Grammar — Entry No. 0396
~죠
jyo-ending · expression
~죠
jyo-ending
[JYO]
expressionintermediate
Meaning
~죠 is the contracted polite form of ~지요, a sentence-ending particle that seeks confirmation, expresses shared knowledge, or softens a statement. It carries the feeling of ‘right?’, ‘isn’t it?’, or ‘you know’ — creating warmth and intimacy by inviting the listener into a shared understanding. It is one of the most characteristically Korean conversational textures.
K-Pop & K-Drama Context
~죠 defines the tone of countless K-Drama scenes where characters make observations they consider mutually obvious. In ‘My Love from the Star,’ the 400-year-old alien Do Min-joon delivers calm ~죠 statements with dry certainty that became the show’s signature voice. TWICE members use 예쁘죠? (pretty, right?) in fan meetings so often that the phrase became a meme among K-Pop fans.
Example Sentences
맛있죠?
Ma-sit-jyo?
It’s delicious, right? (rising question tone — sharing an experience and seeking agreement from someone alongside you)
알고 있죠?
Al-go it-jyo?
You already know, right? (assumes shared knowledge — slightly softer and more polite than a direct question)
그렇죠.
Geu-reo-jyo.
That’s right. / Exactly. (confirming agreement — heard constantly in Korean interviews, panels, and variety shows)
⚠️ Don’t use jyo-ending when…
~죠 is polite/semi-formal — in casual speech with close friends use the plain form ~지 instead (맛있지?). The difference between rising question intonation 죠? (seeking agreement) and flat statement intonation 죠. (stating a known fact) is entirely in the pitch, so listen closely when watching dramas.
🎵 Heard In
- K-Drama: My Love from the Star — Do Min-joon uses ~죠 when stating observations he finds obvious after 400 years among humans, creating the show’s iconic dry-wit philosophical tone
- K-Pop: TWICE — Cheer Up
ℹ️ Editorial Note: The cultural context and example usage are for educational reference only. Artist names, song titles, and drama references are used descriptively to illustrate vocabulary in context. This content is AI-assisted and reviewed for accuracy. For official information, please refer to the respective artists’ or studios’ official channels.