Korean Unlocked #5
맞아요
That’s Right / Exactly
Ma · ja · yo
Your go-to word for agreeing in Korean
Quick Answer
맞아요 (Majayo) means “That’s right” or “Exactly” — it’s the polite, everyday way to confirm that something is correct or to agree with someone in Korean.
What It Really Means
When you look 맞아요 up in a dictionary, you’ll see “That’s right” or “Correct.” Simple enough, right? But there’s a lot more going on under the surface.
At its heart, 맞아요 comes from the verb 맞다 (matda), which means “to be correct,” “to fit,” or “to match.” So when you say 맞아요, you’re literally saying “it is correct” or “it matches.” This is why 맞아요 works not just for agreeing with someone’s opinion, but also for confirming facts, identifying things correctly, and even saying something fits (like clothes or a key in a lock).
Think of 맞아요 as your all-purpose “yes, you got it!” button in Korean. It’s warmer and more affirming than just saying 네 (ne, “yes”). When a Korean friend tells you something and you want to say “Exactly! You nailed it!” — 맞아요 is your word. It carries a satisfying sense of confirmation, like when a puzzle piece clicks into place.
You’ll also hear the casual version — 맞아 (maja) — constantly in dramas, among friends, and in everyday chit-chat. And if you want to be extra emphatic, Koreans often repeat it: 맞아 맞아! (maja maja!) — “Yes, yes, exactly!” — which feels like enthusiastic nodding in word form.
Grammar Breakdown
🔬 How 맞아요 is built
맞
Stem of 맞다
“to be correct”
+
“to be correct”
아
Informal speech
connector vowel
+
connector vowel
요
Polite ending
particle
=
particle
맞아요
Polite informal
“That’s right!”
“That’s right!”
💡 The verb stem is 맞- (mat-). Because the last vowel in the stem is ㅏ (a), we attach the connector 아 (not 어). Then we add 요 to make it polite. This follows the standard 해요체 (haeyoche) — the polite informal speech level used with acquaintances, customers, and people you’re being friendly but respectful with. Drop the 요 and you get the casual speech form: 맞아 (maja).
All the Ways to Use It
맞아요 is more versatile than you might think. Here are the main ways you’ll use it in real life:
1
✅ Confirming a Fact
When someone states something true and you want to confirm it. Like saying “That’s correct!”
“이 식당 맛있어요?”
“Tasty here?”
“네, 맞아요!” “Yes, that’s right!”
“Tasty here?”
“네, 맞아요!” “Yes, that’s right!”
2
🤝 Agreeing with Someone
When someone shares an opinion or idea you agree with, 맞아요 is your enthusiastic “Exactly!”
“한국어가 재미있죠?”
“Korean is fun, right?”
“맞아요!” “Exactly!”
“Korean is fun, right?”
“맞아요!” “Exactly!”
3
📍 Identifying Correctly
When someone guesses correctly — like your name, your job, or your nationality. “You got it!”
“혹시 미국 사람이에요?”
“Are you American?”
“맞아요!” “That’s right!”
“Are you American?”
“맞아요!” “That’s right!”
4
👗 Something Fits / Matches
맞다 literally means “to fit/match,” so 맞아요 can confirm that a size, password, or answer is correct.
“비밀번호가 맞아요?”
“Is the password correct?”
“네, 맞아요.” “Yes, it’s right.”
“Is the password correct?”
“네, 맞아요.” “Yes, it’s right.”
5
💬 Mid-Conversation Filler
Koreans use 맞아 맞아 (casual) as a back-channel response — like “uh-huh, right, right” — to show they’re listening.
“그래서 제가 늦었어요, 맞아 맞아…”
“So I was late, yeah yeah…”
“So I was late, yeah yeah…”
Pronunciation Guide
맞아요
[ ma · ja · yo ]
The ㅈ sound shift: The word is spelled 맞아요 (mat-a-yo) but it’s pronounced “ma-ja-yo.” This is because of 연음 (yeon-eum), the linking sound rule: when ㅈ at the end of 맞 is followed by the vowel 아, the consonant moves to the next syllable and becomes softer — sounding like “j” in English “jazz.” This is natural Korean pronunciation!
Don’t say “mat-a-yo”! A very common learner mistake is to pronounce each syllable separately: “mat · a · yo.” This sounds stiff and robotic. Link the sounds together fluidly: ma-ja-yo as one smooth unit.
Pitch and rhythm: Korean doesn’t have dramatic tones like Chinese, but 맞아요 flows with a gentle rise-fall: the “ma” is neutral, “ja” is slightly stressed, and “yo” trails off softly. Think of it like saying “That’s RIGHT~” with a friendly upward tilt on “right.”
Casual vs. formal speed: In casual speech, 맞아 is often said very quickly — almost like “maja!” in one punchy burst. The formal 맞아요 is slightly more drawn out and gentle in pace.
Real Dialogue Example
💬 Natural Conversation — At a coffee shop
A
아이스 아메리카노 두 잔 주문하셨어요?
