Usage
i) Emphasis
회장님께서 직접 오신단 말입니다.
The chairman himself is coming.
ii) Counter-expectation
아직도 돌아오지 않았단 말이에요?
He still hasn’t come back?!
iii) Negative feelings
정말 네가 이렇게 이기적이란 말이야?
Are you really this selfish?
iv) Topic management
영희 말이야, 이번 시험에서 전교 1등 했대.
You know 영희. She ranked first in the whole school on this test.
v) Softening
제가 부탁드릴 게 있어서 말이에요…
I have a favour to ask, you know…
Conjugation
| Type | Example | Past | Present (processive) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statement AV (vowel) |
하다 | 했다는→했단 말이다 | 한다는→한단 말이다 |
| Statement AV (cons.) |
듣다 | 들었다는→들었단 말이다 | 듣다는→듣단 말이다 |
| Statement DV (vowel) |
빠르다 | 빨랐다는→빨랐단 말이다 | 빠르다는→빠르단 말이다 |
| Statement DV (cons.) |
어둡다 | 어두웠다는→어두웠단 말이다 | 어둡는→어둡단 말이다 |
| Statement Noun (vowel) |
남자 | 남자였라는→남자였란 말이다 | 남자이라는→남자이란 말이다 |
| Statement Noun (cons.) |
사람 | 사람였라는→사람였란 말이다 | 사람이라는→사람이란 말이다 |
| Question | 하다 | 했냐는→했냔 말이다 | 하냐는→하냔 말이다 |
| Suggestion | 하다 | 했자는→했잔 말이다 | 하자는→하잔 말이다 |
Where:
AV = action verb / processive verb.
DV = descriptive verb / ‘adjective’.
Nouns take the copula (이다) and this becomes a DV.
Contents
Introduction
i) Emphasis
ii) Counter-expectation
iii) Negative feelings
iv) Topic Management
v) Softening
지 말입니다
Additional details
Associated grammar
See also
Bibliography
User examples
Introduction
말이야 is derived from 말 (word) plus the copular 이다 (to be). Over time, the literal meaning of “It is said that” has faded away with 말이야 functioning as an emphatic or interactive marker. As a discourse marker, 말이야 essentially highlights the speaker’s viewpoint and draws the listener’s attention. 말이야 also helps build common ground between the speaker and listener, showing that what is being said needs mutual focus (refer to its origin: “It is said that”).
Below is a summary of how 말이야 changed from simply referencing a prior statement to emphasizing what the speaker wants to say.
1. Referential stage
• 말+이다 literally meant “It’s a word”
2. Explanation stage
• Reported speech forms like 다는 말이다 explained what was spoken, meaning “It is said that X”.
• 다는 말이다 was used in self-reported speech meaning “I’m saying that X”.
3. Emphatic discourse marker
• ”I’m saying that X” was used in strong assertion contexts like 정말 힘들다는 말이야! → “I’m saying it’s really hard!”.
That is, the original meaning of ‘word’ faded, while the role of highlighting the speaker’s attitude grew stronger.
From the basic meaning of emphasis, 말이야 can be used for various motivations which result in additional pragmatic usages.
• With politeness, it results in softening.
• With sharedness, it results in topic management.
• With surprise, it results in counter-expectation.
• With frustration from surprise, it results in negative emotion.
i) Emphasis
In this usage, 말이야 strongly underscores the speaker’s message. The utterance as a whole is highlighted, prompting the listener to pay close attention. That is, 말이야 intensifies the speaker’s point and elicits a shared recognition of its importance.
회장님께서 직접 오신단 말입니다.
The chairman himself is coming.
Here, 말입니다 underscores the noteworthy fact that the chairman will appear in person. This invites the listener to acknowledge the significance of this news.
설마 아직도 날 모른다는 말이냐?
Seriously? You still don’t understand me?
Here, 말이냐 stresses the speaker’s disbelief. The speaker emphasizes that the situation should be understood and demands the listener’s attention.
Sometimes 말이야 is used to emphatically affirm agreement with the listener:
A: 오늘 발표 준비가 꽤 길어질 것 같은데?
A: Seems like it will take quite a while to prepare for today’s presentation.
B: 나도 밤을 새야 할지도 모르겠어.
B: Yeah, I might have to pull an all-nighter, too.
A: 그러게 말이야.
A: For sure.
Here, 말이야 is used to emphasize wholehearted agreement with B’s statement. That is, speaker A emphasizes the shared understanding that the lengthy preparation will require significant effort.
Key features of emphasis 말이야:
• 말이야 is used to highlight the message with an exclamation.
• The speaker’s sentiment, whatever it be, is heightened.
• The listener is drawn into involvement with the speaker’s message.
More examples:
ultimateKOREAN examples:
우린 해낼 수 있단 말이야.
We really can pull this off.
네가 이미 찬성한다는 말이야?
You mean you already agreed?
여기서 그냥 포기한단 말인가?
So we should just give up here?
이제 우리 빨리 떠나잔 말이지.
We really should leave quickly now.
이 문제가 최우선이란 말입니다.
The point is, this issue is top priority.
도대체 왜 그런 말을 했냔 말이야.
Why on earth did you say something like that.
아침부터 청소를 전부 끝냈단 말이야!
I finished all the cleaning this morning!
이게 바로 우리가 찾던 해결책이란 말이에요.
This is exactly the solution we were looking for, you know.
A: 오늘 아침에 눈이 안 떠지는 거야.
A: I couldn’t even open my eyes this morning.
B: 어제 늦게 잤어?
B: Did you go to bed late?
A: 응, 새벽까지 일했단 말이야.
A: Yeah, I was working until dawn.
A: 나 이번 주말에 혼자 여행 가려고.
