2 · Sentence endings that add a stance
Isn't it?: -지요 and -죠
the ending of shared ground
-죠 treats a sentence as something the listener will agree with: “isn't it?”, “of course”, and a gentler way to ask.
-지요 goes straight onto the stem, like -네요, and in speech it is almost always contracted to -죠: 비싸죠, 좋죠, 왔죠. After a noun it is 이죠 after a consonant and 죠 after a vowel: 학생이죠, 친구죠. The full form -지요 appears in writing and in careful speech.
The core meaning is shared ground: the speaker treats the sentence as something the listener knows or will accept. With a rising tone it asks for agreement, like an English tag question: 오늘 덥죠?, “it's hot today, isn't it?”. English has to build every tag to match its verb — isn't it, don't you, didn't they, won't it; Korean says -죠 each time.
With a falling tone it presents something as obvious: 그럼요, 알죠, “of course I know”. After a question word it softens a question, which is why staff in shops and offices use it: 성함이 어떻게 되시죠?, “may I have your name?”. And with -(으)시- it becomes a polite invitation: 이쪽으로 앉으시죠, “please, sit here”.
The typical slip is to put it on the polite form instead of the stem — 맛있어죠 instead of 맛있죠. The other is tone: a rising -죠? about something the listener cannot be expected to know sounds presumptuous, so keep it for what really is shared. Among friends the ending is -지: 맛있지?.
The form
| after a vowel | 비싸다 → 비싸죠 |
| after a consonant | 좋다 → 좋죠 |
| past | 오다 → 왔죠 |
| after a noun | 학생이죠 / 친구죠 |
| a polite invitation | 앉다 → 앉으시죠 |
| the full form, in writing | 좋지요 |
The rules one by one
The form this topic is aboutThe word that calls for it
-죠 is short for -지요 and goes straight onto the stem.
이 옷 정말 예쁘죠?This outfit is really pretty, isn't it?
With a rising tone it asks for agreement, like an English tag question.
내일 회의는 세 시에 시작하죠?Tomorrow's meeting starts at three, doesn't it?
With a falling tone it presents something as obvious: “of course”.
그럼요, 저도 그 노래 알죠.Of course I know that song too.
After a question word it makes the question softer.
실례지만 성함이 어떻게 되시죠?Excuse me, may I have your name?
With -(으)시- it is a polite invitation.
이쪽으로 앉으시죠.Please, have a seat over here.
A closer look
One ending for every tag question
An English tag question copies the verb and flips the polarity: “you're coming, aren't you?”, “she didn't call, did she?”. Korean does none of that. 오시죠?, 전화 안 했죠?, 비싸죠?, 가겠죠? — the ending stays the same and the tone does the asking.
To agree with such a question, Koreans answer 네, 맞아요 or simply 그렇죠. To disagree politely, they often begin with 글쎄요, “well …”, rather than a flat no.
Exceptions and special cases (1)
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a noun ends in a vowel
이 usually drops in speech: 친구죠, 제 거죠; after a consonant it stays: 학생이죠.
저분이 새로 오신 선생님이죠?That's the new teacher, isn't it?
It is the same contraction as in 친구예요 against 학생이에요.
How to spot it
- -죠
- -지요
- 그렇죠
- -겠죠
- -으시죠
Example sentences
오늘 정말 덥죠?It's really hot today, isn't it?
한국 음식 좋아하시죠?You like Korean food, don't you?
어제 그 경기 보셨죠?You watched that match yesterday, didn't you?
당연히 알죠. 매일 쓰는 말인데요.Of course I know it. It's a word I use every day.
화장실이 어디죠?Where's the toilet, please?
내일은 비가 안 오겠죠?It won't rain tomorrow, will it?
8 more example sentences
이 길이 시청 가는 길 맞죠?This is the way to City Hall, isn't it?
주말에는 보통 집에서 쉬시죠?You usually rest at home at weekends, don't you?
그분 정말 친절하시죠?She's really kind, isn't she?
저도 처음에는 어려웠죠.Of course it was hard for me too at first.
몇 분이시죠?How many are you, please?
자, 그럼 시작하시죠.Well then, shall we begin?
내일도 오시죠?You're coming tomorrow too, aren't you?
민지 씨도 대학생이죠?Minji, you're a university student too, aren't you?
Worth knowing (2)
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Two short replies: 그렇죠 and 맞죠
그렇죠, “exactly, that's right”, agrees with what has just been said. 맞죠?, “right?”, after your own statement checks that the listener is still with you.
그렇죠. 저도 같은 생각이에요.Exactly. I think so too.
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Among friends
Without 요 it is intimate, and it keeps both uses: a rising tag question and a falling “of course”.
이거 진짜 맛있지?This is really good, isn't it?
The trap English speakers fall into
Watch out
-죠 replaces the polite ending; it is not added on top of it. Take the bare stem, 맛있-, and attach -죠 — the same way -네요 is attached.
Put -jyo on the bare stem when you expect the listener to agree.
Your turn
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