왜 안 돼요? (wae an dwae-yo?) – Why Not?
In Korean, 왜 안 돼요? (wae an dwae-yo?) is a common way to ask "Why not?" This phrase is used when you want to know why something is not allowed, not working, or not possible. It’s perfect for casual or polite conversations where you're seeking an explanation or clarification.
- 왜 (wae) means "why."
- 안 (an) means "not."
- 돼요 (dwae-yo) means "works" or "is possible" in a polite form.
So, 왜 안 돼요? directly translates to "Why doesn't it work?" or "Why not?"
More Expressions
Here are a few more variations and related phrases using 왜 안 돼요?:
- 왜 안 가요? (wae an ga-yo?) – Why aren’t you going?
- 왜 안 먹어요? (wae an meo-geo-yo?) – Why aren’t you eating?
- 왜 안 했어요? (wae an hae-sseo-yo?) – Why didn’t you do it?
- 왜 안 보여요? (wae an bo-yeo-yo?) – Why can't I see it?
- 왜 안 좋아해요? (wae an jo-a-hae-yo?) – Why don’t you like it?
Pronunciation Tips:
- 왜 (wae): Sounds like "weh," similar to "wet" in English but with a softer "eh" sound.
- 안 돼요 (an dwae-yo): "An" sounds like "ahn," and "dwae-yo" is pronounced "dweh-yo."
Use 왜 안 돼요? to ask "Why not?" in Korean when you need to understand why something isn’t happening or permitted!