A: I’m thinking of taking a solo trip this weekend.
B: 진짜? 갑자기 왜?
B: Really? All of a sudden?
A: 그냥 좀 쉬고 싶어서. 요즘 너무 지쳤단 말이야.
A: I just want a break. I’ve been really worn out lately.
B: 그러면 다녀오는 게 좋겠다.
B: Then yeah, you should definitely go.
Examples from 표준국어대사전 and NIKL 사전:
제가 어제 과장님께 확실하게 보고를 드렸단 말입니다.
I clearly reported it to the manager yesterday.
어제 확실히 숙제를 다 했단 말입니다.
I finished all the homework yesterday.
가: 학생은 열심히 공부를 해야 한다는 말이다.
A: A student must study hard.
나: 네, 선생님.
B: Yes, teacher.
Examples from linguistics papers
Examples from 서희정 2010:
가: 투자금액을 못 건지는 한이 있더라도 오늘 안으로 꼭 팔아야 해요.
가: Even if we end up losing our investment, we must sell it by today.
나: 오늘까지 은행 빚을 갚지 못하면 집이 경매로 넘어간단 말이에요.
나: If we don’t pay off the bank loan by today, the house will go up for auction.
(연세대학교 <연세 한국어> 6권 284쪽)
난 네가 부럽다. 아직 혼자 몸이고 또 하고 싶은 공부를 하고 있으니 말이야.
I’m jealous of you. You’re still single and can study whatever you want.
(연세대학교 <연세 한국어> 6권 162쪽)
가: 젊은 시절에는 바쁘게 사느라고 정신이 없었죠. 이렇게 느긋하게 무얼 할 시간이 어디 있었나요?
나: 글쎄 말이에요. 무얼 배운다는 게 이렇게 재미있는지 몰랐죠.
가: In my younger days, I was too busy to even think straight. I never had time to do things at a relaxed pace like this.
나: Exactly. I never knew that learning something could be this fun.
(경희대학교 <한국어> 6권 16쪽)
그럼 말이다.
That’s right.
(Marrying the Mafia, Episode 19)
그러게 말입니다.
Exactly.
(Beethoven Virus, Episode 9)
어쩐지 첨부터 본능적으로 끌렸단 말이지.
Somehow, I was instinctively drawn to you from the start.
(Coffee Prince, Episode 12)
요놈이 최한성 2세라 이 말이지.
So this little guy is Choi Han-sung Jr., huh?
(Coffee Prince, Episode 14)
은찬이가 이유의 전부는 아니란 말이에요.
Eun-chan isn’t the only reason.
(Coffee Prince, Episode 14)
남자가 힘을 쓸려면 이런데 써야지 말입니다.
A man should use his strength for things like this, you see.
(Brilliant Legacy, Episode 11)
가: 하과장, 나 어머니라고 부르고 싶어요?
가: Manager Ha, do you want me to call you Mother?
나: 네, 제가 무슨 홍길동도 아니고, 어머니를 어머니라 부르지 못하고 사는 건 용납할 수 없습니다, 어머님.
나: Yes. I’m not some Hong Gil-dong, and I can’t accept living without calling my mother “Mother.”
가: 징그럽게 그러지 말라니까요.
가: Stop being so creepy.
나: 저는 부르겠다구요. 어머님을 어머님이라 부르면서 살겠단 말입니다.
나: But I will. I will call my mother “Mother” and live like that.
다: 얘, 얘, 너 아까는.
다: Hey, hey, earlier you said—
나: 저는 홍길동이 되기는 싫단 말입니다.
나: I refuse to be a Hong Gil-dong.
(Marrying the Mafia, Episode 17)
가: 참, 근데 아까 짐 올리다 보니까 저쪽 상자에서 금속이 막 끼기긱 긁히는 소리가 나던데.
가: Oh, by the way, when I was carrying the stuff earlier, I heard a metal scraping sound from one of the boxes.
나: 뭐? (급히 베란다쪽 가며) 아씨, 트럼펫 망가진 거 아냐?
나: What?! (Rushes toward the balcony) Damn it, is my trumpet broken?
가: 같이 따라가면서 ‘글쎄 말야, 악기 그거 조심해 다뤄야 되는데 인부들이 막—’ 장단 맞추며 따라간다.
가: Following him, “Exactly. You have to handle instruments carefully, but those workers just—”
(Beethoven Virus, Episode 2)
Examples from 김민국 2011:
나는 아까 전에 밥 먹었단 말이야.
I ate earlier.
가만히 있지들 말고 뭐라도 좀 하잔 말이다.
Don’t just sit still, let’s do something.
조금만 기다리고 있어 봐. 분명 다시 나타날 테니 말이야.
Just wait a little. They’ll definitely show up again.
얼마나 좋은 세상이니? 그 멀리서 이렇게 놀러 오고 말이야.
What a wonderful world! Coming all the way here just to have fun.
못 이긴 척하고 가 봐. 그 사람이 부르거든 말이야.
Just pretend you can’t refuse and go. That person is calling you, after all.
후회해도 소용없어. 시간은 되돌릴 수 없으니까 말이야.
Regretting won’t help. Time can’t be turned back.
동수도 잘못한 건 분명해. 형이 먼저 화를 냈지만 말이야.
Dong-su is definitely at fault too, even though his older brother got angry first.
아주 불같이 화를 내더라고. 그것도 입에 거품까지 물면서 말이야.
They got really furious—foaming at the mouth and everything.
언제 한 번 놀러와. 그 친구하고 같이 말이야.
Come visit sometime—with that friend of yours.
A: 지수 아까 버스 타고 가더라.
A: Jisoo took the bus earlier.
B: 그게 무슨 소리야?
B: What do you mean?
