KOREAN LEVEL UP › Korean phrases › Introductions & meeting people › 어디에서 오셨어요?
“Where are you from” in Korean: 어디에서 오셨어요?
어디에서 오셨어요?
eodieseo osyeosseoyo?
Meaning
Where are you from? (polite)
Usage note
오시다 is the honorific of 오다. Although it is past tense, it is the standard polite way to ask where someone is from, common when you first meet.
Romanization follows the Revised Romanization system and is a guide to pronunciation.
How to pronounce it
Said aloud, it sounds like [어디에서 오셔써요].
| Syllable | Letters (consonant + vowel + final) | Romanization |
|---|---|---|
| 어디에서 | ||
| 어 | ㅇ+ㅓ | eo |
| 디 | ㄷ+ㅣ | di |
| 에 | ㅇ+ㅔ | e |
| 서 | ㅅ+ㅓ | seo |
| 오셨어요 | ||
| 오 | ㅇ+ㅗ | o |
| 셨 | ㅅ+ㅕ+ㅆ | [셔] syeo |
| 어 | ㅇ+ㅓ | [써] sseo |
| 요 | ㅇ+ㅛ | yo |
A ㅇ at the start of a syllable is silent; at the end of a syllable it sounds like “ng”.
Sound changes in this phrase
- Linking: when a syllable ending in a consonant (patchim) is followed by a syllable that starts with a vowel, the consonant moves over to the next syllable. 셨어 → [셔써]
Speech style
Ends in -요. The everyday polite style, and a safe choice with shop staff, colleagues, strangers and anyone older than you.
It contains the honorific -(으)시-, which shows respect to the person being talked about or talked to.
Words in this phrase
These words from the TOPIK vocabulary lists appear in the phrase (shown in dictionary form).
| Korean | Part of speech | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 어디 | pronoun | where | TOPIK level 1 |
Quick self-check
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Question 1 What does “어디에서 오셨어요?” mean?
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Answer: Where are you from? (polite)
Question 2 How do you say “Where are you from? (polite)” in Korean?
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Answer: 어디에서 오셨어요? eodieseo osyeosseoyo?
Question 3 How is “어디에서 오셨어요?” pronounced?
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Answer: [어디에서 오셔써요]
Learn this phrase by playing: typing drills and quizzes help it stick.
Practice in the gameMore phrases for this situation
- 한국어를 배운 지 얼마나 됐어요?How long have you been learning Korean
- 고향이 어디세요?Where is your hometown? (polite)
- 한국 친구를 사귀고 싶어서 왔어요I came because I want to make Korean friends
- 자기소개를 해 볼게요Let me try introducing myself
- 시간 되면 한번 만나요Let’s meet sometime if you’re free
- 같이 식사하실래요?Would you like to have a meal together
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