KoreaTOPIKCenter
Lv 1Sentence-final endingBeginner · TOPIK I

-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. 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. 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. 1. What does ‘-고’ mean?

  2. 2. Which form means “trailing 'and...' (informal)”?