지 (ji) · 죠 (jyo)
'지' is used to express certainty or confirmation, while '죠' is used to seek agreement or softly confirm with the listener.
One lane per word — no nested boxes, just the gist.
Used to express certainty, confirmation, or shared understanding with the listener.
When to use
Expressing certainty, Emphasizing own thought, Confirming shared opinion
The nuance
Attached at the end of a sentence to emphasize the speaker's certainty or shared thought with the listener; mainly used in declarative sentences.
Used to seek the listener's agreement or to softly confirm something.
When to use
Seeking agreement, Soft confirmation, Polite situations
The nuance
A combination of '지' and polite ending '-요'; attached at the end of sentences to seek agreement or politely confirm with the listener.
오늘 날씨가 참 좋지.
o-neul nal-ssi-ga cham joh-ji., o neul nal ssi ga cham joh ji.
Natural when the speaker confidently states that the weather is good.
오늘 날씨가 참 좋죠.
o-neul nal-ssi-ga cham joh-jyo., o neul nal ssi ga cham joh jyo.
Appropriate when softly confirming the good weather while expecting agreement from the listener.
너도 그거 알지?
neo-do geu-geo al-ji?, neo do geu geo al ji?
Natural when confirming that the listener also knows the fact.
너도 그거 알죠?
neo-do geu-geo al-jyo?, neo do geu geo al jyo?
Appropriate polite form to seek agreement or confirmation from the listener.
그 영화 재미있죠?
geu yeong-hwa jae-mi-iss-jyo?, geu yeong hwa jae mi iss jyo?
Natural as a soft question seeking the listener's agreement.
그 영화 재미있지?
geu yeong-hwa jae-mi-iss-ji?, geu yeong hwa jae mi iss ji?
Appropriate when the speaker is confident and expects the listener to agree.
이거 맞지요?
i-geo maj-ji-yo?, i geo maj ji yo?
'맞지요?' is an awkward polite form; '맞죠?' is the natural polite expression.
오늘은 바쁘지요?
o-neul-eun ba-ppeu-ji-yo?, o neul eun ba ppeu ji yo?
'지요' is standard but sounds stiff in daily conversation; '죠' is more natural.
Which expression is appropriate to softly seek agreement from the listener?
Which sentence ending is mainly used to express certainty?
Which expression is used for soft confirmation in polite situations?
