Korean Lessons ᚛ Level 6 - Upper-Intermediate Korean #1 (Lessons 151 to 180) ᚛ Lesson 168 - Suggestion and explanation in Korean [-지 그렇다]

Suggestion and explanation in Korean [-지 그렇다]

In this course: 지 그렇다 / 지 그래? / 지 그래요?

Suggesting that someone do an action

In Korean, there is a form that allows us to suggest to someone that they do an action. This form is in fact a very soft version of the imperative, meant to nudge someone into doing something without forcing them. For this, we use the following structure:
[Present stem]지 그래(요)?

In English, a translation that comes close to the -지 그래요? form is the suggestion "Why don’t you…?".

Note that this structure cannot be used with someone who is hierarchically superior to you.

심심하면 영화나 보지 그래요?
→ If you’re bored, why don’t you watch a movie or something?

더우니까 창문 좀 열지 그래?
→ Since it’s hot, why don’t you open the window?

지유에게 고백하지 그래요?
→ Why don’t you confess your feelings to Jiyu?

피곤하면 자지 그래?
→ If you’re tired, why don’t you go to sleep?

선생님께 여쭤 보지 그래요?
→ Why don’t you try asking the teacher?

Asking for an explanation

Summary table of structure

Exercises

Podcasts in Korean specially designed for beginners, to learn Korean by really listening to it from the very beginning.

You’re starting to learn Korean (or you already know the basics), but as soon as you listen to spoken Korean, everything suddenly feels too fast?
The words blend together, the pronunciation escapes you, and you feel like “real Korean” is very different from what you learned in textbooks.

That’s normal!
Listening comprehension is the most difficult part for all beginners.

Learn more

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