C: 그러니까 얘 말은 지수는 집에 가고 없단 말이지.
C: So, what they mean is that Jisoo has gone home and isn’t here.
Examples from Anh & Yap 2013:
A: 내가 늘상 먹을 걸 제대로 먹고 오빠가 알다시피 건강을 얼마나 신경쓰냐 그리고 난 살이 안 쪘단 말이야.
A: I have always eaten right, and as you know, I have been so much concerned about my health, and I have never gained weight, you know.
B: 어.
B: Yes.
A: 그런데 갑자기 살이 찌니까 이게 이상한 거야.
A: By the way, I gained weight suddenly, which is very strange to me.
B: 어.
B: Yes. (in the sense of ‘I see’)
A: 우린 도태 안되나? 불안하단 말이야.
A: Are we weeded out? I am nervous about it, you know.
B: 음.
B: Uhm. (Maybe, you are right.)
A: 어떻게 그걸 다 100% 이해하고 해?
A: How can we understand it 100%, and do it?
B: 그러게 말이야.
B: Yes, indeed!
A: 우리가 연락을 제대로 안 했잖아.
A: We didn’t contact them properly.
B: 우리 오늘 다 전화하기로 했는데.
B: We were supposed to call them all today…
A: 글쎄 말이야.
A: Yes, indeed.
Examples from An 2018:
라: 길을, 길을 가르쳐 줘야 돼, 우리는 촌놈이라서.
라: You should give us direction, because we are bumpkins.
빈: 그니까 올라오는 길이 뭐냐면 third하고, 3가하고, 그 다음에 six하고가 올라와, 위쪽으로, 밑에서부터.
빈: I mean, the avenue that takes you up here is, Third, Third 가, and Six will take you up here, come upward from the bottom.
라: 그러니까 3가라는 게, 3번 avenue야? 3 avenue 어, 어.
라: You mean, Third means Third Avenue? Third Avenue? OK.
빈: 어, third. third avenue나 아니면 six 하- 그러니까 위로 올라와.
빈: Third, Third Avenue or Six, or take Six, I mean, come up the road.
라: 음. 그게 무슨 소리야, six, six avenue?
라: Well, what do you mean? Six, Sixth Avenue?
빈: 아니 그러니까, 길이 여기는 일방통행이잖아 Manhattan이 그러니까,
빈: Well, I mean, the road here is one-way as you know, since this is Manhattan.
라: 어, 어, 아. 그러니까 third avenue나 six avenue.
라: I see. I mean, Third Avenue, or Sixth Avenue.
빈: 그러니까 올라온단 말이야, 그러니까 둘 중에 아무거나 타고서는
빈: I mean, come up the road. I mean, take either one.
라: 어, 어, 어, 알았어.
라: Uh-huh. I got it.
재: 또 차까지 또 돈 들에 갔어요, 또.
재: I also had to spend money even on a car.
혜: 차? 왜? 왜?
혜: Car? Why? Why?
재: 아이, 차 삼만 오천 마일 탔잖아.
재: Well, you know I rode 35,000 miles in the car.
혜: 어, 그러면은.
혜: OK, then…
재: 삼만 오천 마일이면 킬로로.
재: 30,000 and 5,000 miles, if converted to kilometres.
재: 오만 킬로라는 말이야.
재: It’s 50,000 kilometres.
혜: 하, 많… 이… 도 탔다.
혜: Oh, my! You really drove a lot.
혜: 오만 킬로?
혜: 50,000 kilometres?
재: 응, 오만 킬로 넘지.
재: Yeah, it’s over 50,000 kilometres.
민: 되개 친절하게 말을 하는 것 같다라고. 그래 딱 들어 봤더니 알 겠더라.
민: It seemed that he speaks so kindly, so I could see how kind he is.
혜: 응. 응. 괜찮은 것 같애. 응. 잘 만났어.
혜: Uh-huh. He seems nice. It is good to have him as my host family.
민: 정말 여자가 복이 남았네. (laugh)
민: His wife is really lucky.
혜: 어. 지금 이 여자는 음식 할 줄을 모르거든.
혜: Right, she can’t cook well.
민: 더군다나 여자가 음식도 못 하는데 말이야. (laugh)
민: Besides, she’s even poor at cooking.
혜: 어. 음식하는- 음식하는 것을 싫어해. 그래, 주로 인제 빨래 같은 걸 하긴 하는데 그것도 나눠서 하지.
혜: Yeah, she hate- hates cooking. She does laundry, but shares the work with him.
Examples from Anh et al. 2024:
A: 아 살 빼야 된다.
A: Oh, I have to lose weight.
B: 내 말이. 나는 내년에는 일단 배구 동아리를 들어갈 거야.
B: Right. For me, next year, I’m going to join a volleyball club (to lose weight).
A: 음악이라는 것 자체가 들어야 되기 때문에 청각에 집중이 되는 게 돼야 되는데 댄스를 해버리면 몸 동작 시각에만 집중이 가니까 이게 음악이라 보기엔 힘들 수도 있을 것 같아.
A: Because music itself needs to be heard, it should be that the focus is on listening. If they dance, because the focus is on body movement, only on vision, it might be hard to see this as music.
B: 내 말이 그 말이야.
B: That’s what I am saying.
A: 아니 왜 우리나라는 이렇게 옷을 많이 사게하는 날씨이어 가지고 매계절마다 사야되니까 너무 스트레스야 지금.
A: Why, in our country, is the weather such that it makes us buy so many clothes? I’m so stressed now because I have to buy clothing every season.
B: 내 말이.
B: Right.
A: 하여튼 우리 일상생활에서 떠려야 뗄 수 없어요.
A: Anyway, in our daily lives, we can’t get away from cell phones.
