Korean for Elementary Learners: Asking for Advice with "What Should I Do?" and "Any Suggestions?"
Learn to ask for advice in Korean using eotteokhaji? and joeun bangbeom isseoyo? with polite endings, clear examples, and a short conversation.
By TheaFirst conversations · Yapr Learn
When something goes wrong, you often need to ask another person for advice rather than give it. In Korean, the most common way to say "What should I do?" is eotteokhaji? (어떡하지?). To ask for suggestions, use joeun bangbeom isseoyo? (좋은 방법 있어요?), which means "Is there a good way?" or "Any suggestions?" This lesson teaches these expressions at elementary level, with polite endings, Revised Romanization, and a short conversation. You will practice asking for advice after a problem, not telling someone else what to do.
By the end, you can…
- ask "What should I do?" in Korean after describing a problem.
- ask for suggestions using joeun bangbeom isseoyo? in a polite conversation.
- recognize the difference between asking for advice and giving advice in Korean.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
어떡하지?
What should I do?
eo-tteok-ha-ji?
Casual but very common when talking to yourself or close friends. It shows you are worried and need an idea. It is not polite, so avoid it with teachers, bosses, or strangers.
어떻게 해야 돼요?
What should I do? / How should I do it?
eo-tteo-ke hae-ya dwae-yo?
Polite and safe with strangers, teachers, or older people. Use this when you need clear advice.
좋은 방법 있어요?
Is there a good way? / Any suggestions?
jo-eun bang-beom i-sseo-yo?
A direct way to ask for suggestions. It does not name the problem, so say the problem first or right after.
조언 좀 해 주세요.
Please give me some advice.
jo-eon jom hae ju-se-yo.
Polite request for advice. jom softens the request and makes it sound less demanding.
제가 뭘 해야 할까요?
What should I do?
je-ga mwol hae-ya hal-kka-yo?
Polite and thoughtful. It asks the listener to consider your situation and suggest an action.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
The key pattern for asking advice is eotteoke hae-yo? (어떻게 해요?) or eotteoke hae-ya dwae-yo? (어떻게 해야 돼요?). eotteoke means "how," and hae-yo means "do." Together they ask "How do I do it?" or "What should I do?" Add a problem before the question: yeolsoereul ilheo-beoryeosseoyo. eotteoke hae-ya dwae-yo? (열쇠를 잃어버렸어요. 어떻게 해야 돼요?) = "I lost my keys. What should I do?" For suggestions, use joeun bangbeom isseoyo? (좋은 방법 있어요?) after the problem. joeun means "good," bangbeom means "method," and isseoyo? means "is there?" This pattern asks whether a good method exists.
When to use it
Use eotteokhaji? (어떡하지?) with friends or when thinking aloud. It is casual and can sound childish or very informal in a formal situation. Use eotteoke hae-ya dwae-yo? (어떻게 해야 돼요?) with teachers, coworkers, or people you have just met. Use joeun bangbeom isseoyo? (좋은 방법 있어요?) when you want suggestions, not a direct command. If you are asking a close friend for a quick idea, joeun bangbeom isseo? (좋은 방법 있어?) is fine. If you are asking a boss or an older person, keep the polite -yo ending and use joeun bangbeom isseoyo? or joeon jom hae ju-se-yo (조언 좀 해 주세요).
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
민수 씨, 저 열쇠를 잃어버렸어요. 어떻게 해야 돼요?
Minsu, I lost my keys. What should I do?min-su ssi, jeo yeol-soe-reul il-heo-beo-ryeo-sseo-yo. eo-tteo-ke hae-ya dwae-yo?아, 그거 안타깝네요. 마지막으로 어디에서 봤어요?
Oh, that's unfortunate. Where did you last see them?a, geu-geo an-ta-kkap-ne-yo. ma-ji-ma-geu-ro eo-di-e-seo bwa-sseo-yo?아까 지하철에서 봤어요. 좋은 방법 있어요?
I saw them on the subway earlier. Any suggestions?a-kka ji-ha-cheol-e-seo bwa-sseo-yo. jo-eun bang-beom i-sseo-yo?지하철 역에 전화해 보세요. 그리고 경찰서에도 신고하세요.
Try calling the subway station. And also report it to the police station.ji-ha-cheol yeo-ge jeon-hwa-hae bo-se-yo. geu-ri-go gyeong-chal-seo-e-do sin-go-ha-se-yo.A little context goes a long way
Korean advice-giving often includes suggestions with -se-yo (세요) or -bo-se-yo (보세요), which can sound like commands in English but are normal polite suggestions in Korean. When you ask for advice, using a polite ending such as -yo shows respect and keeps the conversation smooth. Among close friends, dropping -yo is common, but with strangers or older people, keep it.
One thing to watch for
Using eotteokhaji? (어떡하지?) with a teacher, boss, or stranger because it appears in many textbooks.
Try this instead: eotteokhaji? is casual and can sound too informal in polite situations. Use eotteoke hae-ya dwae-yo? (어떻게 해야 돼요?) instead. Example: 선생님, 어떻게 해야 돼요? (seon-saeng-nim, eo-tteo-ke hae-ya dwae-yo?) = "Teacher, what should I do?"
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1You lost your phone and want to ask a coworker for advice politely. Which sentence is best?
Show a sample answer
어떻게 해야 돼요? (eo-tteo-ke hae-ya dwae-yo?)
This uses the polite -yo ending and asks "What should I do?" It fits a coworker. eotteokhaji? is too casual here, though it is fine with close friends.
2How do you ask "Any suggestions?" in polite Korean?
Show a sample answer
좋은 방법 있어요? (jo-eun bang-beom i-sseo-yo?)
This literally asks "Is there a good way?" and works as a request for suggestions. With a close friend, 좋은 방법 있어? (jo-eun bang-beom i-sseo?) is also acceptable.
3Translate into Korean: "I lost my keys. What should I do?"
Show a sample answer
열쇠를 잃어버렸어요. 어떻게 해야 돼요? (yeol-soe-reul il-heo-beo-ryeo-sseo-yo. eo-tteo-ke hae-ya dwae-yo?)
The first sentence states the problem, and the second asks for advice politely. You may also say 어떻게 해요? (eo-tteo-ke hae-yo?) in a slightly less urgent tone.
To ask for advice in Korean, state the problem first, then use eotteoke hae-ya dwae-yo? for "What should I do?" or joeun bangbeom isseoyo? for "Any suggestions?" Keep the polite -yo ending unless you are speaking with a close friend.
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