hwajangsil wichireul mureobwasseo.

I asked where the restroom is.

Breakdown of hwajangsil wichireul mureobwasseo.

• ~를: object particle
• 화장실: restroom
• 위치: location
• 물어보다: to ask

Questions & Answers about hwajangsil wichireul mureobwasseo.

Why does the sentence use 화장실 위치를 instead of just 화장실을?

Because 화장실 위치 literally means “restroom location.” By adding 위치 you specify that you’re asking where the restroom is, not just inquiring about the restroom in general. If you said 화장실을 물어봤어, it would sound like “I asked about the restroom” without focusing on its location.

What is the function of the particle 를 after 위치?

The particle 를 marks 위치 as the direct object of the verb 물어봤어 (“asked”). It tells us “the location” is what was being asked about. In contrast, 은/는 or 이/가 would change the nuance (topic or subject marking), but here you need an object marker to show what you asked.

How is 물어봤어 formed, and why not just say 물었어?

물어봤어 comes from the verb 물어보다, which combines 묻다 (to ask) + 보다 (to try). The past tense casual ending -았어 attaches to 보다. So grammatically:

1. 묻다 → 물어 (stem change)
2. • 보다 → 물어보다 (to try asking)
3. • -았어 → 물어봤어 (I asked / I tried asking)

People often say 물어봤어 instead of 물었어 because 물어보다 is the common colloquial verb for “to ask,” while 물었다 sounds more formal or literary.

What speech level is -었어 in 물어봤어, and when should I use it?

The ending -었어 is 반말 (casual, intimate) past tense. You use it with close friends, younger people, or when you’re in a very informal setting. To someone you don’t know well or in polite contexts, switch to 물어봤어요 or 물어보았습니다.

How would I say this politely?

Simply change the ending:

• 화장실 위치를 물어봤어요. (standard polite)
• 화장실 위치를 물어보았습니다. (formal, deferential)

Could I make this sentence even more natural by using 어디 instead of 위치?

Yes. A very common way is:
화장실이 어디에 있는지 물어봤어.
Here:

• 화장실이 = restroom + subject marker
• 어디에 있는지 = “where it is” (embedded question)
• 물어봤어 = “I asked”
  This explicitly embeds the question “where is the restroom?”

Why can’t I say 화장실 어디를 물어봤어?

Because Korean doesn’t put 어디 right after 화장실 with a direct object marker. If you want to use 어디, you must embed it with -는지 or -은지 as in the previous example. Simply saying 화장실 어디를 isn’t grammatical for “where.”

Is it okay to drop 위치 and just say 화장실 물어봤어?

You can say it colloquially, and people will understand “I asked about the restroom,” but it’s vague. They might wonder “asked whom?” or “asked what about it?” If your goal is specifically “I asked where it was,” it’s clearer to include 위치 or use 어디에 있는지.

What nuance does the auxiliary verb 보다 add in 물어보다?

Adding 보다 to another verb often means “to try doing that verb” or “to do it and see.” In the case of 물어보다, it simply became the standard way to say “ask.” The nuance of “try” is very light here—물어보다 is the everyday verb for “to ask,” not necessarily “to try asking.”