What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of 이거 (this) and 맞아요? (is it correct/right?).
Which one should you use?
There are several ways to express this depending on the nuance and level of formality. 이게 맞아요? is a very common contraction of 이것이 맞아요? and is used interchangeably in spoken Korean. For different nuances of the question, you might use 이게 옳습니까? to ask "Is this right?", 맞는 건가요? to ask "Is it correct?" or 정확합니까? to ask "Is it accurate?"
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The level of formality in Korean is very important. The default polite form 이거 맞아요? is appropriate for use with strangers, colleagues or people older than you. If you are speaking to close friends or people younger than you, you can use the informal versions such as 이거 맞아?, 이게 맞아? or 맞아? For highly formal professional settings, news or military contexts, use 이것이 맞습니까?
How does it change in a sentence?
The polite form 이거 맞아요? uses the polite ending -아요, making it appropriate for use with strangers, colleagues or people older than you.
How do you pronounce it?
igeo maj-ayo?
Did you know?
- The word 맞다 used in 이거 맞아요? is a homonym that can also mean 'to be hit' or 'to be struck' by something. While its meaning as 'correct' is most common, in certain contexts, it refers to physical contact.
- While 이거 맞아요? asks for correctness, Koreans often use a similar-sounding phrase 맞아요 as a 'back-channeling' device to show they are listening during a conversation.
- The word 맞다 is the same root used to describe things that fit together perfectly, such as a key in a lock or a lid on a pot.
Examples in context
- 네, 맞습니다.Yes, that's correct.
- 아니, 좀 더 연습해봐.No, practice a little more.
- 이거 맞아요?igeo majayo?Is this correct?
- 계산한 게 이거 맞아요?gyesanhan ge igeo majayo?Is this calculation correct?
Example conversation
Minji is asking Hyunwoo to check her answer on a worksheet.
- 민지 Min-ji현우 씨, 이거 맞아요?Hyunwoo ssi, igeo majayo?Hyunwoo, is this correct?
- 현우 Hyeon-woo네, 민지 씨, 이거 맞아요.ne, Minji ssi, igeo majayo.Yes, Minji, this is correct.
- 민지 Min-ji다행이네요.dahaeng-ineyo.That's a relief.
- 현우 Hyeon-woo정말 잘했어요.jeongmal jal-haesseoyo.You did a really good job.
