How to Ask for Someone's Opinion Politely in Korean
Learn elementary Korean questions for inviting someone's view, from casual 어떻게 생각해? to polite 어떻게 생각하세요?, with pronunciation and usage notes.
By LiamCulture & nuance · Yapr Learn
Asking for someone's opinion is one of the most useful conversation moves in Korean. This lesson teaches you how to invite another person's view without stating your own. You will learn the core question 어떻게 생각해요? and its polite and casual variants, plus short follow-up questions that keep the other person talking. The focus is only on eliciting opinions, so you can use these lines even before you are ready to give your own view.
By the end, you can…
- ask 'What do you think?' in polite and casual Korean.
- invite someone's view about a plan, idea, or situation using 어떻게 생각해요?
- use short follow-up questions to ask for more detail without giving my own opinion.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
어떻게 생각해요?
What do you think?
eo-tteo-ke saeng-gak-hae-yo?
The standard polite question. Use it with people you do not know well, with coworkers, or in most everyday polite situations.
어떻게 생각하세요?
What do you think? (more polite)
eo-tteo-ke saeng-gak-ha-se-yo?
A more respectful form using the honorific -시-. Good for teachers, older people, customers, or anyone you want to address with extra politeness.
어떻게 생각해?
What do you think? (casual)
eo-tteo-ke saeng-gak-hae?
Casual speech to close friends, younger people, or family you normally speak casually with. Do not use it with strangers or in formal settings.
이거 어때요?
How about this? / What do you think of this?
i-geo eo-ttae-yo?
A short, natural way to ask for a reaction to something you are showing or suggesting. It asks for a view, not a full opinion statement.
어떤 것 같아요?
What do you think it is like? / How does it seem to you?
eo-tteon geot ga-ta-yo?
Use when you want someone's impression of a situation, plan, or item. It sounds softer than a direct yes-or-no question.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
The core pattern is 어떻게 생각해요? Literally it means 'how do you think?', but in Korean it works as the natural way to ask 'What do you think?' You can add a topic before it: 이 계획 어떻게 생각해요? ('What do you think about this plan?'). For a more respectful listener, change the ending to 어떻게 생각하세요? For a close friend, use 어떻게 생각해? The topic can also come after the question in speech: 어떻게 생각해요, 이 계획? This is common in conversation when the topic is already clear.
When to use it
Use 어떻게 생각해요? when you genuinely want the other person's view and you are speaking polite Korean. Use 어떻게 생각하세요? when the listener deserves extra respect, such as a teacher, an older relative, or a customer. Use 어떻게 생각해? only with close friends or people younger than you in casual relationships. If you are showing something and want a quick reaction, 이거 어때요? is shorter and very natural. If you want an impression rather than a decision, 어떤 것 같아요? is a good choice. These questions all invite a view; they do not require you to give your own opinion first.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
이 계획 어떻게 생각해요?
What do you think about this plan?i gye-hoek eo-tteo-ke saeng-gak-hae-yo?음, 조금 어려운 것 같아요.
Hmm, I think it is a little difficult.eum, jo-geum eo-ryeo-un geot ga-ta-yo.그래요? 어떤 점이 어려워요?
Really? What part is difficult?geu-rae-yo? eo-tteon jeo-mi eo-ryeo-wo-yo?시간이 너무 부족해요.
There is not enough time.si-ga-ni neo-mu bu-jok-hae-yo.A little context goes a long way
Korean politeness is built into the verb ending, not just the words. 어떻게 생각해요? is safe in most polite situations, while 어떻게 생각하세요? adds respect toward the listener. Casual 어떻게 생각해? can sound rude if the relationship does not allow casual speech, so when in doubt, keep the polite -요 form.
One thing to watch for
Using 어떻게 생각해? with a stranger, a teacher, or an older person because it is shorter and easier to remember.
Try this instead: Use the polite form 어떻게 생각해요? or the more respectful 어떻게 생각하세요? with anyone you do not speak casually with. For example, ask 선생님, 어떻게 생각하세요? rather than 선생님, 어떻게 생각해?
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1You want to ask a coworker politely for their view on a new schedule. Which question fits best?
Show a sample answer
이 일정 어떻게 생각해요?
이 일정 means 'this schedule', and 어떻게 생각해요? is the standard polite way to ask for a view. 어떻게 생각하세요? would also be acceptable if you want to sound more respectful.
2Your close friend is looking at two choices. Ask casually what they think of one option.
Show a sample answer
이거 어떻게 생각해?
With a close friend, the casual ending -해? is appropriate. 이거 어때? is also natural and even shorter.
3You are showing a design to a client and want a respectful reaction. Which phrase is safest?
Show a sample answer
이 디자인 어떻게 생각하세요?
The honorific -하세요? shows respect to the client. 이거 어때요? is polite too, but 어떻게 생각하세요? is the more respectful choice in a service or business setting.
To ask for someone's opinion in Korean, start with 어떻게 생각해요? for polite situations, switch to 어떻게 생각하세요? for extra respect, and use 어떻게 생각해? only with close friends.
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