How to Say “How About It?” in Korean: 어때 (eottae)
“Eottae” asks “How is it?” or “What do you think?” — a quick way to get someone’s opinion or check how something’s going.
“Eottae” asks “How is it?” or “What do you think?” — a quick way to get someone’s opinion or check how something’s going.
어때 (eottae) — how about it? / what do you think?
How it feels and when to use it
Super common for suggestions: “Pizza eottae?” = “How about pizza?” Polite form “eottaeyo?” works with anyone. It comes from “eotteohada” (어떠하다, to be how).
Politeness levels
- 어때? (eottae?) — Casual (반말): with close friends and people younger than you
- 어때요? (eottaeyo?) — Polite (해요체): the safe everyday level for most people
- 어떠세요? (eotteoseyo?) — Formal (합쇼체): in business, announcements, and to elders
Real examples from native Korean
Here’s how native speakers actually use 어때 in real Korean:
- 어떻게? — how?
- 강남씨는 어때요 — How about you Kangnam?
- 결국 어떻게 했냐? — What did they get over this crisis?
A common mistake to avoid
“Eottae” vs “eotteoke” — “Eottae?” = “How about it?” (asks opinion). “Eotteoke?” (어떻게) = “How?” (asks method). They look similar but answer different questions.
Related expressions
- 어떻게 (eotteoke) — how
- 좋아 (joa) — good / sounds good
Want to hear 어때 spoken by real Koreans? Search it on Langle and watch it across dozens of real video clips.
Frequently asked questions
- What does “어때” mean in Korean?
- “Eottae” asks “How is it?” or “What do you think?” — a quick way to get someone’s opinion or check how something’s going. It’s romanized as “eottae.”
- Is “어때” formal or casual?
- “어때?” is casual (반말); “어때요?” is polite (해요체); “어떠세요?” is formal (합쇼체). Match the level to who you’re talking to.
- How do you pronounce “어때”?
- It’s pronounced “eottae.” “Eottae” vs “eotteoke”: “Eottae?” = “How about it?” (asks opinion). “Eotteoke?” (어떻게) = “How?” (asks method). They look similar but answer different questions.
- When should I use “어때”?
- Super common for suggestions: “Pizza eottae?” = “How about pizza?” Polite form “eottaeyo?” works with anyone. It comes from “eotteohada” (어떠하다, to be how).
- What can I say instead of “어때”?
- Try “어떻게” (how) or “좋아” (good / sounds good).