Grammar — Entry No. 0429
~까요
kka-yo-ending · expression
~까요
kka-yo-ending
[kka-YO]
expressionintermediate
Meaning
A polite question ending attached to verb or adjective stems to form questions in formal or respectful speech, covering genuine curiosity, polite suggestions (‘Shall we…?’), and soft wondering aloud. It is one of the most socially safe and versatile question endings in Korean, appropriate across nearly all polite registers.
K-Pop & K-Drama Context
~까요 is the question ending of romantic hesitation in K-Dramas — characters reach for it when feelings are unspoken and politeness masks vulnerability, making it the grammatical signature of slow-burn romance. At fan-sign events, idols including members of TWICE and IVE routinely use ~까요 when asking fans questions, giving the ending an intimate but respectful warmth fans instantly recognize.
Example Sentences
같이 갈까요?
Gachi galkkayo?
Shall we go together? (polite suggestion — the classic hesitant first-date line in nearly every K-Drama)
이게 맞을까요?
Ige maseulkkayo?
I wonder if this is right? (rhetorical wondering — speaker is thinking aloud, not demanding an answer)
내일 만날 수 있을까요?
Naeil mannal su isseulkkayo?
Would it be possible to meet tomorrow? (very polite indirect request, common in workplace dramas like ‘Misaeng’)
⚠️ Don’t use kka-yo-ending when…
1) Don’t confuse ~까요 (open polite question) with ~죠 (seeking agreement) — asking 맞죠? pressures the listener to agree, while 맞을까요? genuinely leaves it open; mixing them creates unintended social pressure. 2) Using ~까요 in casual conversation with close friends sounds stiff and distant; drop to plain ~아/어? endings once a friendship is established.
🎵 Heard In
- K-Drama: Goblin (도깨비) — Ji Eun-tak’s farewell 저를 기억하실까요? (‘Will you remember me?’) uses ~까요 to hold uncertain hope and grief in a single sentence, one of the drama’s most quoted lines.
- K-Pop: IVE — LOVE DIVE; the song’s introspective, questioning lyrical tone mirrors the wondering quality of ~까요, and fan translations frequently highlight this ending when unpacking the bridge.
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.