The classic opener in class. 있어요 is the have-verb, so the sentence says a question exists.
선생님께 질문해도 돼요?
Seonsaengnimkke jilmunhaedo dwaeyo?
May I ask the teacher a question?
선생님께 uses the honorific particle for the teacher, and 질문해도 돼요 asks for permission.
좋은 질문이네요.
Joeun jilmunineyo.
That is a good question.
좋은 means good, and 질문이네요 adds a note of discovery, a friendly reply to someone else's question.
Common Phrases and Collocations
| Korean | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 질문하다 | to ask a question |
| 질문에 답하다 | to answer a question |
| 질문을 받다 | to receive a question |
The Mistake to Avoid
English uses "question" for both, so learners reach for the wrong word.
Wrong: 문제 for a question you ask a teacher or a friend.
Correct: 질문, as in 질문이 있어요. Keep 문제 for a test question or a problem to solve.
질문 Compared with Related Words
Three neighbours need separating from 질문.
| Word | Meaning | How it differs |
|---|---|---|
| 질문 | question (an inquiry) | This page's word |
| 문제 | problem / exam question | A question to be solved on a test, or a problem; 질문 is asking for information. |
| 의문 | doubt / question mark | Doubt, not a spoken question. |
| 물음 | question (native) | More literary; 질문 is more common. |
질문 asks for information. 문제 is something to be solved, 의문 is doubt rather than a spoken question, and 물음 is the more literary native word.
Where Does the Word Come From?
질문 is Sino-Korean, written 質問 in hanja: 質 (inquire) plus 問 (ask).
After Class: Asking about Homework
A learner has one question about an assignment. The teacher invites the learner to ask, then answers the actual question.
Learner
선생님, 질문이 있어요.
Seonsaengnim, jilmuni isseoyo.
Teacher, I have a question.
Teacher
네, 질문하세요.
Ne, jilmunhaseyo.
Yes, go ahead and ask.
Learner
숙제는 언제까지예요?
Sukjeneun eonjekkajiyeyo?
When is the homework due?
Teacher
금요일까지예요.
Geumyoilkkajiyeyo.
It is due by Friday.
질문이 있어요 announces the inquiry before the learner asks it. 질문하세요 comes from 질문하다 and invites the learner to speak. 언제까지 asks “until when” or “by when”, so the third line supplies the information being requested. The word 질문 is useful for managing the exchange even though it is absent from the question itself.
How Do You Ask, Answer and Invite Questions?
질문하다 and 질문을 하다 both mean to ask a question. The first is one verb; the second keeps 질문 as a noun with the object marker 을. 질문 하나 means “one question”, and can make it clear that you have a single point to raise rather than a long series of questions.
질문에 답하다 means to answer a question. 에 marks the question being responded to. 질문을 받다 means to receive or take questions: a presenter who finishes speaking may then take questions from the audience. The receiver is listening to questions, rather than asking them.
질문 있어요? asks “Do you have any questions?” In speech, rising intonation turns this into a question; the same words with a falling ending can mean “I have a question”. Written punctuation and the speaker's role help you distinguish the two. 질문이 있어요? includes the subject marker and can make the structure easier for a beginner to see.
질문해도 돼요? asks permission to ask. 질문이 있어요 simply announces that you have a question. Both are useful, but they do different jobs: one asks whether this is a suitable moment, and the other signals that you want information.
Where Will You See 질문?
자주 묻는 질문 means “frequently asked questions”. It appears on help pages and service websites, where the reader can look for an existing answer before contacting someone. The heading refers to repeated inquiries from users, rather than questions from a school exam.
질문과 답변 means “questions and answers”. 답변 is common in service pages, interviews and written responses. 질의응답 is a more formal label for a question-and-answer session, such as the discussion after a presentation. Recognizing the labels helps you find where audience participation begins.
In an interview, 예상 질문 means anticipated questions. A job applicant might prepare answers to 예상 질문 before the interview. The noun 질문 covers the content being asked, while an interviewer can use many different sentence patterns to ask it.
How Can a Question Sound More Considerate?
질문 is neutral and works in school, work and everyday talk. To a teacher, 선생님, 질문이 있어요 is a natural polite opener. Calling the teacher 선생님 identifies the listener; the 요 ending makes the announcement polite. A separate special honorific noun for “question” is unnecessary.
개인적인 질문 means a personal question. Naming it this way signals the topic's private nature, but does not automatically make the question welcome. In a workplace conversation, asking permission first gives the other person room to decline before you state the personal detail.
Words for the Rest of the Exchange
| Korean | Meaning | When you need it |
|---|---|---|
| 답 | answer | The answer itself, including a short or test answer. |
| 답변 | response; answer | Common in interviews and customer support. |
| 설명 | explanation | Ask for the reasoning or details beyond a short answer. |
| 숙제 | homework | Identify the assignment you are asking about. |
The classroom words lesson teaches the surrounding school vocabulary. For building the question itself, use the Korean questions lessons.
Quick Self-Test
- Which announces an inquiry: 질문이 있어요 or 문제가 생겼어요?
- Does 질문을 받다 mean to ask questions or to take questions?
- What does 자주 묻는 질문 label on a website?
Show answers
- 질문이 있어요. 문제가 생겼어요 announces that a problem has come up.
- To take or receive questions.
- Frequently asked questions.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you say "question" in Korean?
Say 질문 (jilmun).
How do I say "I have a question"?
Say 질문이 있어요.
How do I answer a question?
Use 질문에 답하다.
What is the difference between 질문 and 문제?
질문 is asked of someone, while 문제 is a problem or exam item.
Related Words and What to Learn Next
- Theme list: Classroom words groups 질문 with its neighbours.
- Index: Korean words A to Z.
- Compare 질문 with 문제, a problem or exam question.
- Next in the list is the word for sentence.
- This page teaches the noun 질문. To learn how Korean questions are built, see Korean questions.