Tuesday 1 January 2013

Let's Learn Korean - Particle 지요 -






난 그녀를 알아요 Baby
나 뿐이
사랑하는 사람만 알 수 있
그녀의 눈물까지..


지요 (formal) or 죠/지 (informal) is a closing particle which can be used to:


  • Asking for agreement
          Example:  -  종훈이 FTISLAND의 기타리스트예요?  =  Is Jonghoon FTISLAND's guitarist?
                            -  종훈이 FTISLAND의 기티리스트지요?  =  Jonghoon is FTISLAND's guitarist, right?

This 1st condition is almost same with the second condition. the speaker believes that the listener knows the answer. but in the second condition, the answer that the speaker needs/wants is only 'yes/no' which is showing the agreement.
  • Asking for the answer that the speaker believes the listener knows the answer
          Example:  -  재진이 언제 올래요?       =  When will Jaejin come?
                            -  재진이 언제 올래지요?  =  When will Jaejin come?

In the first example, the speaker doubts that the listener knows when will Jaejin come, but in the second example, the speaker really believes that she knows the answer. Sometimes you believe that someone knows the answer when that person is someone that really close or has relation to the question that you're asking about.

  • Confirming information
          Example:  -  네, 내일 만나요      =   Yes, they will meet tomorrow
                            -  네, 내일 만나지요  =   Yes, I assure you that they will meet tomorrow

In the first example the speaker is only telling information, but the second example the speaker assures the listener that the information that she has heard is true.
  • Giving advice/suggestion
          Example:  -  영화나 봐요!      =  Let's watch movies or do another things
                            -  영화나 봐지요    =  How about watching movies or do another things?

In the first example the speaker tends to urge  the listener to do something with her. But in the second example, she gives suggestion to the listener to do something.




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