Today, we’re going to learn Adjective/ verb 죠/ 지요 Korean grammar. This grammar is used to reconfirm or when we say ‘Right?’ at the end of conversations in English. We use this 지요 grammar for saying – isn’t it?, isn’t he/she/the?, aren’t you, aren’t we? 지요 is used when the speaker wants to confirm with the listener about something that is already known. Or 지요 is used to reconfirm with the listener.
‘지요’ goes after the adjective/verb stems. It is used to confirm something that the speaker already knows. For example-
날씨가 좋아요.The weather is good.
오늘 날씨가 좋지요? Today’s weather is good, isn’t it?
김 씨는 커피를 좋아해요. (Kim likes coffee.)
Minjo knows the fact that Kim likes coffee. Kim also knows it. So Minjo wants to confirm it, so she asks: “김 씨는 커피를 좋아하지요?” (Kim, you like coffee, don’t you?)
Kim replies: “네, 맞아요. 저는 커피를 좋아해요.” (Yes, I do. I like coffee.)
Both Minjo and Kim know that Kim likes coffee. So, ‘좋아하지요?’ is used.
지요 conjugation
| 듣다 | 듣지요? |
| 싸다 | 싸지요? |
| 가다 | 가지요? |
| 많다 | 많지요? |
| 춥다 | 춥지요? |
| 읽다 | 읽지요? |
| 멀다 | 멀지요? |
| 공부하다 | 공부하지요? |
Let’s look at the conjugation information.
좋다 (to be good)
싸다 (to be cheap)
먹다 (to eat)
하다 (to do)
These are basic forms of adjectives and verbs. Remove 다 and attach 지요? Then, they become
좋지요
싸지요
먹지요
하지요
Whether V/A stem has the final consonant or not ‘지요’ is attached. So, 좋다 becomes ‘좋지요’, 싸다 becomes 싸지요.
When you answer to ‘지요?’ question, you cannot use ‘지요 in your reply.’ For example, if someone asked 오늘 날씨가 춥지요? = Today’s weather is cold, isn’t it?
You might say ‘네, 추워요 (Yes, it is)’ which is correct. You should not say ‘네, 춥지요.’ which is wrong.
지요 vs 죠
Let’s look at other usages of ‘지요.’
When you speak, you can shorten ‘지요’ to ‘죠.’ For example, ‘오늘 날씨가 춥지요? =Today’s weather is cold, isn’t it?. You can say, ‘오늘 날씨가 춥죠?’
You can say ‘죠’ instead of ‘지요.’
지요 past tense
The past tense of ‘지요’ is ‘있지요/있지요/했지요.’
The past tense of ‘지요’ is ‘았지요/었지요/했지요. For example- 김 씨는 공부하지요 = Kim studies, doesn’t she? which is the present tense. If you change it to the past tense, you can say ‘김 씨는 어제 공부했지요. Kim studied yesterday, didn’t she?
지요 future tense
The future tense of ‘ㄹ거지요/을거지요/할거지요.’ For example, the present tense is ‘, ‘민조 씨는 공부하지요 (=Minjo studies, doesn’t she?)’. And the future tense is ‘민조 씨는 내일 공부할 거지요? (=Minjo will study tomorrow, won’t she?)’
‘김 씨는 공부하지요?’ (=kim studies, doesn’t she?)’ is present tense.
김 씨는 어제 공부했지요? (=kim studied yesterday, didn’t she?).’ is past tense
김 씨는 내일 공부할 거지요? (kim will study tomorrow, won’t she?)’ is future tense.
지요 vs 아요/어요/해요
How 지요 vs 아요/어요/해요 are different?
‘지요’ is used to confirm or to ask some agreement with the listener about something that you already know. For example-
‘밖에 눈이 와요 (=It snows outside.)’
Both person A and person B know it. person A thinks that person B also knows the fact that it snows outside. So, person A asks: ‘지금 눈이 오지요?’ (It snows, doesn’t it?)
Person B replies: ‘네, 눈이 오고 있어요.’ (Yes, it’s snowing)
‘아요/어요/해요’ is used when you ask something which you don’t know. For example-
‘밖이 눈이 와요?.'(Is It snowing outside?)’ which person A does not know it. But, person B knows it.
Person A asks: ‘지금 눈이 와요?’ (Does it snow now?)
Person B replies: ‘네, 눈이 오고 있어요.’ (Yes, it’s snowing.)
When you or the listener do not know something, you can use ‘아요/어요/해요.’
지요 examples
‘김 씨는 한국어를 잘하지요? (Is Kim good at Korean, isn’t she?)
‘림 씨는 매일 운동하지요?’ Lim does exercise every day, doesn’t she?
부모님이 보고 싶지요?’ (You want to see your parents don’t you?)
회의는 월요일 이지요? The meeting is on Monday. right?
서울은 한국의 수도지요? Seoul is the Korean capital city. Right?
주말에 부산에 갈 거지요? you are going to Busan this weekend, aren’t you?)
이게 뭐지? = What is this? (it is used to ask oneself)
(If you are asking yourself directly or you are not asking anybody, you should not say “이게 뭐예요?” instead you should say 이게 뭐지?
지요 grammar Practice
Now practice yourself using today’s grammar 지요. Let’s use some words and combine them with 지요 and make a sentence.
바쁘다(=to be busy)
김 씨는 바쁘지요? Kim is busy, isn’t she?)
착하다 (to be kind)
리나 학생 착하지요? Student Rina is good(disciplined), isn’t she?
멋지다 (To become col/ Handsome)
뻐원 씨는 멋지죠? Pawon is Handsome, Isn’t he?
학교에 갔다 (went to school)
어제 학교에 갔죠? You went to school yesterday. Aren’t you?
어렵다 (To become hard)
한국에 일하는 것은 어렵죠? It’s hard to work in Korea, Isn’t it?
의사이다 (To be a doctor)
아버지 의사 이지요? Your father is a doctor. Isn’t he?
학생아니다 (not a student)
학생 아니지요? You are not a student. Aren’t you?
지요/ 죠 summary
지요/ 죠 is translated as isn’t../Arent..?, dont.. or doesn’t..? in English. 지요/ 죠 is used to confirm information means this grammar used when the speaker wants to confirm any information with the listener.
