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HOW TO USE -지요/죠
In Korean, -지요 (죠) is a sentence-ending particle used to confirm information, seek agreement, or soften statements.
It is commonly used in spoken Korean and helps make conversations sound more natural.
SENTENCE STRUCTURE
-지요/죠 is used when the speaker assumes the listener already knows the information or when asking for confirmation.
This structure is frequently used in everyday conversations to check facts or confirm understanding.
When you use -지요/죠 in a sentence, you are prompting the listener to agree with you or acknowledge the information you are sharing.
It is equivalent to saying “isn’t it?” or “right?” in English.
This structure can also express a sense of shared knowledge or common understanding between the speaker and the listener.
PATTERN
Verb / Adjective / Noun + (이)지요
NOTES:
The contracted form -죠 is much more common in everyday spoken Korean, especially in casual situations. However, the full form -지요 is often used in formal speech or when you want to emphasize politeness.
| 오늘 날씨가 좋지요? | Oneul nalssiga jotji-yo? | The weather is nice today, isn’t it? |
| 이 책이 재미있지요? | I chaegi jaemiitji-yo? | This book is interesting, right? |
| 그 사람이 한국 사람이죠? | Geu sarami hanguk saramijyo? | That person is Korean, isn’t he? |
View More Examples:
| 시험이 어려웠죠? | Siheomi eoryeowotjyo? | The test was difficult, right? |
| 우리가 3시에 만나기로 했죠? | Uriga sam sie mannagiro haetjyo? | We agreed to meet at 3 PM, didn’t we? |
| 너도 서울에 가봤지? | Neodo seoure gabwatji? | You’ve been to Seoul too, haven’t you? |
TIPS:
➡️ Use -지요/죠 when you want to confirm something you already suspect is true.
➡️ The tone of voice plays a crucial role; a rising intonation indicates a question, while a falling intonation signals a statement.
➡️ -죠 is the go-to form in casual speech, while -지요 is better suited for formal contexts or when emphasizing information.
MAKING SUGGESTIONS
Beyond simple confirmation, -지요/죠 can be used to make statements sound softer and more polite.
It is often used when giving information in a gentle way or when making suggestions.
This can help you come across as more respectful and approachable.
In this context, -지요/죠 functions similarly to “let’s” in English when making suggestions or “I think” when offering a tentative opinion.
This form adds a layer of politeness and avoids sounding too direct or forceful.
PATTERN
Verb/Adjective stem + -지요 (죠)
| 다음에 같이 가죠. | Daeume gachi gajyo. | Let’s go together next time. |
| 이거 정말 맛있지요. | Igeo jeongmal masitji-yo. | This is really delicious. |
| 지금 출발하면 늦지 않죠. | Jigeum chulbalhamyeon neutji anchyo. | If we leave now, we won’t be late, right? |
View More Examples:
| 도와줄 수 있죠? | Dowajul su itjyo? | You can help me, right? |
| 여기에 주차해도 되죠? | Yeogie juchahaedo doe-jyo? | It’s okay to park here, isn’t it? |
| 수업이 10시에 시작하죠? | Sueobi yeol sie sijak-hajyo? | The class starts at 10, right? |
TIPS:
➡️ Use -지요/죠 when making polite suggestions or encouraging someone to agree with your proposal.
➡️ In group settings, this form is useful for softening commands and fostering cooperation.
➡️ The listener usually responds positively to -지요/죠, making it an excellent tool for building rapport.
EXPRESSING ASSUMPTIONS
Another use of -지요/죠 is to express assumptions or certainty about a fact.
When used in this way, it implies the speaker is confident about the statement and expects the listener to agree.
PATTERN
Verb/Adjective stem + -지요 (죠)
This structure can be used to make predictions or state something the speaker believes to be true.
| 그는 집에 있죠. | Geuneun jibe itjyo. | He is at home, right? |
| 날씨가 곧 추워지겠죠. | Nalssiga got chuwogetjyo. | The weather will get cold soon, won’t it? |
| 내일 시험이 쉽겠죠? | Naeil siheomi swipgetjyo? | Tomorrow’s test will be easy, right? |
View More Examples:
| 사람들이 많이 오겠죠? | Saramdeuri mani ogetjyo? | Many people will come, right? |
| 그 영화 재미있겠죠? | Geu yeonghwa jaemiitgetjyo? | That movie will be interesting, won’t it? |
| 비가 곧 그치겠죠. | Biga got geuchigetjyo. | The rain will stop soon, right? |
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FAQs
What does (이)지요 mean in Korean?
(이)지요 is a sentence ending used to seek or confirm agreement, similar to “right?” or “isn’t it?” in English.
It adds a friendly, confirming tone to a statement.
What is the difference between 지요 and 이지요?
Use 이지요 when the word ends in a consonant (e.g., 학생 → 학생이지요).
Use 지요 when the word ends in a vowel (e.g., 의사 → 의사지요).
The meaning remains the same — the form just depends on pronunciation.
Can (이)지요 be used in questions and statements?
Yes!
As a statement: 오늘 날씨 좋지요. (The weather is nice, isn’t it?)
As a question: 그분이 선생님이지요? (He’s a teacher, right?)
Is there a difference between (이)지요 and (이)죠?
No major difference — 죠 is the contracted and more casual version of 지요, commonly used in spoken Korean.
Is (이)지요 formal or informal?
(이)지요 is polite, and suitable in most everyday conversations. It’s not overly formal, but not casual like 반말 either.
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