Of course

This pattern is used to express strong, enthusiastic agreement or confirmation. It's equivalent to saying "Of course!", "Absolutely!", or "You bet!" in English. It implies that the answer is so obvious there's no room for doubt.

Formation

Attach -고말고 directly to the stem of a verb or adjective. It works for present and past tenses.

Verb/Adjective Stem + 고말고

가다 (to go) → 가고말고 (Of course I'll go.)

좋다 (to be good) → 좋고말고 (Of course it's good.)

Past Tense Stem + 고말고

보다 (to see) → 봤다 → 봤- + 고말고 → 봤고말고 (Of course I saw it.)

Usage

-고말고 is typically used as a standalone response to a question or statement. It functions as a complete thought and is rarely embedded within a longer sentence.

좋고말고. / 가고말고. / 맛있고말고. / 봤고말고.

While -고말고 means "of course," it has a different nuance from other common expressions like 당연하죠 or 물론이죠.

-고말고 vs. 당연하죠 / 물론이죠

당연하죠 / 물론이죠 (Of course / Naturally): These are the most standard and neutral ways to say "of course." They are suitable for almost any situation, formal or informal.

-고말고: This pattern is more emphatic, expressive, and can feel more personal or hearty. It directly incorporates the verb or adjective from the question, making the affirmation very specific and strong.

Contextual Nuance

Imagine someone asks, "저를 기억하세요?" (Do you remember me?).

네, 물론이죠. (Yes, of course.) This is a polite and standard confirmation.

기억하고말고요. (Of course I remember!) This feels more personal and enthusiastic. It strongly emphasizes the act of remembering itself, leaving no doubt in the listener's mind.

그렇고말고. / 알고말고. / 기억하고말고요. / 자신 있고말고요.

The pattern -고말고 can be easily adjusted for politeness by adding 요 at the end. Both forms carry the same strong, affirmative meaning.