IITOPIK 3-4

V-지 그래(요)?

why don't you …? / you should just …

Used when someone is hesitating or stuck, to suggest another way. Literally "why don't you…," it's really advice, with a slight "that would solve it" nudge. In the past tense, -지 그랬어요? turns into after-the-fact regret or a mild reproach: "you should have…."

접속 conjugation

  • Attach directly to the verb stem, whether it ends in a vowel or a consonant: 쉬다 → 쉬지 그래요? / 묻다 → 묻지 그래요?
  • With equals or juniors, use the casual -지 그래?: 먼저 연락하지 그래?
  • The past form -지 그랬어(요)? means "you should have…": 미리 말하지 그랬어요?

예문

EXAMPLES
이번 건은 담당자한테 직접 물어보지 그래요?
Why don't you ask the person in charge directly about this one?from 2026.09.14 Mon the examples
그럼 대출은 보류하고, 제일 낡은 한 대만 먼저 회사 자금으로 바꾸지 그래요?
Then why don't you put the loan on hold and replace just the oldest machine first, using company funds?from 2026.09.14 Mon the business dialogue
※Don't use it with bosses or elders. It carries a "why didn't you think of that" edge and sounds like you're telling them what to do. With superiors, switch to -(으)시는 게 어떨까요?: 먼저 확인해 보시는 게 어떨까요?

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