Learn Hardcore Korean: beoseuga eonje oneunji arayo? - Do you know when the bus is coming?

The ending -는지 turns a question into an embedded/indirect question, roughly “(the fact of) when it comes.” It’s used with verbs like 알다/모르다/묻다/궁금하다 to talk about unknown information.

버스가 언제 오는지 알아요? = Do you know when the bus comes/is coming? Form: 오- + -는 + 지 → 오는지.

Why not just say “버스가 언제 와요?” What’s the difference?

버스가 언제 와요? directly asks for the time: “When does the bus come?”
버스가 언제 오는지 알아요? asks about the listener’s knowledge: “Do you know when the bus comes?” It’s more indirect and can feel a bit softer/polite.

Why is it “버스가” and not “버스는” or “버스를”?

버스가 marks “bus” as the subject of the embedded clause with 오다 (“to come”).
버스는 would make “bus” the topic/contrast: “As for the bus, do you know when it comes?” Use it if you’re contrasting with something else.
버스를 would mark an object, but 오다 doesn’t take an object here, so 버스를 is incorrect.

How does tense work with -는지?

언제 오는지 (present/habitual or scheduled; also near-future in context): Do you know when it comes?
언제 왔는지 (past): Do you know when it came?
언제 올지 / 언제 올 건지 (future/uncertain or planned future): Do you know when it will come? Choose based on whether you’re asking about past, present/schedule, or future.

Is 알아요 polite enough? When should I use 아세요 or 아십니까?

알아요?: standard polite.
아세요?: honorific (to someone older/higher). Note: it’s 아세요, not “알세요.”
아십니까?: formal polite (very formal situations). You’ll hear 아시나요? too, which is a softer honorific question.

How would I say this to a friend casually?

Direct: 버스 언제 와?
Indirect: 버스가 언제 오는지 알아? Both are natural in casual speech with friends/peers.

Can I use 도착하다 instead of 오다?

Yes. 오다 is everyday “come,” while 도착하다 is “arrive,” a bit more formal/specific to reaching a destination.

버스가 언제 도착하는지 아세요? = Do you know when the bus arrives?

Can I put “언제” at the front: “언제 버스가 오는지 알아요?”

Yes. Both are fine:

버스가 언제 오는지 알아요? (default flow)
언제 버스가 오는지 알아요? (emphasizes “when”) Meaning is the same; fronting “언제” gives it focus.

How do I answer this naturally?

If you know: 네, 알아요. 5분 후에 와요. (Yes, I do. It comes in 5 minutes.)
If you don’t: 잘 모르겠어요. / 몰라요. (I’m not sure. / I don’t know.)
If you’re unsure but guessing: 아마 곧 올 거예요. (It’ll probably come soon.)

Is this “지” the same as the sentence-ending “…지?” (as in a tag or softener)

No. Here -는지 uses the dependent noun 지 to make an embedded question. Sentence-ending …지 (e.g., 오지?) softens statements or seeks agreement. Different functions.

Can I drop particles or add 요 elsewhere?

Dropping subject marker: 버스 언제 오는지 알아요? is common in speech.
Keep 요 only at the main sentence ending. Don’t say 오는지요 알아요? in this structure.
However, as a standalone polite question, 버스가 언제 오는지요? can work (elliptical for “Could you tell me when the bus comes?”).

Should I use 언제 or 몇 시에?

언제 = when (general).
몇 시에 = at what time (specific clock time). If you want an exact time, say: 버스가 몇 시에 오는지 알아요?

Any pronunciation or intonation tips?

버스가 [beo-seu-ga], 언제 [eon-je], 오는지 [o-neun-ji], 알아요 [a-ra-yo].
Raise your intonation at the end for a question: 알아요? (rising).
Smoothly link syllables: 오는지 알아요 often flows like “o-neun-ji a-ra-yo.”