잖아요 (reminder) - You Know, As You Know

This grammar pattern attaches directly to the stems of verbs and adjectives. It also works perfectly with nouns. Unlike some tricky Korean rules, it does not change based on batchim (ending consonants). This makes it very learner-friendly! When you add 잖아요 to a word, you are essentially saying, "We both know this is true." It creates a sense of common ground. If your friend asks why you are wearing a coat, you say, "It is winter, you know!" The fact that it is winter is obvious to both of you. You are just pointing it out to explain your choice. It can also be used to defend yourself. If someone asks why you are late, you might say, "The traffic was bad, remember?" It shifts the focus to a fact that should be obvious.

1. 1For Verbs and Adjectives: Take the dictionary form of the word. Drop the 다. Attach 잖아요 directly to the stem. For example, 가다 becomes 가잖아요. 예쁘다 becomes 예쁘잖아요.
2. 2For Past Tense: Use the past tense stem (었/았/였). Then add 잖아요. For example, 먹다 becomes 먹었잖아요 (You ate it, remember?).
3. 3For Nouns: If the noun ends in a vowel, add 잖아요. If it ends in a consonant, add 이잖아요. For example, 친구 becomes 친구잖아요. 선생님 becomes 선생님이잖아요.
4. 4For Informal Speech: Simply drop the 요 at the end. Use 잖아 with close friends or people younger than you. It sounds very casual and cozy.

Use 잖아요 when you want to remind someone of something they forgot. It is great for giving a reason that is already known. Imagine you are ordering food with a friend. They ask why you aren't getting the spicy noodles. You say, "I can't eat spicy food, you know!" (매운 거 못 먹잖아요!). You are reminding them of a fact they already knew. You can also use it to correct someone gently. If a friend thinks today is Tuesday, you say, "It is Wednesday, you know" (수요일이잖아요). It is also perfect for making excuses that the other person should understand. "I'm tired because I worked late, you know." It feels much more conversational than just stating facts. It adds a layer of "we are on the same page" to your speech. Even native speakers use it to soften a point. It makes your argument feel more like a shared truth than a personal opinion.

Be careful with this one! Because it implies "you should know this," it can sound a bit pushy. If you use it with a boss or a stranger, it might sound like you are saying "Duh!" or "Are you stupid?" Think of it like a grammar traffic light. Green light for friends and family. Yellow light for colleagues you are close with. Red light for formal interviews or very high-status people. Never use it to introduce brand-new information. If the listener truly doesn't know the fact, 잖아요 will confuse them. They will wonder why you think they should know it. Also, avoid using it too much in one conversation. It can make you sound like a know-it-all. Use it sparingly to keep your tone friendly and helpful.

One big mistake is confusing 잖아요 with 지 않아요. They look similar but are opposites! 지 않아요 is a simple negative like "I don't go." 잖아요 is a reminder like "I go, you know!" Another mistake is using it for secrets. If you are telling someone a secret, don't use 잖아요. It implies they already knew the secret! Yes, even native speakers mess up the tone sometimes. If you say it with a sharp, rising intonation, it can sound like you are arguing. Keep your voice calm and flat to sound like you are just reminding them. Don't forget the 이 for nouns with batchim. Saying 학생잖아요 is wrong; it must be 학생이잖아요. It is a small detail that makes a big difference in sounding natural.

People often mix up 잖아요 and 거든요. Here is the golden rule: 잖아요 is for shared info. 거든요 is for new info. If your friend asks why you are happy, and they don't know it's your birthday, use 거든요. If they *do* know it's your birthday but forgot, use 잖아요. Think of 거든요 as "Let me tell you why" and 잖아요 as "As you already know." Another similar one is 지. While 지 is like asking for confirmation ("Right?"), 잖아요 is more of a statement of fact ("You know it's true"). 잖아요 is stronger and more explanatory. It provides a reason rather than just seeking a "yes."