B: 내 말이.
B: Right.
A: 저는 이걸로 뭐 이렇게 업무를 보기도 하고 처리하는 일도 되게 많고.
A: I take care of many things with this.
A: 발급 다시 하려면 이제, 어, 신고를 해야 돼. 신고를 하고 집에 딱 와서 주머니를 딱 확인하니까 운전면허증이 있는 거야.
A: I should report to reissue (a driver’s license). I reported it and when I came home and checked my pocket, I found my driver’s license there.
B: (laughing) 아, 괜히 취소했네.
B: (laughing) Oh, you shouldn’t have canceled it.
A: 내 말이, 그래서 다시 발급 받고 이제 열심히 운전하고 다니고 있지.
A: Right, so I got it reissued, and now I am driving around well.
A: 아니 근데 웃기는 게 우리 가 가지고 인사하니까 아무도 그냥 안 기다리고 인사도 안 하고 그냥 쌩 지나가 버리는 거 진짜 웃겼어.
A: But the funny thing is that when we went over and said hello (to them), no one paused and said hello (to us), and they just passed by; it was really ridiculous.
B: 내 말이, XX 언니랑 YY 언니랑 안 친한가?
B: Right, isn’t XX close to YY?
A: 싫어하는 거 같지 않아?
A: They seem to hate each other, don’t they?
B: 사이 안 좋아 보이지.
B: They don’t seem to get along.
A: 응.
A: Yes
A: 그게 좌회전하는 거 보았는데 아 그냥…
A: I saw the car turn left. Ah, well…
B: 아니, 비틀비틀 거리던데?
B: I mean, the car was staggering (when it turned left or right).
A: 응, 너무 무서워.
A: Yes, it is very scary.
B: 그런 거 타느니 스쿠터 타는 게 낫지 않나 싶고.
B: It seems to be safer to ride a scooter instead of a single-person electric car.
A: 아, 내 말이, 물론 스쿠터도 위험하긴 하지만,
A: Oh, right, of course, riding a scooter is risky as well, though.
B: 그렇지.
B: That’s right.
ii) Counter-expectation
In this usage, 말이야 marks the speaker’s disbelief or surprise over a situation that contradicts the presumed norm. It underscores the unexpected nature of the event and requests the listener’s shared sense of surprise.
아직도 돌아오지 않았단 말이에요?
He still hasn’t come back?!
Here, 말이에요 conveys the speaker’s surprise at the prolonged absence. This challenges the presumed idea that someone would have returned by now.
너 정말 이걸 다 혼자 했단 말이야?
You actually did all of this by yourself?
Here, 말이야 highlights the speaker’s disbelief that the addressee could accomplish all of this alone. The utterance draws attention to the surprising mismatch between the speaker’s expectations and reality.
Key features of counter-expectation 말이야:
• Used to highlight surprising events.
• 말이야 amplifies the contrast between what is assumed and what actually happened.
• Often appears in question form, inviting the listener to engage with the disbelief.
More examples:
ultimateKOREAN examples:
이게 진짜라는 말입니까?
This is actually real?
벌써 다 끝냈단 말이에요?
You already finished everything?
그게 최선이란 말입니까?
That’s supposed to be the best we can do?
비 오는데 등산하잔 말이야.
It’s raining, and you want us to go hiking.
진짜 아무도 안 왔단 말이야?
Literally nobody showed up?
자기가 축구를 잘한단 말이야?
So he thinks he’s good at soccer?
네가 그 얘기를 아직도 모르냐는 말이야?
You seriously still don’t know about that?
A: 어제 민지 생일이었대.
A: Apparently, it was Minji’s birthday yesterday.
B: 민지가 생일이라고 아무 말도 안 했단 말이야?
B: It was her birthday and she didn’t say anything?
A: 그러게. 나도 완전 깜짝 놀랐어.
A: Exactly. I was completely surprised too.
A: 요즘 민수 매일 새벽 5시에 일어나서 운동한대.
A: These days, Minsu wakes up at 5 a.m. every day to exercise.
B: 민수가 그렇게 부지런하단 말이야?
A: Is Minsu really that disciplined?!
A: 네, 믿기 어렵지.
A: Yeah, hard to believe, right?
B: 와, 사람이 바뀌긴 하네.
B: Wow, people really can change.
Examples from 표준국어대사전 and NIKL 사전:
나보고 이런 것을 먹으란 말이냐?
You expect me to eat something like this?
나보고 이제 그만 가란 말이냐?
So now I should just leave?
Examples from linguistics papers
Examples from 서희정 2010:
가: 날씨가 추워서 한강이 얼었대요.
가: They say the weather is so cold that the Han River has frozen.
나: 그렇게 춥단 말이에요?
나: Is it really that cold?
(연세대학교 <연세 한국어> 3권 253쪽)
가: 저는 다섯 살 때 한글을 배웠어요.
가: I learned Hangul when I was five years old.
나: 그렇게 일찍 한글을 배웠다는 말이에요?
나: You learned Hangul that early?
(경희대학교 <한국어> 4권 99쪽)
가: 이번 주 토요일에 샐리 결혼식이 있어요. 모두 가서 축하해 줘요.
가: Sally’s wedding is this Saturday. Let’s all go and congratulate her.
나: 샐리 말입니까? 눈이 높아서 시집을 못 갈 줄 알았는데요.
나: Sally? I thought she was too picky to get married.
(성균관대학교 <배우기 쉬운 한국어> 3권 230쪽)
이대로 돌아가실 수도 있다는 말씀이세요?
It’s possible he might die like this?
(Brilliant Legacy, Episode 23)
여기서 말입니까?
What? Here?
(Pasta, Episode 8)
호텔비? 호텔에서 잤단 말이냐?
