Agreeing in Korean: Using 동의해요 and 맞아요
Learn elementary Korean phrases to agree with someone's opinion, including 동의해요, 맞아요, and 그래요, with a short dialogue and practice.
By TheaFirst conversations · Yapr Learn
When someone shares an opinion in Korean, you often need a short, natural way to show you agree. This lesson focuses only on agreement, not on stating your own opinion. You will learn the polite phrase 동의해요 (I agree), the common response 맞아요 (that's right), and a few related expressions. You will also see how these fit into a short conversation about a price. The forms here are polite and safe for everyday situations with people you do not know well.
By the end, you can…
- agree with someone's opinion using 동의해요 and 맞아요.
- respond naturally to a simple opinion in a short Korean conversation.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
동의해요.
I agree.
dong-uihae-yo
Polite and neutral. Use when you agree with an opinion, especially in a discussion or meeting.
맞아요.
That's right. / That's true.
maja-yo
Very common in conversation. It agrees with a fact or a statement, not necessarily a full opinion.
그래요?
Is that so? / Really?
geuraeyo
A reaction showing you heard the other person. It can lead into agreement, but by itself it does not mean 'I agree'.
저도 그렇게 생각해요.
I think so too.
jeodo geureoke saenggakhaeyo
Use when you share the same opinion. 저도 means 'I also' and makes the agreement personal.
정말요?
Really?
jeongmallyo
Shows surprise or interest. It is not agreement by itself, but it often comes before 맞아요 or 동의해요.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
The most direct agreement phrase is 동의해요 (dong-uihae-yo), which means 'I agree.' It comes from the noun 동의 (agreement) plus the polite verb ending -해요. You can make it a little stronger with 정말 동의해요 (I really agree). For agreeing with a fact or a simple statement, 맞아요 (maja-yo) is more common. For example, if someone says 너무 비싸요 (it's too expensive), you can answer 맞아요 or 동의해요. Both are polite, but 맞아요 sounds more conversational.
When to use it
Use 동의해요 in meetings, classes, or polite discussions when you want to clearly state agreement with an opinion. Use 맞아요 in everyday conversation when you are confirming that something is true. If you want to show you share the same view, say 저도 그렇게 생각해요 (jeodo geureoke saenggakhaeyo, 'I think so too'). Avoid using 그래요? as agreement; it means 'Is that so?' and invites more information. In a short conversation, a natural sequence is: opinion, then 맞아요, then maybe 저도 그렇게 생각해요.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
이 가방은 너무 비싸요.
This bag is too expensive.i gabang-eun neomu bissa-yo맞아요. 정말 비싸요.
That's right. It's really expensive.maja-yo. jeongmal bissa-yo저도 그렇게 생각해요.
I think so too.jeodo geureoke saenggakhaeyo동의해요. 다른 가게를 알아봐요.
I agree. Let's look at another store.dong-uihae-yo. dareun gagereul arabwayoA little context goes a long way
In Korean conversation, agreement is often shown with short back-channel responses like 맞아요 or 그래요 before you add your own view. This keeps the conversation smooth and shows you are listening. With strangers or older people, use the polite -요 forms in this lesson. With close friends, plain forms like 맞아 or 동의해 are possible, but they can sound blunt if used with the wrong person.
One thing to watch for
Using 그래요? to mean 'I agree.'
Try this instead: 그래요? means 'Is that so?' or 'Really?' and does not express agreement. To agree, say 맞아요 or 동의해요. For example, after 너무 비싸요, answer 맞아요, not 그래요?.
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1Someone says 이 영화는 재미있어요 (This movie is fun). You agree. What polite phrase can you use?
Show a sample answer
맞아요. or 동의해요.
Both are polite agreement phrases. 맞아요 is more conversational, while 동의해요 is a clear statement of agreement. Either is correct here.
2What does 그래요? mean, and can it mean 'I agree'?
Show a sample answer
It means 'Is that so?' or 'Really?' It does not mean 'I agree.'
그래요? is a reaction that asks for more information or shows interest. Use 맞아요 or 동의해요 for agreement.
3How do you say 'I think so too' in polite Korean?
Show a sample answer
저도 그렇게 생각해요.
저도 means 'I also,' and 그렇게 생각해요 means 'think so.' This phrase shows you share the other person's opinion.
Use 맞아요 for everyday agreement and 동의해요 for a clear, polite 'I agree.' Add 저도 그렇게 생각해요 when you share the same opinion.
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