지요

Description

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

1. Used like a tag question in English, 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 like 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. If used as a reply to someone else, can give a slight feeling of "of course ~."

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).

Notes

• 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 Rule

A/V + 지요

Conjugation Rule

	Pattern	Case	Example
Rule 1:	A/V + 지요	If there is no 받침 or if the adjective/verb stem has ㄹ as a 받침	가다→가지요
Rule 2:	A/V + 지요	If there is a 받침 at the end of the adjective/verb stem	알다→알지요

N + 지요

Conjugation Rule

	Pattern	Case	Example
Rule 1:	N + 지요	If there is no 받침 or if the adjective/verb stem has ㄹ as a 받침	개→개지요
Rule 2:	N + 이지요	If there is a 받침 at the end of the adjective/verb stem	선생님→선생님이지요

Conjugation Examples

• 가다 (to go) → 가지요
• 알다 (to know) → 알지요
• 예쁘다 (to be pretty) → 예쁘지요
• 춥다 (to be cold) → 춥지요
• 덥다 (to be hot) →덥지요
• 선생님 (teacher) → 선생님이지요
• 어머니 (mother) → 어머니지요
• 고양이 (cat) → 고양이지요

Sentence Examples

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

Used with Tag Questions

Korean	English	Notes
"이효리가 정말 예쁘지?"	"Lee Hyori is really pretty, isn't she?"	low form
"오늘은 춥지요?"	"It's cold today, isn't it?"	polite informal form
"내일 직장에 안 가지?"	"You're not going to work tomorrow, are you?"	low form
"그렇지요?"	"That's right, huh?"	polite informal form
"김철수씨지요?"	"You're Kim Chul Su, aren't you?"	polite informal form
"우리 강아지 너무 귀엽지요?"	"My dog is so cute, isn't it?"	polite informal form
"벌써 졸업했지요?"	"You already graduated, didn't you?"	polite informal form

Used to Give Information

Korean	English	Notes
A: "그 사람 알아?" B: 모르지.	A: "Do you know that person?" B: (of course) I don't know him.	low form (반말)
"당연하지요."	"Of course."	polite informal form
"그 사람은 아니지요."	"It's not that person."	polite informal form
"내 남 동생은 아주 착하지."	"My younger brother is very kind."	low form
"나도 모르지."	"I don't know either."	low form
"제주도는 참 아름다운 곳이지요."	"Jeju Island is very beautiful place."	polite informal form

As a General Question Ending

table title

Korean	English	Notes
"그 사람의 이름이 뭐지요?"	"What is that person's name?"	polite informal form
"이거 얼마지요?	"How much is this?"	polite informal form
"시간이 얼마나 걸리지요?"	"How many hours does it take?"	polite informal form
"지금 몇 시 지?"	"What time is it now?"	low form
"여기가 어디지?"	"Where are we?"	low form
"저것은 개지요?" "아니요. 고양이지요."	"That is a dog, isn't that?" "No. That's a cat."	polite informal form

Pronunciation

• Special pronunciation rule?

See Also

• Related topic or grammar