Korean for Beginners: Politely Asking About Someone's Family
Learn to ask 'Do you have any siblings?' and 'What do your parents do?' in polite Korean, show interest, and use question forms correctly.
By PookieFriends & plans · Yapr Learn
Asking about someone's family is a common way to show interest in Korean conversation, but it requires polite question forms. In this lesson, you will learn how to ask if someone has siblings and what their parents do, using the polite informal style (해요체, haeyo-che). You will also learn how to respond and show interest. Unlike talking about your own family, where you state facts, asking about someone else's family means using question intonation and specific question words. We will focus on the verb 있다 (itda, to exist/have) and the question word 무슨 (musun, what kind of) or 뭐 (mwo, what) for professions. By the end, you will be able to hold a short, polite conversation about family.
By the end, you can…
- ask someone politely if they have siblings.
- ask what someone's parents do for work.
- show interest in someone's family by using appropriate responses.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
형제자매 있어요?
Do you have siblings?
hyeong-je-ja-mae i-sseo-yo?
Use this to ask if someone has brothers and sisters. It is polite and common among peers or acquaintances.
부모님은 무슨 일을 하세요?
What do your parents do?
bu-mo-ni-meun mu-seun i-reul ha-se-yo?
This is a polite way to ask about someone's parents' occupations. The honorific -세요 is used for the parents.
네, 있어요.
Yes, I do.
ne, i-sseo-yo.
A simple affirmative response to 'Do you have...?'
아니요, 없어요.
No, I don't.
a-ni-yo, eop-sseo-yo.
A simple negative response. 없어요 is the opposite of 있어요.
정말요?
Really?
jeong-mal-lyo?
Use this to show interest or surprise in a polite way.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
To ask if someone has something, use the pattern 'Noun + 있어요?' (i-sseo-yo?). For example, 형제자매 있어요? means 'Do you have siblings?' The verb 있다 (itda) means 'to exist' or 'to have'. In polite speech, it becomes 있어요. To answer yes, say 네, 있어요. To answer no, say 아니요, 없어요. Note that 없어요 (eop-sseo-yo) is the negative form. When asking about parents' occupations, use '부모님은 무슨 일을 하세요?' The verb 하다 (hada, to do) becomes 하세요 (ha-se-yo) with the honorific -시- because you are asking about someone else's parents respectfully.
When to use it
Use these questions when you want to get to know someone better in a polite conversation. They are appropriate with friends, classmates, or colleagues you are not very close to. Avoid using them with someone much older or in a very formal setting unless you use even more honorific language. For example, with a superior, you might ask '부모님께서는 무슨 일을 하세요?' using the honorific 께서는. Also, when someone asks you about your family, you can respond with the same patterns: 저는 형제가 있어요 (I have siblings) or 부모님은 선생님이세요 (My parents are teachers). Remember to use 저 (jeo, I) instead of 나 (na) in polite conversation.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
형제자매 있어요?
Do you have siblings?hyeong-je-ja-mae i-sseo-yo?네, 언니가 한 명 있어요.
Yes, I have one older sister.ne, eon-ni-ga han myeong i-sseo-yo.아, 그래요? 부모님은 무슨 일을 하세요?
Oh, really? What do your parents do?a, geu-rae-yo? bu-mo-ni-meun mu-seun i-reul ha-se-yo?아버지는 회사원이시고 어머니는 선생님이세요.
My father is an office worker and my mother is a teacher.a-beo-ji-neun hoe-sa-won-i-si-go eo-meo-ni-neun seon-saeng-nim-i-se-yo.A little context goes a long way
In Korean culture, asking about family is common, but it's important to use polite language. The level of politeness depends on the age and relationship. Using honorifics like -시- for someone's parents shows respect. Also, when talking about your own family, you don't use honorifics for your own parents in humble speech, but you do use them when talking about someone else's parents. For example, you say '부모님은 뭐 하세요?' to a friend, but '부모님께서는 무슨 일을 하세요?' to someone older. It's also polite to show interest by saying '정말요?' or '아, 그래요?'
One thing to watch for
Using '너' (neo) when asking about siblings, as in '너 형제 있어?'
Try this instead: In polite conversation, avoid '너' and use the person's name or title, or simply omit the subject. Say '형제자매 있어요?' instead. Also, when asking about parents, use honorific -시-: '부모님은 무슨 일을 하세요?' not '부모님은 무슨 일을 해요?'
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1How do you ask 'Do you have siblings?' in polite Korean?
Show a sample answer
형제자매 있어요?
This uses the pattern 'Noun + 있어요?' with the noun 형제자매 (siblings). It's polite and direct.
2What is the polite way to ask 'What do your parents do?'
Show a sample answer
부모님은 무슨 일을 하세요?
This uses the honorific 하세요 for the parents. You could also say '부모님은 뭐 하세요?' in a slightly less formal but still polite way.
3How would you respond if you have no siblings?
Show a sample answer
아니요, 없어요.
This is the negative response to '있어요?' using 없어요. You can also add more, like '저는 외동이에요' (I'm an only child).
To politely ask about someone's family in Korean, use '형제자매 있어요?' for siblings and '부모님은 무슨 일을 하세요?' for parents' jobs. Always use polite verb endings and honorifics when appropriate.
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