Definition
A problem, question, or issue that needs to be solved or dealt with.
Example
이 수학 문제는 정말 어렵습니다.
Show translation
This math problem is really difficult.
Etymology
From Sino-Korean 問題 (問 *mun*, "to ask" + 題 *je*, "topic, subject"), borrowed from Classical Chinese. The compound reflects the Confucian scholarly tradition of framing learning as the posing and answering of formal questions.
Cultural note
문제 is one of the most versatile Sino-Korean words in everyday speech. In an academic context it means a test question (시험 문제); in conversation it shifts naturally to mean a difficulty or concern ("문제가 있어요" = "There's a problem"). Be careful not to confuse it with 질문 (質問), which means only "a question you ask someone" and cannot mean "problem."