Self-question

This pattern is used to ask a question in a soft, wondering tone. It can be a question you ask yourself (a rhetorical or self-directed question) or a gentle, less direct question to someone else.

Meaning & Usage

Meaning: Expresses curiosity, doubt, or wonder about a fact or situation. It's like thinking out loud, e.g., "I wonder if..." or "Is it...?"

When to use: Use it when you're not sure about something and are pondering it. It's softer and more indirect than a standard -아/어요? question.

Formation Rules

The ending changes based on the word type.

Verbs & 있다/없다: Attach -나? directly to the verb stem.

오다 → 오나? (Is it coming?)

늦었다 → 늦었나? (Am I late?)

있다 → 있나? (Is it there?)

Adjectives: Attach -(으)ㄴ가? to the adjective stem.

Vowel stem + -ㄴ가?: 비싸다 → 비싼가? (Is it expensive?)

Consonant stem + -은가?: 괜찮다 → 괜찮은가? (Is it okay?)

Nouns: Attach -(이)ㄴ가? to the noun.

Vowel ending + -ㄴ가?: 거짓말 + 이다 → 거짓말인가? (Is it a lie?)

Consonant ending + -인가?: 꿈 + 이다 → 꿈인가? (Is it a dream?)

With 아니다, it becomes 아닌가?: 고장이 아니다 → 고장이 아닌가? (Is it not broken?)

내가 늦었나? / 맛이 괜찮은가? / 비가 오나? / 여기가 아닌가?

The most important rule for using this pattern correctly is knowing when to use -나 and when to use -(으)ㄴ가. Learners often mix these up.

Use -나 for Verbs

-나 attaches to action verbs and the existence verbs 있다 and 없다. It questions an action or a state of being.

Action: 비가 오나? (Is it raining?)

Existence: 집에 있나? (Is he/she at home?)

Past Action: 그 사람이 벌써 갔나? (Did that person already leave?)

Use -(으)ㄴ가 for Adjectives & Nouns

-(으)ㄴ가 attaches to descriptive verbs (adjectives) and nouns (with 이다). It questions a quality, characteristic, or identity.

Adjective: 이 옷이 너무 작은가? (Are these clothes too small?)

Adjective: 이 방법이 더 효과적인가? (Is this method more effective?)

Noun: 저 사람이 새로운 매니저인가? (Is that person the new manager?)

Common Mistake: Avoid using -나 with adjectives. For example, *예쁘나? is incorrect; the correct form is 예쁜가?.

비가 오나? / 집에 있나? / 맛이 괜찮은가? / 비싼가? / 가능한가?

This pattern can be used in both casual (반말) and polite (해요체) speech simply by adding or omitting -요.

Casual Form (반말)

Forms: -나? / -(으)ㄴ가?

Usage: This is used when talking to yourself, thinking out loud, or speaking with close friends and family. It sounds very natural in informal situations.

내가 늦었나? (Am I late? - to oneself)

이거 비싼가? (Is this expensive? - wondering)

Polite Form (해요체)

Forms: -나요? / -(으)ㄴ가요?

Usage: Adding -요 makes the question polite. You can use this when speaking to people you don't know well, colleagues, or elders. It softens the question, making you sound more considerate and less demanding of an answer.

제가 늦었나요? (Am I late? - asking a colleague)

맛이 괜찮은가요? (Is the taste okay? - asking a host or chef gently)

제가 늦었나요? / 맛이 괜찮은가요? / 집에 있나요? / 여기가 출구가 아닌가요?