Hotel fee? You slept at a hotel?
(Brilliant Legacy, Episode 7)
내가 부담스럽단 말이니?
So I make you feel burdened?
(Brilliant Legacy, Episode 24)
컵라면에 삼각 김밥, 거기에 어묵까지 사주시겠다는 말인가?
You’ll even buy me cup noodles, a triangle kimbap, and fish cakes?
(Marrying the Mafia, Episode 22)
고분고분 말 잘 듣는 쉐프가 저다 이 말씀이군요?
So I’m the obedient, well-mannered chef who listens?
(Pasta, Episode 11)
환이 에미한테 빚 같은 차용증까지 보여줬다니 말일세.
He even showed Hwan’s mother an IOU, of all things.
(Brilliant Legacy, Episode 22)
가: 정말 바닷가에 간 건 아니지?
가: You didn’t actually go to the beach, right?
나: 신메뉴 개발해 오라면서요?
나: But you told me to develop a new menu item.
가: 그거 때매 동해까지 갔단 말야?
가: All the way to the East Coast for just that?
(Pasta, Episode 7)
가: 빈정거리시는거 당연합니다. 근데 전…
가: It’s natural for you to be sarcastic. But I…
나: 아니아니, 진심이야. 진짜 대단해서 그래. (이력서 보며) 근데 그보다 더 놀라운 건 말야, 건우가 어떻게 널 제자루 삼은거지? 걔 천재 싫어하는데?
나: No, no, I mean it. I’m really impressed. (Looking at the résumé) But what’s even more surprising is how Geon-woo took you as his disciple. He hates geniuses.
(Beethoven Virus, Episode 7)
Examples from 김민국 2011:
A: 마지막 장에는 별 다른 내용이 없더라.
A: There wasn’t anything special in the last chapter.
B: 뭐야? 넌 벌써 책을 다 읽었단 말이구나.
B: What? So you’ve already finished the book?
A: 아니 책을 다 읽었단 (그런) 말은 아니고 마지막 부분만 본 거야.
A: No, I didn’t mean that I finished the whole book—I only read the last part.
저는 언제든지 환영입니다. 물론 일요일에만 말이죠.
You’re welcome anytime—well, only on Sundays.
Examples from Anh & Yap 2013:
A: 중학교 때 술을 배웠지 뭐. 선생님들이 주잖아 원래.
A: When I went to middle school, I learned to drink though. Generally, teachers give alcohol to the students.
B: 인간이 중학교 때 술을 준다는 말이야?
B: A man giving alcohol to middle school kids?!
Examples from An 2018:
호: 아니, 형이 보내 주는 돈 써요.
호: I am using the money my brother sent.
리: 형이 돈도 보내 줘?
리: Does your brother send you money?
호: 아버지한테, 어머니한테는 그거 받았기 너무 그런 거 같아서, 일자리 잡을 때까지만.
호: Until I have a job, I feel so sorry to receive money from my parents.
리: 형이 돈을 보내 준단 말이야?
리: Your brother really sends you money?
호: 예.
호: Yes.
리: 몰랐네.
리: I did not know.
호: 먹고 살 만큼요. 밥은 먹어야 될 것 아니. (laugh)
호: As much money as I need to survive. I have to eat, at least.
리: 야, 형이 또 그런 데가 있었어?
리: Wow, was he so supportive as that?
호: 왜요, 그 텍사스에서 형, 형 돈 많이 빼 썼는데. (laugh)
호: Why not? I used much of my brother’s money when living in Texas.
iii) Negative feelings
In this usage, 말이야 conveys the speaker’s annoyance, complaint, or disapproval regarding a situation that fails to meet their expectations or social norms. The speaker not only highlights a breach of presumed common ground but also signals negative emotion toward the addressee or the situation at hand.
정말 네가 이렇게 이기적이란 말이야?
Are you really this selfish?
Here, 말이야 intensifies the speaker’s frustration at the addressee’s behaviour. It underscores the speaker’s negative judgment and demands the listener’s acknowledgement.
말로만 돕겠다더니 아무것도 안 해 줬다는 말이야.
You said you’d help, but you didn’t do a single thing.
Here, 말이야 voices the speaker’s complaint. Rather than merely stating a fact, the speaker highlights their disappointment at the addressee’s failure to follow through on a promise.
Key features of negative feelings 말이야:
• Expresses dissatisfaction, annoyance, or disapproval.
• 말이야 draws attention to an unmet expectation or perceived wrongdoing.
• The speaker criticizes the addressee, inviting a response or justification.
More examples:
ultimateKOREAN examples:
이게 네가 말하던 완벽이란 말이야?
So this is what you were calling “perfect”?
지금 당장 회사를 그만두겠다는 말인가?
You’re quitting the company right now?
지금 이 늦은 밤에 회의를 하자는 말이에요?
You seriously want to have a meeting this late at night?
매번 약속 잡아놓고 갑자기 취소하겠다는 게 너무하단 말이야.
You keep making plans and then cancelling last minute — that’s just too much.
매번 나만 기다리게 만든다는 게 말이 돼? 이젠 좀 적당히 하란 말이야!
Does it make any sense that you always leave me waiting? Seriously, cut it out already!
A: 숙제 안 했어?
A: You didn’t do the homework?
B: 깜빡했어.
B: I forgot.
A: 이번이 몇 번째냐는 말이야.
A: How many times has it been now?
Examples from 표준국어대사전 and NIKL 사전:
그만 좀 조용히 하란 말이야!
I said be quiet already!
Examples from linguistics papers
Examples from 서희정 2010:
난 갑자기 밥맛이 뚝 떨어져서 말이지.
I suddenly lost my appetite, you see.
