Korean Tag Question Responses: Short Answers with -jiyo
Learn to answer Korean tag questions naturally using short responses like 'Yes, I am' and 'No, I'm not.' Master the -jiyo ending and polite reply patterns.
By TheaFirst conversations · Yapr Learn
Korean confirmation questions can end in -지요 or its shortened form -죠. They check something the speaker expects to be true, much like an English question ending in "right?" This lesson rehearses a meeting invitation and a question about preparation. You can agree with 네, 그래요. or 네, 맞아요., disagree with 아니요, 안 그래요., or state the actual situation in a full sentence. Listen to both turns before choosing an answer: a short agreement confirms the other person's statement, rather than replacing every possible English "yes" answer.
By the end, you can…
- recognize tag questions ending in -jiyo and understand their meaning.
- respond to tag questions with appropriate short answers in polite Korean.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
네, 그래요.
Yes, that's right. / Yes, I am.
ne, geuraeyo
Confirms the other person's statement. The English subject and verb depend on the question; this is not a fixed translation of "Yes, I am" in every context.
아니요, 안 그래요.
No, that's not right. / No, I'm not.
aniyo, an geuraeyo
Rejects the statement being checked. Understand that statement before choosing this response, especially when the question itself contains a negative.
네, 맞아요.
Yes, that's correct.
ne, majayo
Confirms that the other person's statement or guess is correct. It is not necessarily stronger than every other agreement.
아니요, 안 그런데요.
No, it's not like that.
aniyo, an geureondeyo
Contrasts with what the other person said: actually, that is not the case. Tone and context affect how the correction sounds.
그럼요.
Of course. / Certainly.
geureomyo
Enthusiastic agreement, used when the answer is obviously yes.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
The ending -지요, often shortened to -죠, can ask for confirmation. In the recording, 내일 회의에 오시지요? checks whether the listener is coming to tomorrow's meeting. 네, 그래요. confirms that expectation. The next question asks whether the preparation is complete; 아니요, 아직 안 했어요. 죄송해요. denies completion and explains the situation. Both a short confirmation and an explicit sentence can be useful. Repeating the relevant verb in your own answer is allowed; you do not have to replace it with 그래요.
When to use it
First identify what is being confirmed, then decide whether it matches the facts. 네, 맞아요. can confirm a correct statement; 아니요, 안 그래요. can reject one. Do not mechanically copy English yes/no answers to a negative question. Korean can use 네 to agree with the negative statement and 아니요 to reject it. For difficult questions, adding an explicit sentence about the facts reduces ambiguity. This lesson's recorded dialogue uses positive questions so you can practise that decision with a clear model before tackling negative questions.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
내일 회의에 오시지요?
You're coming to the meeting tomorrow, aren't you?naeil hoeuie osijiyo?네, 그래요. 몇 시에 시작해요?
Yes, I am. What time does it start?ne, geuraeyo. myeot sie sijakaeyo?10시에 시작해요. 그런데 준비는 다 하셨지요?
It starts at 10. By the way, you've prepared everything, haven't you?yeol sie sijakaeyo. geureonde junbineun da hasyeotjiyo?아니요, 아직 안 했어요. 죄송해요.
No, I haven't yet. I'm sorry.aniyo, ajik an haesseoyo. joesonghaeyo.A little context goes a long way
These recordings use polite speech suitable for many everyday conversations. The honorific -시- in 오시지요? respects the person being asked; the listener does not automatically add honorific -시- when describing their own action. Short answers work when both people understand the statement being checked. Add an explanation when a bare agreement or denial would leave the practical situation unclear.
One thing to watch for
Treating every English "No, I am not" as 아니요, 안 그래요., or believing a Korean answer must never repeat the verb.
Try this instead: Choose agreement or denial from the actual statement being checked. A negative question can reverse the apparent English yes/no choice. Stating the relevant fact in a sentence is valid: the recorded speaker answers the preparation question with 아니요, 아직 안 했어요. 죄송해요.
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1Hear 내일 회의에 오시지요? You are coming. Give the recorded reply, including the question about the start time.
Show a sample answer
네, 그래요. 몇 시에 시작해요?
This confirms attendance, then asks what time the meeting starts. Keep the confirmation before the follow-up question.
2Hear 10시에 시작해요. 그런데 준비는 다 하셨지요? You have not prepared yet. Give the recorded reply.
Show a sample answer
아니요, 아직 안 했어요. 죄송해요.
The speaker denies completed preparation, explains that it is not done yet, and apologizes. A full sentence is a valid answer.
3Recall one recorded phrase that confirms the other person's statement is correct.
Show a sample answer
네, 맞아요.
This means "Yes, that is correct." It confirms the statement; check its meaning before choosing an answer to a negative question.
Listen for the statement being checked with -지요 or -죠. Confirm it, reject it, or explain the facts; a clear full-sentence answer is valid.
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