Ways to say it
| Korean | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| 그래요 | geuraeyo |
| 않니 | anni |
Which one should you use?
The form 그래요 can function as both a question and a statement. When spoken with a rising intonation, it means "Is that so?" or "Really?" When spoken with a falling intonation, it becomes a declarative statement meaning "That is so" or "It is".
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
For high formality, such as in business presentations or news reports, use 그렇습니까? A commonly used formal way to express this is 그렇군요. For informal situations among friends or peers, you can use 진짜? or 정말? to express surprise or the casual version 그래?
How does it change in a sentence?
To turn the polite form 그래요 into the question "is that so?", simply add a question mark and use rising intonation. The form 그래 is the casual or informal version of 그래요 and should be used with friends or people younger than you.
How do you pronounce it?
geuraeyo
Did you know?
- In Korean conversation, 그래요 is often used as a 'back-channeling' device to show the speaker is listening, even if they are not actually surprised by the information.
- In highly emotional contexts, repeating 그래, 그래 rapidly can signal that the speaker is dismissive or impatient with the other person's explanation.
- While 그래요 can be a question, if said with a specific flat tone, it can function as a way to end a conversation politely without agreeing or disagreeing.
Examples in context
- 정말 그래요?jeongmal geuraeyo?Is that really so?
Example conversation
Hyunwoo and Jieun are talking about a new restaurant opening.
- 현우 Hyeon-woo내일부터 그 식당이 문을 열어요.naeilbuteo geu sikdangi muneul yeoreoyo.That restaurant opens tomorrow.
- 지은 Ji-eun아, 그래요?a, geuraeyo?Oh, is that so?
- 현우 Hyeon-woo네, 아주 맛있대요.ne, aju masitdaeyo.Yes, they say it is very delicious.
- 지은 Ji-eun정말 그래요? 꼭 가고 싶어요.jeongmal geuraeyo? kkok gago sipeoyo.Is that really so? I really want to go.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “is that so” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