(Beethoven Virus, Episode 17)
가: 아 뭐가, 나 루미랑 그렇게 깊게 사귀지두 않았어. 그냥 친구루 지내다가…
가: What do you mean? I didn’t even date Rumi that seriously. We were just friends…
나: 사람들이 지금 을마나 쑥덕대는지 알기나 해? 저번에 그 뭐냐, 꽃 줄 때두 울어갖구 사람 민망하게 만들더니 말야, 이젠 아주 누구? 강마에??
나: Do you even know how much people are gossiping? Last time, when you gave her flowers, you cried and made everyone feel awkward. And who are you? Kang Mae??
(Beethoven Virus, Episode 12)
가: 나 진짜 매장 일은 못하겠단 말야. 오늘 4시까지 버티는데 죽는 줄 알았어.
가: I really can’t work in the store. I thought I was going to die just lasting until 4 today.
나: 매장에서 열시부터 네 시까지 일한다며? 그 여섯 시간 못 버티면 여기서도 일 못해.
나: You said you worked from 10 to 4, right? If you can’t handle six hours there, you can’t work here either.
(Brilliant Legacy, Episode 7)
Examples from 김민국 2011:
A:왜 치과 가기 싫어? A: Why don’t you want to go to the dentist?
B: 아파서 싫단 말이야.
B: Because it hurts.
A: 어제 몇 시에 집에 들어왔어?
A: What time did you get home yesterday?
B: 친구가 갑자기 아파서 병원에 들렀다 오느라고 좀 늦었어요.
B: My friend suddenly got sick, so I stopped by the hospital and came home a bit late.
A: 그러니까, 몇 시에 집에 들어왔느냔 말이다.
A: So, I’m asking what time you got home.
누구랑 같이 있었느냐 말이다.
I’m asking who you were with.
방이 더러워져 있는 것 있지? 분명 청소를 끝냈는데 말이야.
Can you believe the room got messy? I definitely finished cleaning.
뭐 하러 여기까지 왔어? 수고스럽게 말이야.
Why did you come all the way here? Such a hassle.
정욱이가 너를 배신하다니! 그것도 그토록 믿던 그 사람이 말이야.
Jungwook betrayed you? And the very person you trusted so much!
A: 지금 몇 신데 아직 안 일어나니?
A: What time is it, and you’re still not up?
B: 아, 5분만 더 잘게요.
B: Ah, just five more minutes.
A: 안 일어날 거야? 꾸물거리지 말고 얼른 일어나란 말이다.
A: You’re not getting up? Stop dawdling and get up now!
책 좀 읽어라 제발. 만화책 말고 좀 좋은 책을 말이다.
Please read some books. Not comic books, useful ones!
Examples from Anh & Yap 2013:
A: 아, 오랜만에 펜 잡었더니…
A: Ah! As I haven’t studied in a long time…
B: 글쎄 나도 진짜 애가 펜 잡은 지 오래됐구나 느꼈잖아.
B: Well, I too felt it has been a really long time since he (you) last picked up a pen!
C: 공부 좀 하지 말이야, 공부도 안하고.
C: Seriously, you need to study. You’re not even trying.
Examples from An 2018:
준: 근데 여기는 뭐 그런 게 없어. 무조건 잠깐만.
준: But here, there’s nothing like that, not flexible at all. Wait a minute.
미: 응.
미: All right.
준: 잠깐만. 아버지가 서울에서 fax 보낸 거 같거든.
준: Just a minute. It seems that Father sent me a fax from Seoul.
미: 응.
미: All right.
준: 그 내가 좀 있다 다시 할-, 아 네가 좀 있다 다시 할래?
준: I will call you back later aga-, can you call me back later?
미: 아… 이… 이거 공짜인데 이거 끊으면 인제 끝이란 말이야…
미: Oh, no! This is a free call, so once I hang up, that’s it.
준: 아 그래, 그럼 기다려.
준: Ah, all right. Then wait a moment.
미: 어, 알았어.
미: OK.
iv) Topic management
In this usage, 말이야 indicates that something is the new topic to talk about. Here the speaker prompts the listener to recognize this topic as shared ground, effectively managing the direction of the conversation.
영희 말이야, 이번 시험에서 전교 1등 했대.
You know 영희. She ranked first in the whole school on this test.
Here, 말이야 calls special attention to 영희, ensuring that the listener recognizes 영희 as the topic of upcoming information.
계획 말입니다만, 아직 최종 결정은 아니에요.
As for the plan, it hasn’t been finalized yet.
Here, 말입니다만 signals ‘the plan’ as the new topic, setting the stage for further discussion.
Key features of topic management 말이야:
• 말이야 highlights something to be recognized.
• With the new topic highlighted, both speaker and listener are oriented toward a new direction.
• 말이야 ensures mutual engagement in the subsequent conversation.
More examples:
ultimateKOREAN examples:
사실 말이지, 나도 생각이 좀 있었어.
Actually, I’ve had a few thoughts about that too.
아빠 말이야, 요즘 어깨가 많이 안 좋으시대요.
You know, Dad’s shoulder hasn’t been doing well lately.
그 얘기 말이지, 나도 어젯밤에야 겨우 들었어.
About that, you know, I only heard about it late last night.
그날 저녁 말이야, 뭔가 이상한 분위기 느끼지 않았어?
That evening, didn’t you feel something was off?
아 맞다, 민수네 강아지 말이야, 이번에 병원 다녀왔대.
Oh right, Minsu’s dog, he went to the vet recently.
A: 어젯밤 회의가 생각보다 길어지더라.
A: Last night’s meeting ran longer than expected.
B: 그러게요. 다들 꽤 지쳐 보였죠.
B: Right. Everyone seemed pretty exhausted.
