-잖아(요) in Korean: “you know, as you know”
-잖아(요)
-janha(yo)
you know, as you know
Intermediate · Sentence endings
-잖아(요) (-janha-yo) means "you know" or "as you know." You use it to remind someone of something they already know, or should know, usually to explain a reason or back up your point. It comes from -지 않아(요), "isn't it?", squeezed into one short ending.
How to form it
| When | Add | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Verb or adjective stem | + 잖아(요) | 가다 → 가잖아요, 먹다 → 먹잖아요 |
| Noun ending in a vowel | + 잖아(요) | 친구 → 친구잖아요 |
| Noun ending in a consonant | + 이잖아(요) | 학생 → 학생이잖아요 |
| Past tense | 았/었 + 잖아(요) | 하다 → 했잖아요 |
How to use it
-잖아(요) points to shared knowledge. The speaker assumes the listener already knows the fact, so it works like "you know," "remember?" or "come on, it's obvious." It often gives the reason for something just said.
The tone can be friendly ("you know how it is") or a little sharp ("I already told you!"), depending on the situation and your voice. Because it reminds the listener of something, it can sound like you are correcting them.
Use 잖아 with friends and people younger than you. Add 요 (잖아요) for polite speech with people you don't know well. With a boss or an older person, be careful: even 잖아요 can sound like "you should know this."
Examples
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Reminding a friend
Explaining why the shop is closed
Ordering food with a friend
Suggesting an umbrella
Don’t mix it up with
-거든요: -거든요 gives a reason the listener did NOT know yet ("you see"), while -잖아요 points to something the listener already knows ("you know").
-지요/-죠: -죠 checks or seeks agreement ("right?") and sounds softer. -잖아요 is more insistent, as if the fact is obvious.
Common mistakes
Using -잖아요 for news the listener has never heard. If they don't know it yet, use -거든요 instead.
Thinking the 요 makes it safe with anyone. 잖아요 to a boss or teacher can sound like you are scolding them, so it is safer to just state the fact politely.
Want the basics first? Read -네요 vs -죠.
Questions learners ask
What does 잖아 mean in Korean?
잖아 means "you know" or "come on, you know that." It reminds the listener of a fact you both know. 잖아요 is the polite version.
Is 잖아요 rude?
Not by itself, and people use it all the time. But since it implies "you should already know this," it can sound pushy, especially toward someone older or higher in rank.
What is the difference between 잖아요 and 거든요?
Use 잖아요 when the listener already knows the fact, and 거든요 when you are telling them something new as an explanation.