Core Grammar Rule: ~지요?
Use ~지요? to ask a question to confirm something you are quite sure about, assuming the listener also knows the answer. It's softer and more polite than a direct question.
Meaning & Usage
Meaning: It translates to "..., right?", "..., isn't it?", or "..., don't you?". It shows that the speaker is not seeking new information but rather confirming existing knowledge or seeking agreement.
When to use: Use it when you are fairly certain of a fact and want to gently confirm it with the listener. It makes the conversation sound smoother and less like an interrogation. For example, instead of a blunt "Is this the way?", you can say "이쪽이 맞지요?" (This is the right way, isn't it?).
Conjugation Rules
Rule: Attach ~지요? directly to the stem of a verb or adjective. For nouns, use (이)지요?.
Verbs: 가다 (to go) → 가지요? / 먹다 (to eat) → 먹지요?
Adjectives: 예쁘다 (to be pretty) → 예쁘지요? / 좋다 (to be good) → 좋지요?
Nouns (Vowel ending): 의사 (doctor) → 의사지요?
Nouns (Consonant ending): 학생 (student) → 학생이지요?
Verb/Adj: ~지요? / Noun+Vowel: ~지요? / Noun+Consonant: ~이지요?
Synonyms & Differences: ~지요? vs. ~잖아요
Both endings relate to shared knowledge, but they serve different functions in a conversation. One is a question, and the other is a statement.
~지요? (~죠? / ~지?): A Confirming Question
Context: Use ~지요? when you want to confirm a fact. You are asking for the listener's agreement. The intonation usually goes up slightly at the end, like a question. It's about checking, "We're on the same page, right?".
Example: 우리 내일 만나지요? (We're meeting tomorrow, right? — I'm asking to confirm.)
~잖아요 (~잖아): A Reminding Statement
Context: Use ~잖아요 when you are stating a fact as a reason or explanation, assuming the listener already knows it. It's like saying, "C'mon, you know this." The intonation is declarative and usually falls at the end. It's not a question but a reminder.
Example: 우리 내일 만나잖아요. (We're meeting tomorrow, you know. — I'm reminding you of this fact, perhaps because you seem to have forgotten.)