One Question, Actually Three Questions When someone you've just met in Korea asks, "How old are you?", it can catch you off guard. You might even find it rude. But this question actually contains three things. First is age itself, second is a title like "So I guess I'd be your older sister (brother)," and third is speech level. It's about deciding whether to use polite speech or casual speech. Age alone decides these three things at once. ## Why do you need to know age first In Korean, the ending of every sentence splits into formal speech and casual speech. "먹어요" and "먹어" mean the same thing, but you have to choose which one to use depending on who you're talking to. But to decide which one to use, you need to know whether the other person is older or younger than you. That's why people ask your age first. It's not because it's rude — it's just a preparatory step for starting a conversation. ## Here's how to answer If saying your age directly feels awkward, you can ask back, "What year were you born?" And foreigners are given a bit of a pass on this rule. No one will think it's odd if you keep speaking in polite form, so just go with whichever feels comfortable.