-고
-go
trailing 'and...' (informal)
An informal, low-register sentence-final ending that trails off as if omitting a question or command that would normally follow—used to answer casually ('...and?'), or to give a gentle, indirect order.
Form
- Attaches to
- Verb, Adjective, Auxiliary
- Other shapes
- -고요
Meanings
- 1
(informal addressee-lowering) A sentence-final ending usually used when answering, omitting the question that should follow and finishing the sentence.
(두루낮춤으로) 주로 대꾸를 할 때 뒤에 올 어떤 질문을 생략하고 문장을 끝맺을 때 쓰는 종결 어미.
※ 주로 물음, 부정, 빈정거림, 항의 등의 뜻을 나타낼 때, ‘이다’, 동사나 형용사 또는 ‘-으시-’, ‘-었-’, ‘-겠-’, ‘-사옵-’ 등의 뒤에 붙여 쓴다.
- 2
(informal addressee-lowering) A sentence-final ending used when ordering gently, as if giving a feeling of having omitted another ordering phrase that should follow.
(두루낮춤으로) 뒤에 올 또 다른 명령 표현을 생략한 듯한 느낌을 주면서 부드럽게 명령할 때 쓰는 종결 어미.
※ 동사 또는 ‘-으시-’ 뒤에 붙여 쓴다.
Examples
그래, 그동안 별일은 없었고?
So, nothing much happened in the meantime?
그래서 오늘 저녁에도 약속이 있고?
So do you have plans again tonight?
그렇게 호들갑을 떨더니 하던 일은 잘됐고?
After making such a fuss about it, did the thing you were working on turn out well?
내가 계속 연락을 못 해서 미안해. 바빠서 시간이 없다고 하더니 오늘은 한가하시고?
Sorry I haven't been able to reach you. You kept saying you were busy and had no time, and now today you're free?
자, 다음은 민준이가 이리로 와서 앉고.
Alright, next, Minjun, come sit over here.
내가 이것을 준비할 테니 너는 그것 좀 가져오고.
I'll get this ready, so you bring that.
Examples: 한국어기초사전, CC BY-SA 2.0 KR.
Don’t confuse with
Forms with a close meaning — a favourite source of wrong answers on TOPIK.
Quick check
1. What does ‘-고’ mean?
2. Which form means “trailing 'and...' (informal)”?