🗣️ Sentence-final Endings in Korean: -지, -잖아, -거든

In Korean, sentence endings don’t just finish a sentence — they add emotion, context, and nuance. Today, we’ll explore three frequently used informal sentence endings: -지, -잖아, and -거든. These are especially common in spoken language and often heard in K-dramas and conversations with friends. Let’s break them down and see how to use them naturally!

📌 1. -지 (Soft Confirmation or Reminder)

This ending is often used when you expect the listener to agree or already know the information. It’s like saying “right?” or “you know?” in English.

재미있지? – It’s fun, right?
너도 알지? – You know it too, right?
오늘 시험 있는 거 알지? – You know we have a test today, right?

📌 2. -잖아 (Pointing Out or Reminding)

-잖아 is used when you want to remind someone of a fact they already know or correct them gently. It’s similar to saying “I told you” or “Don’t you remember?” in English.

내가 어제 말했잖아! – I told you yesterday!
너 늦을 거라고 했잖아. – I said you'd be late.
우리 그 영화 봤잖아! – We already saw that movie!

📌 3. -거든 (Providing Background or Reason)

This ending is used to give background information or explain a reason, often in response to a question or in preparation for more information.

나 지금 바쁘거든. – I’m busy right now (so I can’t).
그 사람 안 와, 아프거든. – He’s not coming, he’s sick.
나 공부 중이거든! – I’m studying right now!

🧠 How to Practice

Watch K-dramas and listen for these endings in daily conversations.
Try repeating the lines with the same tone and emotion.
Use them in language exchanges or casual chats.

💡 Did You Know?

The use of sentence endings in Korean can completely change the tone. For example, "몰라!" (I don’t know!) can sound neutral, but "몰랐잖아!" adds a layer of “Come on, you should know I don’t know!” This makes sentence endings essential for sounding natural and expressive in Korean.

Thanks for reading! Learning subtle sentence endings like -지, -잖아, and -거든 will give your Korean a real boost. Stick around for more natural expression tips and fun grammar guides! 😊