🗣️ Korean Expressions with -지요?/죠? (Seeking Agreement)
🎯 “-지요? / -죠?” for Polite Agreement in Korean (Intermediate · TOPIK 3–4)
Ever noticed how Koreans say “-지요?” or “-죠?” at the end of sentences? This small but powerful ending helps you confirm information, invite agreement, or soften suggestions — essential for polite and natural speech in workplaces, classrooms, and new social settings.
한국어에서 -지요? / -죠?는 상대방의 동의를 구하거나, 정보를 확인하거나, 제안을 부드럽게 만들 때 쓰입니다. 선생님, 동료, 처음 만난 사람과 자연스럽게 대화할 때 꼭 필요한 표현이에요.
🎯 Learning Goals
- Use -지요? / -죠? naturally in real conversations
- Understand subtle tone and intonation differences
- Learn when not to use these endings incorrectly
📚 Table of Contents
- What does -지요? / -죠? mean?
- How and when to use
- Common examples (with RR)
- Why intonation matters
- Common mistakes & fixes
- Practice & answer key
- Related lessons
- Update Log
- About / Privacy / Contact
💡 What does -지요? / -죠? mean?
- Asks for confirmation: “Isn’t it?” / “Right?”
- Seeks shared knowledge or empathy
- Softens statements or suggestions
예: “그렇죠?” = “That’s right, isn’t it?”
🧩 When & How to Use
Form: Attach -지요? to polite verb stems; in speech, it contracts to -죠?.
- 하다 → 하지요? / 하죠?
- 가다 → 가지요? / 가죠?
- 예쁘다 → 예쁘지요? / 예쁘죠?
Casual-polite: 재밌죠? (It’s fun, right?)
🗣 Common Examples (with RR)
| Korean | RR | English |
|---|---|---|
| 오늘 날씨 좋지요? | oneul nalssi johjiyo? | 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? |
🎵 Intonation Matters
- Rising tone → asking for agreement (“It’s nice, right?”)
- Falling tone → assuming shared understanding (“You know it’s nice.”)
⚠️ Common Mistakes & Fixes
- Overusing -죠? for real questions → Use -나요? or -인가요? instead.
- Using a sharp tone → Keep your voice soft; otherwise it can sound demanding.
- Stacking with another question ending → “-지요?” itself is interrogative; don’t double it.
📝 Mini Practice
- “It’s cold.” → 춥___?
- “You know this place, ___?” → 여기 아___?
- “Let’s sit here, ___?” → 여기 앉___?
✅ Answer Key (tap to view)
1) 춥지요/죠? 2) 여기 아시지요/시죠? 3) 여기 앉죠?
📌 Related Lessons
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🕓 Update Log
Last updated: 2025-10-15 (KST)
This article was recently refined to improve tone, layout, and cultural explanations — ensuring clarity and naturalness for intermediate learners. 의견이나 수정 요청이 있으면 댓글로 알려주세요. 완전히 만족할 때까지 계속 업데이트합니다.
