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Seolah
~지 and ~잖아 differences and similarities
Can someone please explain ~잖아 and ~지/죠 BRIEFLY (differences and similarities)?
I’ve been reading a lot of articles or lessons about them. And I’ve noticed that sometimes they have a similar meaning, but sometimes they don’t. That makes me really confused.
For example:
A: 선물 좋아해?
B: 좋지 or 좋잖아
Which is more appropriate?
*Articles said that -잖아 means “obviously” making me think that 좋잖아 can also be appropriate. But someone told me it’s not ㅠㅠ
Apr 21, 2018 10:55 PM
Answers · 1
2
You can use either 좋지 or 좋잖아. The nuance is different.
A: 선물 좋아해?
B: 좋지 (of course) I like it
B: 좋잖아 I like it. (You know this)
*Adjective/Verb + 잖아(요): This grammar pattern is used when both the speaker and listener(s) know a mutual fact. This can't always be translated directly to a particular English phrase or may sound awkward directly translating, since saying the other person already knows something can be known just on the context.
Examples:
내 말이 맞잖아요. You know what I'm saying is right.
이게 아니잖아요. This isn't it (you know this).
그렇게 말하면 내 마음이 아프잖아. You know talking like that makes my heart hurt.
A: 장미꽃 좋아하세요? Do you like roses?
B: 네. 예쁘잖아요. Yes, they're pretty (you know this).
*Adjective/Verb + 지(요) : This grammar pattern can be used in various ways:
Used like a tag question in English, mini questions we put at the end of a sentence and invite the listener to agree with you, usually on some fact or topic you both know about. If you are using this pattern like a tag question, you must use a rising intonation when speaking.
For giving information about something. This pattern uses a falling intonation when spoken. If used as a reply to someone else, can give a slight feeling of "of course ~."
For non tag question it used when you know the other person knows something, especially when asking yourself a question or having someone confirm or recheck a fact. The intonation is different from when asking a tag question(see the audio examples below).
Examples:
1)Used with Tag Questions
오늘은 춥지요? It's cold today, isn't it? polite informal form
내일 직장에 안 가지? You're not going to work tomorrow, are you? polite informal form
2)Used to Give Information
A: 그 사람 알아? Do you know that person?"
B: 모르지. (of course) I don't know him.
April 22, 2018
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Seolah
Language Skills
English, Filipino (Tagalog), Korean
Learning Language
Korean
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