-지
Sentence Ending
Attach -지 to a verb or adjective to check something you expect is true, like saying '..., right?'
How It Works
The sentence ending -지 is used when the speaker expects the listener will agree with their statement. It's a way of checking something you expect and seeking agreement, rather than an open question that asks for brand-new information.
Conjugation Rules:
It attaches directly to the verb or adjective stem.
- Verbs/Adjectives: Stem + -지
- 가다 (to go) → 가지
- 예쁘다 (to be pretty) → 예쁘지 - Nouns: Noun + -(이)지
- 학생 (student) → 학생이지
- 의사 (doctor) → 의사지 - Past Tense: Past Tense Stem + -지
- 먹었다 (ate) → 먹었지
- 갔다 (went) → 갔지
Politeness Levels:
The politeness is determined by what follows -지.
- Informal (to friends): -지?
- 춥지? (It's cold, right?) - Polite (common in conversation): -지요? or shortened to -죠?
- 춥지요? → 춥죠? (It's cold, right?)
In modern Korean, -죠 is used far more frequently in conversation than the full form -지요.
Examples (4)
- 오늘 날씨가 좋죠?
The weather is nice today, right?
Word by Word: Today weather is good, right?
- 이 영화 재미있지?
This movie is fun, isn't it?
Word by Word: This movie is fun, isn't it?
This is an informal question to a friend, assuming they also find the movie fun.
- 어제 숙제 다 했죠?
You finished all your homework yesterday, right?
Word by Word: Yesterday homework all did, right?
Here, -지 is attached to the past tense stem of 하다 (to do), which is 했-.
- 저분이 김 선생님이시죠?
That person is Mr. Kim, right?
Word by Word: That person (honorific) Kim teacher is (honorific), right?
For nouns, -지 is attached to the verb 이다 (to be). The honorific marker -시- is included before -죠 for politeness towards the subject (Mr. Kim).
Common Mistakes
Forgetting to add '이' when attaching -지 to a noun ending in a consonant.
Not Quite저 사람은 학생지?Better저 사람은 학생이지?When attaching -지 to a noun, you must include the copula 이다. It becomes '학생이지' for nouns ending in a consonant and '의사지' for nouns ending in a vowel.
Using -지 to ask a stranger for brand-new information, like an open 'what' or 'where' question.
Different Meaning(To a stranger) 화장실이 어디지?Better(To a stranger) 화장실이 어디예요?-지 checks something you already have in mind and expect the listener to agree with. It is fine for a yes/no check even when you are unsure of the answer. But to ask a stranger for brand-new information, like an open 'what' or 'where' question, use a plain ending such as -예요?. Said to a stranger, 화장실이 어디지? sounds like you are muttering to yourself.
Learn This First
To use this ending, you need to understand verb conjugation.
Related Patterns
- -잖아You Know, ... Right?
Both are used for information the speaker believes is known to the listener. However, -잖아 has a stronger nuance of "As you know..." or "Come on, you know that...", while -지 is a softer confirmation check.
- -네Oh, I See
Both are sentence endings that can express something the speaker has noticed. -네 expresses mild surprise or a new realization, while -지 confirms something the speaker already suspected or knew.
- -요Politeness Marker
The politeness marker -요 is often attached to -지 to form the polite -지요 (or more commonly, -죠), which is essential for everyday polite conversation.