Aiseu Amerikano du jan jumunhasyeosseoyo?
Did you order two iced Americanos?
B
네, 맞아요!
Ne, majayo!
Yes, that’s right!
A
여기 있습니다. 이름이 지수 씨 맞아요?
Yeogi itseumnida. Ireumi Jisu ssi majayo?
Here you go. Is your name Jisu?
B
맞아요, 감사합니다!
Majayo, gamsahamnida!
That’s right, thank you!
💡
Notice how 맞아요 is used both as a standalone response (“Yes, that’s right!”) AND in a question form — “이름이 지수 씨 맞아요?” (“Is your name Jisu?”). 맞아요 can flip into a question just with intonation, no extra words needed!
Spelling & Confusion Traps
⚠️ Common Mistakes Learners Make
Wrong
마자요
Right
맞아요
Spelled with ㅈ under 맞, not a separate 마+자. The spelling is 맞아요 even though it sounds like “maja-yo.” Don’t write it phonetically!
Wrong
맞어요
Right
맞아요
Because the vowel in the stem 맞- is ㅏ (a), we must use the 아 connector — not 어. This is the standard ㅏ/ㅗ → 아, everything else → 어 rule in Korean conjugation.
Wrong context
맞아요 (to mean “I agree with your feelings”)
Better
맞아요 is for factual/logical agreement. Use 그렇죠 (geureokjyo) for “That’s true / I feel the same way.”
Example: If someone says “Life is hard,” saying 맞아요 sounds clinical. Instead, 그렇죠 or 맞아요, 그렇죠 feels warmer and more empathetic.
Pronunciation
mat-a-yo (each syllable separate)
Right
ma-ja-yo (smooth, linked)
Remember: the ㅈ links to the next vowel syllable. Always pronounce it as “maja-yo,” never “mat-a-yo.”
Conjugation & Related Forms
Here’s how the verb 맞다 (matda) conjugates across different speech levels and tenses:
| Form | Korean | Romanization | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| Formal Polite | 맞습니다 | matseumnida | That is correct (formal) |
| Polite Informal ✅ | 맞아요 | majayo | That’s right (everyday polite) |
| Casual | 맞아 | maja | Right / Exactly (to friends) |
| Question (Polite) | 맞아요? | majayo? | Is that right? / Correct? |
| Question (Formal) | 맞습니까? | matseumnikka? | Is that correct? (very formal) |
| Past Tense | 맞았어요 | majasseoyo | That was right / It was correct |
| Negative | 안 맞아요 | an majayo | That’s not right / It doesn’t fit |
| Emphatic Repeat | 맞아 맞아! | maja maja! | Yes yes, exactly! (super casual) |
💡
Quick tip on levels: Use 맞습니다 in formal situations like presentations or with elders you’re meeting for the first time. Use 맞아요 in everyday polite conversation — shops, restaurants, class. Use 맞아 with close friends and peers only!
Situations & Examples
📝 Example Sentences in Context
1
A: 서울이 한국의 수도예요? B: 네, 맞아요!
A: Seouli Hangugui sudoyeyo? B: Ne, majayo!
A: Is Seoul the capital of Korea? B: Yes, that’s right!
2
이 사이즈가 맞아요. 감사합니다.
I saijeuга majayo. Gamsahamnida.
This size fits / is right. Thank you.
3
A: 혹시 선생님이세요? B: 맞아요, 어떻게 아셨어요?
A: Hoksi seonsaengnim-iseyo? B: Majayo, eotteoke asyeosseoyo?
A: Are you a teacher by any chance? B: That’s right, how did you know?
4
그 말이 맞아요. 우리 더 열심히 해야 돼요.
Geu mari majayo. Uri deo yeolsimhi haeya dwaeyo.
What you said is right. We need to work harder.
5
A: 이 답이 맞아요? B: 네, 정답이에요!
A: I dabi majayo? B: Ne, jeongdabiеyo!
A: Is this answer correct? B: Yes, it’s the right answer!
6
A: 한국어가 처음엔 어렵죠? B: 맞아요, 그런데 재미있어요!
A: Hangugeo-ga cheoeuměn eoryeopjyo? B: Majayo, geureonde jaemiisseoyo!
A: Korean is hard at first, right? B: Exactly, but it’s fun!
⭐ Quick Summary: 맞아요 (Majayo)
✓
맞아요 comes from the verb 맞다 (to be correct/fit) and means “That’s right,” “Exactly,” or “Correct” in polite speech.
✓
Use 맞아요 for polite everyday situations; drop the 요 to get the casual form 맞아 for friends; add 습니다 for formal contexts.
✓
Pronounce it ma-ja-yo (NOT mat-a-yo) — the ㅈ links to the next vowel, softening to a “j” sound through 연음 (yeon-eum).
✓
It works for confirming facts, agreeing with opinions, verifying identities, confirming things fit, and as an enthusiastic conversation back-channel.
✓
Spelling tip: always write 맞아요 — not 마자요. The ㅈ stays under the 맞 syllable block even though it sounds like “j.”