무슨 / 뭐 - different use?
I'm only a beginner and came across these two different uses of 'what' in a sentence (I know there are probably more as well...)

1) 이거 뭐에요? - The form I'm familiar with...

2) 무슨 책을 읽어요? - and the form I just came across and I'm not familiar with...

Can anyone help clarify the why the different use? Thanks :)

Question

무슨 / 뭐 - different use?
I'm only a beginner and came across these two different uses of 'what' in a sentence (I know there are probably more as well...)

1) 이거 뭐에요? - The form I'm familiar with...

2) 무슨 책을 읽어요? - and the form I just came across and I'm not familiar with...

Can anyone help clarify the why the different use? Thanks :)

Answer

뭐 is the shortened, colloquial form of 무엇 - "what" used as a pronoun.

무슨 is the adjective form of it like "what" in "what business" or "what day".
무슨 책을 읽어요?  means "What (kind of) book are you reading?".

어느 is like English "which".

어떤 is "what kind of".

Answers · 1

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