🗣️ Korean Expressions with -지요?/죠? (Seeking Agreement)

Ever noticed how Koreans often end their sentences with “-지요?” or “-죠?”? This polite and friendly sentence ending is commonly used to seek agreement, confirm shared knowledge, or make suggestions with a softer tone. Let’s explore how to use it naturally — and why it’s a must-learn expression!

1. What Does -지요?/죠? Mean?

The ending -지요? (or its shortened spoken form -죠?) is used to:

Ask for confirmation (Isn’t it...?)
Seek agreement (Right?)
Show politeness or consideration

It softens the tone and invites the listener to agree or respond — making your Korean sound more interactive and friendly!

2. When and How to Use

Conjugation Rule: Add -지요? to verb stems or adjectives in the polite form.

하다 → 하지요?
가다 → 가지요?
예쁘다 → 예쁘지요?

💡 In casual speech, -지요? becomes -죠? It’s very common in spoken Korean!

Polite: 오늘 날씨 좋지요?? (Isn’t the weather nice today?)
Casual: 재밌죠?? (It’s fun, right?)

3. Common Examples

Korean (한글)	Pronunciation (로마자)	English
오늘 날씨 좋지요?	oneul nalssi jotjiyo?	The weather is nice today, isn’t it?
한국 음식 맛있죠?	hanguk eumsik masitjyo?	Korean food is delicious, right?
그 사람 친절했지요?	geu saram chinjeolhaetjiyo?	That person was kind, wasn’t he?
힘들었죠?	himdeureotjyo?	It was hard, right?
지하철이 빠르지요?	jihacheori ppareujiyo?	The subway is fast, isn’t it?

🔄 You can use it to confirm facts, express empathy, or encourage agreement in conversations.

4. Intonation Matters

Like in English, your tone changes the meaning:

🔼 Rising tone → Asking for agreement (“It’s fun, right?”)
🔽 Falling tone → Stating something with assumed agreement (“You know it’s fun.”)

Practice by reading the same sentence with different tones. You'll start sounding more natural — like a native speaker!

5. 💡 Did You Know?

💡 Korean speakers often use -지요? not just to confirm facts, but also as a cultural cue for consideration and harmony. It’s a polite way to bring the listener into the conversation without sounding too direct.

💡 Even K-pop idols use it frequently in interviews and fan meetings. For example: “이 앨범 기대되죠?” (You’re excited for this album, right?) → It’s warm, inviting, and fan-friendly!

💡 In Korean dramas, you’ll often hear characters ending sentences with -죠? when showing affection or seeking reassurance. It reflects Korea’s high-context, emotionally nuanced communication style.

6. 🧠 Self-Learning Tips

🗣️ Try watching K-dramas and count how many times you hear -죠?
📓 Write 5 sentences about your day and end each with -지요?
👥 Practice asking your Korean tutor open-ended questions with -죠?

Quick Quiz:
How would you say: "The coffee is good, right?"
✅ 정답: 커피 맛있죠? (keopi masitjyo?)

7. 🎓 Learn More Korean

Want to sound more natural and interactive in Korean? Let’s practice using expressions like -죠? in real-life scenarios!

👉 Book a class with me on italki We’ll learn expressions, improve fluency, and build your confidence — together!