Questions with '나' — Korean Grammar

The ending (na) is a question ending used in spoken Korean. It functions similarly to the standard question endings, but it carries a specific nuance of softness or self-reflection. It is primarily attached to action verbs and existence verbs.

Polite Questions with '나요'

In polite speech, you add (yo) to form (na·yo). Using (na·yo) instead of the standard (a/ŏ·yo) makes the question sound softer, gentler, and slightly less direct. It is very common in service interactions or when asking someone about their preferences or feelings without sounding demanding.

This form is generally used with action verbs and the existence verbs (it·tait·dait·tait·ta) - to have/exist and (ŏp·taeop·daŏp·taep·ta) - to not have/exist.

혹시 현금 있나요?
hok·si hyŏn·gŭm it·na·yo?hok·si hyeon·geum it·na·yo?hok·si hyŏn·gŭm it·na·yo?hok·si hyen·kum it·na·yo?
Do you happen to have cash?
매운 음식을 잘 먹나요?
mæ·un ŭm·si·gŭl chal mŏng·na·yo?mae·un eum·si·geul jal meong·na·yo?mae·un ŭm·si·gŭl chal mŏng·na·yo?may·un um·si·kul cal meng·na·yo?
Do you eat spicy food well?
지금 집에 가나요?
chi·gŭm chi·be ka·na·yo?ji·geum ji·be ga·na·yo?chi·gŭm chi·be ka·na·yo?ci·kum ci·pey ka·na·yo?
Are you going home now?

Casual Questions with '나'

In casual speech (with friends or younger people), you simply drop the (yo) and use (na). This creates a friendly, inquisitive tone. It can sometimes sound like the speaker is thinking aloud or asking for confirmation rather than demanding an answer.

오늘 시간 있나?
o·nŭl si·gan it·na?o·neul si·gan it·na?o·nŭl si·gan it·na?o·nul si·kan it·na?
Do you have time today?
이 소설을 아나?
i so·sŏ·rŭl a·na?i so·seo·reul a·na?i so·sŏ·rŭl a·na?i so·se·lul a·na?
Do you know this novel?

The "Self-Questioning" Nuance

One of the unique features of (na) is that it is often used when talking to oneself. When the intonation is flat or slightly falling, rather than rising sharply like a direct question, it translates to "I wonder..." or "Is it...?"

비가 오나?
pi·ga o·na?bi·ga o·na?pi·ga o·na?pi·ka o·na?
Is it raining? (I wonder...)
여기가 맞나?
yŏ·gi·ga man·na?yeo·gi·ga man·na?yŏ·gi·ga man·na?ye·ki·ka man·na?
Is this the right place?

Past Tense Usage

While present tense adjectives (descriptive verbs) typically use a different ending ( (-(ŭ)n·ga-(ŭ)n·ga-(ŭ)n·ga-(ŭ)n·ka)), in the past tense, both action verbs and adjectives use (na(yo)). You attach (at/ŏt) to the verb stem, followed by (na(yo)).

영화가 재미있었나요?
yŏng·hwa·ga chæ·mi·i·ssŏt·na·yo?yeong·hwa·ga jae·mi·i·sseot·na·yo?yŏng·hwa·ga chae·mi·i·ssŏt·na·yo?yeng·hwa·ka cay·mi·i·sset·na·yo?
Was the movie interesting?
어제 많이 바빴나?
ŏ·je ma·ni pa·bbat·na?eo·je ma·ni ba·bbat·na?ŏ·je ma·ni pa·ppat·na?e·cey ma·ni pa·ppat·na?
Were you very busy yesterday?
누가 왔나요?
nu·ga wat·na·yo?nu·ga wat·na·yo?nu·ga wat·na·yo?nu·ka wat·na·yo?
Did someone come?

Summary of Usage Rules

Action Verbs (Present): Stem + (na(yo))
Existence Verbs (있다/없다): Stem + (na(yo))
Past Tense (All Verbs/Adjectives): Stem + (at/ŏt) + (na(yo))
Future Tense: Stem + (ketgetketkeyt) + (na(yo)) (This is less common and sounds slightly formal or poetic).

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