How to Ask Polite Questions in Korean: When to Use -나요, -인가요, and -(으)ㄴ가요

Asking polite questions in Korean is not just about adding a question mark — it’s about choosing the right question ending for the situation.
Many learners feel unsure when choosing between -나요, -인가요, and -(으)ㄴ가요, even though all three are commonly used in everyday conversation.

These endings may look similar, but they are used in different grammatical situations depending on whether you are asking about an action, a state, or identifying information.
Choosing the right one helps your Korean sound natural, respectful, and clear, especially when speaking with strangers or coworkers.

In this guide, you’ll learn when to use -나요, -인가요, and -(으)ㄴ가요, with simple rules and practical examples you can apply immediately.

1. What Do -나요, -인가요, and -(으)ㄴ가요 Mean in Korean?

나요, -인가요, and -(으)ㄴ가요 are polite question endings used to ask gentle, neutral questions in Korean.
They help turn statements into questions while keeping a respectful and natural tone.

These endings belong to the polite speech level and are commonly used in everyday conversation, especially when you want to sound soft and considerate.
They are suitable for speaking with strangers, coworkers, and in many public or everyday situations where politeness is expected.

Compared to basic -아요/어요/해요 questions, these endings sound slightly softer and more indirect.
This makes them ideal for careful, non-pushy inquiries.

Overall, -나요, -인가요, and -(으)ㄴ가요 express polite, neutral questions showing gentle curiosity without strong emotion.

2. When to Use -나요, -인가요, and -(으)ㄴ가요 in Korean

In Korean, polite questions are not formed by changing word order but by choosing the right sentence ending.
-나요, -인가요, and -(으)ㄴ가요 are neutral-polite endings that work well in most everyday situations, especially when speaking to people you do not know well.

2-1. When to Use -나요 (Asking About Actions)

-나요 is most commonly used with verbs when asking for general information.
It sounds calm, neutral, and respectful without adding emotional nuance.

Examples

• 지금 비가 오나요? (Is it raining now?)
• 이 근처에 카페가 있나요? (Is there a café nearby?)
• 매일 이렇게 일어나나요? (Do you wake up like this every day?)
• 집에 언제 가나요? (When do you go home?)
• 여기서 밥을 먹나요? (Do you eat here?)
  

2-2. When to Use -(으)ㄴ가요 (Checking States or Conditions)

-(으)ㄴ가요 is used with adjectives when checking states or conditions.
It sounds slightly softer or more considerate than plain factual questions.

Examples

• 생각보다 어려운가요? (Is it harder than expected?)
• 벌써 끝난건가요? (Is it already finished?)
• 오늘은 좀 조용한가요? (Is it a bit quiet today?)
• 이거 비싼가요? (Is this expensive?)
• 여기 더운가요? (Is it hot here?)
  
  

2-3. When to Use -인가요 (Identifying or Confirming Information)

-인가요 is used when the sentence ends with a noun.
It functions as a polite way to identify or confirm information.

Examples

• 여기가 회사인가요? (Is this the office?)
• 이 분이 선생님인가요? (Is this person a teacher?)
• 예약 번호가 이것인가요? (Is this the reservation number?)
• 여기가 화장실인가요? (Is this the bathroom?)
• 저 사람이 매니저인가요? (Is that person the manager?)
  

3. Grammar Structure of -나요, -인가요, and -(으)ㄴ가요

This section focuses only on how these endings are formed and attached grammatically.
It does not explain nuance or situation-based usage.

3-1. Structure of -나요 (Verb + 나요)

-나요 attaches to verbs only to form polite questions.

Structure

Verb stem + 나요

Examples

• 가다 → 가나요? (Do you go?)
• 먹다 → 먹나요? (Do you eat?)
• 보다 → 보나요? (Do you watch?)

하다 verbs

• 공부하다 → 공부하나요? (Do you study?)
• 일하다 → 일하나요? (Do you work?)

3-2. Structure of -(으)ㄴ가요 (Adjective + ㄴ/은가요)

-(으)ㄴ가요 is used with adjectives only.
Stems with a final consonant take ㄴ가요, vowel-ending stems take 은가요.

Structure

Adjective stem + ㄴ가요 (ends in consonant) / 은가요 (ends in vowel)

Examples

• 크다 → 큰가요? (Is it big?)
• 많다 → 많은가요? (Is there a lot?)
• 비싸다 → 비싼가요? (Is it expensive?)
  

3-3. Structure of -인가요 (Noun + 인가요)

-인가요 is used when the sentence ends with a noun.
It follows the noun directly.

Structure

Noun + 인가요

Examples

• 학생 → 학생인가요? (Are you a student?)
• 회사 → 회사인가요? (Is it a company?)
• 예약 → 예약인가요? (Is it a reservation?)
  
  

4. Difference Between -나요, -인가요, and -(으)ㄴ가요 (At a Glance)

The table below shows the difference between -나요, -인가요, and -(으)ㄴ가요 based on what the question is asking about.

