지요

Adjective/Verb + 지요 : This grammar pattern can be used in various ways:

(1) For tag questions, which are mini questions we put at the end of a sentence and invite the listener to agree with you, usually on some fact or topic you both know about. If you are using this pattern as a tag question, you must use a rising intonation when speaking.

(2) For giving information about something. This pattern uses a falling intonation when spoken.

(3) As a general ending when asking any kind of question. The intonation is different from when asking a tag question(see the audio examples below).

• This grammar pattern can also be used with nouns if combined with the verb 이다 to make the pattern Noun + 이지요.
• 지요 can be contracted to 죠.

Conjugation Examples

• 가다 (to go) → 가지요
• 알다 (to know) → 일지요
• 예쁘다(to be pretty) → 예쁘지요
• 선생님 (teacher) → 선생님이지요
• 춥다 (to be cold) → 춥지요

Sentence Examples

Note some examples below use the low form where the 요 is omitted.

Used with Tag Questions

• 이효리가 정말 예쁘지? [Lee Hyori is really pretty, isn't she?]
• 오늘은 춥지요? [It's cold today, isn't it?]
• 김철수 아니지요? [You're Kim Chul Su, aren't you?]
• 내일 직장에 안 가지? [You're not going to work tomorrow, are you?]
• 그렇지요? [That's right, huh?]

Used to Give Information

• 당연하지요 [Of course]
• 그 사람은 아니지요 [It's not that person]
• 내 남 동생이 아주 착하지 [My younger brother is very kind]

As a General Question Ending

• 그 사람의 이름이 뭐지요?
• 이거 얼마지요? [How much is this?]