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Dev
Joined: 18 Apr 2006
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 Posted: Wed Sep 13, 2006 4:50 pm Post subject: What exactly does "What's up?" mean? |
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This is a rather simple question, but I am not really 100% sure of the answer. I usually tell the students that it means "What are you doing?" or "What's new?"
Does anybody out there have a better definition for it. |
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HydePark
Joined: 23 Aug 2006
Location: Korea
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| Posted: Wed Sep 13, 2006 5:09 pm Post subject: |
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Perhaps not a better definition, but, "What's up?" is one of those phrases with many meanings, depending on the circumstance. For example, "Cheers" in the U.K. has various situational meanings, as does "Anyeong" in Korea.
So, the various meanings for "What's up?"
- How are you? or Hello! (when you first see someone)
- How can I help? (someone says, "I have a problem, etc."
or there's "What's up!" (exclamatory statement)
...like when you're frustrated by people driving erratically, it means "Why?" or "Why is this happening?" or "What's going on?"
Others may disagree, but this is my take on it. |
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ajgeddes
Joined: 28 Apr 2004
Location: Yongsan
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| Posted: Wed Sep 13, 2006 5:12 pm Post subject: |
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| HydePark wrote: |
Perhaps not a better definition, but, "What's up?" is one of those phrases with many meanings, depending on the circumstance. For example, "Cheers" in the U.K. has various situational meanings, as does "Anyeong" in Korea.
So, the various meanings for "What's up?"
- How are you? or Hello! (when you first see someone)
- How can I help? (someone says, "I have a problem, etc."
or there's "What's up!" (exclamatory statement)
...like when you're frustrated by people driving erratically, it means "Why?" or "Why is this happening?" or "What's going on?"
Others may disagree, but this is my take on it. |
I don't think it can mean 'How are you?'. The only reason I say this is because it would be very strange to answer 'I'm great' (Or something similar.) |
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gang ah jee
Joined: 14 Jan 2003
Location: city of paper
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| Posted: Wed Sep 13, 2006 5:31 pm Post subject: |
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| ajgeddes wrote: |
| I don't think it can mean 'How are you?'. The only reason I say this is because it would be very strange to answer 'I'm great' (Or something similar.) |
Hyde Park means 'how are you' in the greeting sense, like when you don't really expect a proper response, just an acknowledgement of the greeting and some kind of 'not bad' formula. |
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ajgeddes
Joined: 28 Apr 2004
Location: Yongsan
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| Posted: Wed Sep 13, 2006 5:38 pm Post subject: |
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| Good Call. |
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rickhorton44
Joined: 10 Mar 2003
Location: Korea
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| Posted: Wed Sep 13, 2006 5:43 pm Post subject: whazzzzzzzupppppp |
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Do you remember the bud lite comercials, or even scary movie 1 or 2, i can't remember.
Actually, "what's up" is and appropiate response for "what's up".
what's up - hi (short greeting amongst friends)
A: "What's up"
B: "What's up"
what's up - what is going on
A: "What's up?"
B: "Not much, what's up with you?" |
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Novernae
Joined: 02 Mar 2005
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| Posted: Wed Sep 13, 2006 6:05 pm Post subject: |
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| HydePark wrote: |
Perhaps not a better definition, but, "What's up?" is one of those phrases with many meanings, depending on the circumstance. For example, "Cheers" in the U.K. has various situational meanings, as does "Anyeong" in Korea.
So, the various meanings for "What's up?"
- How are you? or Hello! (when you first see someone)
- How can I help? (someone says, "I have a problem, etc."
or there's "What's up!" (exclamatory statement)
...like when you're frustrated by people driving erratically, it means "Why?" or "Why is this happening?" or "What's going on?"
Others may disagree, but this is my take on it. |
Fully agree. |
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Juregen
Joined: 30 May 2006
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| Posted: Wed Sep 13, 2006 6:18 pm Post subject: |
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A: "What's Up?"
B: "My zipper" *frown* |
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some waygug-in
Joined: 25 Jan 2003
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| Posted: Wed Sep 13, 2006 7:52 pm Post subject: |
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So what's up with that? 
Sorry, I couldn't resist.
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ilovebdt
Joined: 03 Jun 2005
Location: Nr Seoul
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| Posted: Wed Sep 13, 2006 7:56 pm Post subject: |
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This reminds me of where I live in England. The standard greeting when you meet someone you know in the street is "Alright?".
ilovebdt |
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Smee
Joined: 24 Dec 2004
Location: Jeollanam-do
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| Posted: Wed Sep 13, 2006 8:24 pm Post subject: |
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| In my students' books I always see it translated as "무슨 일이니?" but I always teach the answer to "what's up" is "nothing." |
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ChuckECheese
Joined: 20 Jul 2006
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| Posted: Wed Sep 13, 2006 8:54 pm Post subject: |
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What's up? = What's going on?
Usual response for me = Nothing much! What's up? |
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Novernae
Joined: 02 Mar 2005
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| Posted: Wed Sep 13, 2006 8:57 pm Post subject: |
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My boyfriend's standard greeting is "What are you saying?" or more phonetically "Whataya sayin?" He met a Brit once who was just confused as hell when he saw him in the morning.
BF: Whataya sayin?
Brit: ummm, nothing???
BF: No, man, whataya sayin, how's it going, what's up....
Aren't regionalisms fun! |
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ChuckECheese
Joined: 20 Jul 2006
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| Posted: Wed Sep 13, 2006 9:01 pm Post subject: |
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My standard greeting....
Howdy y'all? Ain't this a wonderful day? |
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Dev
Joined: 18 Apr 2006
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| Posted: Wed Sep 13, 2006 10:02 pm Post subject: |
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| Smee wrote: |
| In my students' books I always see it translated as "무슨 일이니?" but I always teach the answer to "what's up" is "nothing." |
In Canada, the most common reply is "Not much". |
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