Ending	Used with	Main function	Typical question type
-나요	Verb	Asking about actions or events	What someone does / what happens
-(으)ㄴ가요	Adjective	Checking states or conditions	How something is / current situation
-인가요	Noun	Identifying or confirming information	What something is / who someone is

Quick rule:
Verb → -나요 · Adjective → -(으)ㄴ가요 · Noun → -인가요

5. Practice: Choosing Between -나요, -인가요, and -(으)ㄴ가요

Fill in the blank with the correct ending -나요 / -인가요 / -(으)ㄴ가요.

This exercise helps you practice choosing the correct polite question ending based on sentence type.

1. (책) ______?
   (Is this a book?)
   
   
2. 지금 뭐 (하다) ______?
   (What are you doing now?)
   
   
3. 오늘 좀 (바쁘다) ______?
   (Are you busy today?)
   
   
4. 여기가 (병원) ______?
   (Is this the hospital?)
   
   
5. 비가 (오다) ______?
   (Is it raining?)
   
   
6. 이 옷 (예쁘다) ______?
   (Is this clothing pretty?)
   
   
7. 매일 이렇게 (일어나다) ______?
   (Do you wake up like this every day?)
   
   
8. 저 사람이 (선생님) ______?
   (Is that person a teacher?)
   
   
9. 집에 언제 (가다) ______?
   (When do you go home?)
   
   
10. 여기 (덥다) ______?
    (Is it hot in here?)
    

Answers

1. 책인가요?
2. 하나요?
3. 바쁜가요?
4. 병원인가요?
5. 오나요?
6. 예쁜가요?
7. 일어나나요?
8. 선생님인가요?
9. 가나요?
10. 더운가요?
    
    

6. Summary: How to Choose the Right Polite Question Ending

• To ask polite questions in Korean naturally, always attach -나요 to verb stems, -(으)ㄴ가요 to adjective stems, and -인가요 to nouns.
• Ending choice matters more than sentence structure.
• Use -(으)ㄴ가요 when you want to sound slightly more neutral or reflective, often when checking information rather than directly questioning someone.
• These endings turn statements into polite, gentle questions without sounding pushy or emotional.
• Commonly used in everyday conversations with strangers, coworkers, or in public situations where a soft and respectful tone is expected.
• Compared to basic -아요/어요? questions, these forms sound more indirect and considerate.

Practical Tip

• If you are unsure which one to choose, ask yourself one question first: “Am I asking about a verb/action, a noun/identity, or confirming a situation?”
• That choice alone will guide you naturally to -나요, -인가요, or -(으)ㄴ가요.
  
  

7. FAQ: -나요, -인가요, and -(으)ㄴ가요 Explained

Q1: What do ‘-나요, -인가요, and -(으)ㄴ가요’ mean in Korean grammar?

These endings are polite question forms used to ask neutral, gentle questions.
They turn statements into questions while keeping a soft, respectful tone.

Q2: How are these different from basic ‘-아요/어요?’ questions?
-나요, -인가요, and -(으)ㄴ가요 are softer and more indirect than basic -아요/어요? questions, making them ideal for polite and careful communication.

Compared to -아요/어요?, these forms sound:

• softer
• more indirect
• more considerate

Perfect when avoiding bluntness.

Q3: Are these formal or casual?
Polite/neutral level – not casual, not formal.
Use with strangers, coworkers, public situations.

Q4: What’s the difference between -인가요 and -입니까?
-인가요 = polite everyday (conversations)
-입니까 = formal official (business, presentations)
학생인가요? vs 학생입니까?

Q5: When should I use ‘-(으)ㄴ가요’ instead of other polite question endings?
Use -(으)ㄴ가요 when sounding slightly more neutral or thoughtful.
Often for checking information or confirming situations:
오늘 쉬는 날인가요? (Is today a day off?)

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8. Related Korean Grammar Patterns

-아요/어요/해요? (basic polite questions)
This is the most basic polite question form in Korean.
Compared to -나요 / -인가요 / -(으)ㄴ가요, it sounds more direct and sometimes less soft, especially in careful or neutral inquiries.

-(으)ㄹ까요? (seeking opinion or suggestion)
Often used to ask for the listener’s opinion or to make a gentle suggestion.
Unlike -나요 / -인가요, which focus on information, -(으)ㄹ까요? involves shared decision-making or proposals.

-지요?(=죠?) (confirmation / shared assumption)
Used to confirm information the speaker expects the listener to agree with.
While -나요 / -(으)ㄴ가요 ask neutral questions, -죠? often assumes shared knowledge or agreement.

What’s the Difference Between ‘-지요?’ and ‘-ㄴ/는다면서요?’ in Korean?
A comparison of two question endings used to confirm assumptions or prior information, rather than ask neutral questions.

~아/어요? vs ~나요? (direct vs indirect questions)
Basic -아/어요? feels straightforward; -나요 sounds softer and more polite.
Both learned early, but -나요 adds nuance for careful speaking.