eotteon pyohyeoneul meonjeo bae-ugo sipeoyo?

Which expression do you want to learn first?

Breakdown of eotteon pyohyeoneul meonjeo bae-ugo sipeoyo?

• ~을: object particle
• 배우다: to learn
• 표현: expression
• 어떤: which
• 먼저: first
• 싶다: to want to

Questions & Answers about eotteon pyohyeoneul meonjeo bae-ugo sipeoyo?

What does 어떤 mean in this sentence, and can you explain the difference between 어떤 and 무슨?

어떤 is an interrogative adjective meaning “which” or “what kind of.” It always directly modifies a noun (here, 표현).

• 어떤 표현 → “which kind of expression”
• 무슨 표현 → more like “what expression” (less focused on category, more open-ended)

In practice, 어떤 highlights selecting from different types, while 무슨 just asks “what” in a broader sense.

Why is 표현 followed by -을 instead of something else?

The particle -을 marks the direct object of the verb. Since 표현 (“expression”) is what you’re learning, it takes -을:

• 표현
  • -을 → 표현을 (“(an) expression” as the object)

If a noun ends in a vowel, you’d use -를 instead (e.g. 사과를 for “apple”).

What does 먼저 mean, and why is it placed before the verb?

먼저 is an adverb meaning “first” or “before anything else.” In Korean, adverbs typically precede the verb they modify:

• 먼저 배우고 싶어요 → “(I) want to learn … first.”

You can move 먼저 elsewhere for emphasis, but it usually comes right before the verb phrase.

Can you break down 배우고 싶어요 into its components?

Sure. 배우고 싶어요 =

1. 배우다 (verb stem “to learn”)
2. -고 (connective “and/then”)
3. 싶다 (adjective “to want [to do something]”)
4. -어요 (polite ending)

Put together, it literally means “(I) want to learn.”

Why isn't there a subject like 저는 in the sentence, and where would it go if I wanted to add it?

Korean often drops the subject when it’s clear from context. If you want to include it for clarity or emphasis, you’d put 저는 at the start:

• 저는 어떤 표현을 먼저 배우고 싶어요?
  (“As for me, which expression do I want to learn first?”)

How is politeness/formality conveyed in 배우고 싶어요, and how would I make it more formal or more casual?

The -요 ending makes it polite (the “polite informal” style). To change formality:

• More formal: 배우고 싶습니다 (-습니다 ending)
• More casual: 배우고 싶어 (drop 요, casual speech)

How does the word order in this Korean sentence differ from English?

Korean typically follows Subject-Object-Verb (SOV). In 어떤 표현을 먼저 배우고 싶어요?:

• 어떤 표현을 (Object)
• 먼저 (Adverb)
• 배우고 싶어요 (Verb phrase)

English is usually Subject-Verb-Object-Adverb:
“Which expression do you want to learn first?”
So you’ll often see the verb at the very end in Korean.