A: 그런데, 민수 말이야, 왜 아예 안 보였는지 알아?
A: By the way, about Minsu, do you know why he didn’t show up at all?
A: 오늘 날씨가 너무 덥지 않아?
A: Don’t you think it’s really hot today?
B: 그러게. 나가기만 하면 땀이 줄줄 나.
B: Yeah. The minute I step outside, I’m sweating like crazy.
A: 그런데, 우리 여행 말이야, 출발 날짜를 좀 당길 수 있을까?
A: By the way, about our trip, can we move the departure date earlier?
Examples from linguistics papers
Examples from 서희정 2010:
가: 방학에는 어디에 가고 싶으세요?
가: Where do you want to go during the vacation?
나: 방학에는 말이에요, 지리산에 가 보고 싶어요.
나: During vacation, I’d like to visit Mt. Jiri.
(성균관대학교 <배우기 쉬운 한국어> 4권 51쪽)
하긴 우리 일상생활에서도 이야기가 될 만한 게 많지. 재미있거나 신기한 일들 말야.
Well, even in our daily lives, there are plenty of things worth talking about—interesting or amazing things, you know.
(경희대학교 <한국어> 5권 134쪽)
내 눈 멀었던 거 말야, 이놈아.
I’m talking about when I went blind, you punk.
(Brilliant Legacy, Episode 6)
너 말야. 니가 알아보라고.
You, I’m talking about you. You go find out.
(Pasta, Episode 2)
하단아 교수 말이야.
I’m talking about Professor Ha.
(Marrying the Mafia, Episode 16)
인생이란 건 말이다.
Life, you see…
(Marrying the Mafia, Episode 23)
가: 저기 말야, 그 때… (뺨 때리는 손짓 시늉하며) 이거. 딱 이거는, 내가 좀 심했어. 미안하다.
가: Hey, about that time… (gestures slapping) This… I was a bit too harsh. Sorry.
나: 네.
나: Yeah.
(Brilliant Legacy, Episode 25)
가: 잊어야 하는 거잖아요. 이젠 이 세상 사람이 아닌데.
가: We have to forget, right? They’re not in this world anymore.
나: 다들 그렇게 말해. 이젠 그만 보내 주라구. 너무 오래 붙잡고 있었다구. 그런데 말이야, 그 사람이 떠나던 그날. 나도 이미 죽은 거야.
나: That’s what everyone says. “Let them go already. You’ve held on too long.” But you see, the day they left… I died, too.
(Marrying the Mafia, Episode 9)
Examples from 김민국 2011:
그 사람 말이야 어제 말이지 어디 가던데?
About that person, speaking of yesterday, they were going somewhere, right?
그 사람이 (말이지) 어제 (말이지) 거길 갔는데 (말이지)…
You know, that person, yesterday, they went there…
어제 (말이야) 내가 (말이야) 그 책을 (말이야) 읽으려는데…
So yesterday, I was about to read that book…
거기에 그 사람도 있었지. 그런데 그 사람은 말이야 그냥 앉아 있었어.
That person was there too. But you know, they were just sitting there.
누가 그런 말을 한 거야? 실은 영희가 말이지 나한테 말해 준 건데…
Who said that? Actually, you know, Yeonghee told me…
근데 말이야 어제 왜 집에 일찍 갔어?
By the way, why did you go home early yesterday?
말하자면 말이야 돈이 있어야 대접 받는 세상이 되었다는 거지.
In other words, it has become a world where you need money to be treated well.
글쎄 말이야 걔가 또 사고 쳤다지 뭐냐.
Well, you know, that kid caused trouble again.
그 사람이요 어제요 밥을 사줬는데요.
That person, you know, bought me a meal yesterday.
그 사람이 말이지 어제 말이지 밥을 사줬는데 말이지.
You know, that person, yesterday, bought me a meal…
Examples from Anh & Yap 2013:
A: 첫사랑 말이야, 잘 될라 그랬는데 얘가 그전에 사귀였던 여자가 나타나니까 가버이더라, 그냥.
A: First love, you know, I almost succeeded in my first love, but he left me as he met again the woman whom he dated previously (without reason).
B: 그래, 사람 안 믿게 된 거 틀림없어.
B: Yes, it must be that you have come to distrust a man (since then).
A: 근데, 경희 말이야, 걔 뭐 이상한 낌새 없어?
A: By the way, Kyunghee, you know, isn’t there any sign (of illness from her)?
B: 무슨 낌새요?
B: What kind of sign (do you mean)?
A: 어제부터 느낌이 이상한데…
A: There have been some strange signs and I got these (uneasy) feelings from her since yesterday…
A: 엄마, 그거 말이야.
A: Mommy, that, you know.
B: 뭐?
B: What?
v) Softening
In this usage, 말이야 reduces directness, allowing the speaker to broach an issue more gently. Here the speaker mitigates face-threatening acts and invites a less pressured response from the listener.
제가 부탁드릴 게 있어서 말이에요…
I have a favour to ask, you know…
Here, the speaker uses 말이에요 to convey that they are aware of the potential burden being placed and softens the pressure faced by the listener to respond a certain way.
혹시 이 일을 같이 해 보면 어떨까 해서 말이에요.
I was thinking, maybe we could do this together.
Here, 말이에요 helps frame the suggestion as a tentative proposal, which makes it easier for the listener to decline.
Key features of softening 말이야:
• 말이야 reduces the directness of the utterance.
• The speaker is both showing and seeking empathy.
• 말이야 helps foster a collaborative atmosphere.
More examples:
ultimateKOREAN examples:
음, 그냥 궁금해서 말이야, 혹시 지금 시간 좀 있니?
I’m curious about something. Do you have some time right now?
