-고
-go
and? what about...? (adding a follow-up question)
An informal sentence-final ending, usually in a reply, used to trail off a question left unstated at the end of the sentence, or to give a gentle command as if another instruction were implied but left unsaid.
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
내가 계속 연락을 못 해서 미안해.
I'm sorry I couldn't get in touch with you.
바빠서 시간이 없다고 하더니 오늘은 한가하시고?
You said you were too busy to have time -- but you're free today?
그래, 그동안 별일은 없었고?
So, has anything happened in the meantime?
그래서 오늘 저녁에도 약속이 있고?
So do you have plans this evening too?
그렇게 호들갑을 떨더니 하던 일은 잘됐고?
You made such a fuss about it -- did the thing you were working on turn out well?
서류를 냈으니 다음은 무엇을 하면 되나요?
Now that I've submitted the documents, what should I do next?
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 “and? what about...? (adding a follow-up question)”?