[Korean Culture & Language] What's the Matter

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‘별’ means ‘star’ or ‘special,’ ‘일’ means ‘work’ or ‘matter’. 


“하늘에 별들이 있다” means “There are stars in the sky”. 

‘’너는 특별해” means “You are special”.

“나 이번 주말에 일 해야 해” means “I have to work this weekend”.

“많이 힘들어 보이는데, 무슨 일 있어?“ means “You seem tired. What’s the matter?”

The expression “무슨 일 있어?” is used when someone wants to ask “What’s the matter?,” “What’s wrong?,” “Is something wrong?,” or “Is everything okay?”.

When someone asks “무슨 일 있어?,” the other person can answer by explaining what is bothering them or say “아니, 별일 없어,” which means “No, nothing’s wrong”.


A well-known Korean singer-songwriter, actor, and radio host, Chang Kiha wrote the song ‘별일 없이 산다 (Living the Carefree Life)’. The lyrics describe his life as carefree.

Below are some excerpts from the lyrics:

니가 깜짝 놀랄만한 얘기를 들려 주마
Let me tell you something that would surprise you.

아마 절대로 기쁘게 듣지는 못할 거다
It’s not something that would make you happy.

뭐냐 하면
That is…

나는 별일 없이 산다
I’m enjoying my carefree life

뭐 별다른 걱정 없다
I got nothing special to worry about

나는 별일 없이 산다
I got nothing much going on in my life

이렇다 할 고민 없다
I got nothing to worry about


Because Koreans tend to worry a lot, ‘nothing bad happened’ can mean that they are really well. The expression ‘별일 없다(have nothing much going on),’ therefore, signifies one’s well-being. Moms always ask “별일 없지? (You are doing well, right? / Nothing special(bad) has happened, right?)”.

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