있잖아, 저녁에 같이 갈까 해서 말이야. 부담되면 말해도 돼.
You know, I was thinking we could go this evening. Feel free to say so if you’re not up for it.
A: 저, 오늘 부탁할 게 있는데… 괜찮을까?
A: Hey, I have a small favour to ask today… would that be okay?
B: 뭔데요?
B: What is it?
A: 사실 내가 하루 외출 중이라서 말이야, 택배 좀 대신 받아줄 수 있어?
A: Well, I’ll be out all day, you see, so could you take care of the delivery for me?
Examples from linguistics papers
Examples from 서희정 2010:
저기 이런 데선 말이야, 할머니라고 부르지 말아줄래?
Hey, in places like this, could you not call me Grandma?
(Marrying the Mafia, Episode 20)
여기 이거 좀 들고 나가야 돼서 말이야.
I need to take this outside, you see.
(Pasta, Episode 1)
Examples from Anh & Yap 2013:
A: 정말은… 저 말이야, 나 오늘 너한테 부탁할 일이 있는데…
A: Frankly, you know what, I have a favour to ask of you.
B: 뭐?
B: What (is it)?
지 말입니다
지 말입니다 a distinctive form used in the military that has gained public attention through military-themed reality programs. It is not part of standard Korean and reflects the institutional and hierarchical dynamics of the military.
One hypothesis of 지 말입니다’s origin says it combines sentence final 지(요) with emphatic 말이야. Since 지(요) conveys a soft assertive tone, lower-ranking soldiers were until recently banned from using it in military protocols.
By adding emphatic 말입니다 to 지(요) (indicating mild assertion or seeking confirmation), military speakers have a polite yet firm sentence closure; one which indicates a strict, deferential stance. However, this speech style has been subject to criticism of being awkward and recent military protocol changes now allow more natural sentence endings.
신참들이 빠르게 적응 중이지 말입니다.
The newcomers are adapting quickly.
Here, 지 말입니다 conveys that this fact about the newcomers should be taken as noteworthy, and does so within a formal and structured speech style.
아침 점호는 05시 정각에 시행되지 말입니다.
Morning roll call will begin precisely at 0500 hours.
Here, the speaker emphasizes the precision of the roll call time, underscoring its importance in a polite, firm and formal manner.
Key features of 지 말입니다:
• Emphasizes the speaker’s point without breaking military protocol.
• Balances formal speech with polite assertion.
• Not standard Korean.
More examples:
ultimateKOREAN examples:
이번 경계근무는 이상 없었지 말입니다.
There were no anomalies in this watch duty.
휴가 복귀 인원이 전원 도착했지 말입니다.
Everyone returning from leave has arrived, sir.
장교님 말씀대로 작전 계획을 수정했지 말입니다.
I adjusted the operation plan as per your orders, sir.
소대장님, 이번 작전은 무사히 완료했지 말입니다.
Lieutenant, we have safely completed this operation.
장비 점검 결과, 즉시 보수할 부분은 없지 말입니다.
According to the equipment inspection, there are no immediate repairs needed.
훈련 강도가 상당했지만, 전우들이 잘 견뎌냈지 말입니다.
The training was quite intense, but our boys held out well, sir.
Examples from 김현아 2017:
제가 그 어려운 걸 해냈지 말입니다.
I’ve accomplished the difficult task, sir.
정말 미인이시지 말입니다.
You really are a beauty, ma’am.
많은 사랑과 관심, 진심으로 감사드리지 말입니다.
I sincerely thank you for all your love and support.
병영서 먹는 짜장면 ‘최고’지 말입니다.
The jjajangmyeon you eat in the military is the best.
대한민국은 지금 ‘심쿵’하지 말입니다.
South Korea is feeling a heart-throbbing moment right now, sir.
지금 막 오픈했지 말입니다.
It has just opened right now.
어제부터 정말 힘들지 말입니다.
It has been really tough since yesterday, sir.
임 대위님이야말로 진정한 태양의 후예지 말입니다.
Lieutenant Im, is truly a descendant of the sun.
제가 했지 말입니다.
I did it, you see.
Additional details
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Associated grammar
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See also
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Bibliography
— Ahn, M., & Yap, F. H. (2013). Negotiating common ground in discourse: a diachronic and discourse analysis of maliya in Korean. Language Sciences, 37, 36-51.
— Ahn, M., Yap, F. H., & Byun, K. (2024). ‘From nominal phrase ‘my word’ to agreement marker ‘Right(!)’: A pragmatic and prosodic analysis of Korean discourse marker nay mali. Lingua, 308, 103774.
— An, H. (2017, October 12-14). Stancetaking in Korean Conversation: Using the Maliya Construction to Accomplish Intersubjectivity [Poster presentation]. 25th Japanese/Korean Linguistics Conference, Honolulu, Hawai’i, USA.
— Ihm, H.B., Hong, K.P., & Chang, S.I. (2001). Korean Grammar for International Learners. Seoul: Yonsei University Press.
— NIKL 사전, [s.v. 말¹].
— Yeon, J., & Brown, L. (2008). Korean: A Comprehensive Grammar. New York: Routledge.
— You, C., & Cho, E. (2002). Intermediate College Korean. Berkeley: University of California Press.
— 김민국. (2011). ‘말이다’ 구성의 문법화와 화용화. 國語學, 62, 73-106.
— 김현아. (2017). 군대용어 ‘-지 말입니다’에 관한 일고찰-일본어 종조사에 상응하는 용법을 중심으로-. 일본어교육연구, 39, 53-66.
— 국립국어원 표준국어대사전, [s.v. 말¹].
— 서희정. (2010). 한국어 교육 항목으로서의 담화표지 ‘말이다’에 대한 고찰. 이중언어학, 43, 217-246.