[Korean grammar] -아/어야지요 Expressing Resolution and Intent

웨이밍:고향음식이 너무 먹고 싶다. 다음 방학에는 고향에 가서 엄마가 해 주신 음식을 실컷 먹어야지.
I really want to eat some food from back home, During the next vacation, I’ll have to visit home and stuff myself with mom’s cooking.

가: 작년에 교통신호를 어겨서 벌금을 많이 냈지요?
Last year, you ran a traffic light and paid a big fine, right?
나: 네, 올해부터는 교통신호를 잘 지켜야지요.
Yeah. From this year I’ve got to obey traffic signals.

This expression is used when the speaker is making a promise to oneself, making a decision to do something, or simply expressing such an intention. It is also used when thinking or speaking to oneself, but in such cases, the informal form -아/어야지 is used. This expression is also used in the shortened form ‘-아/어야죠’.

가: 어제 ‘집으로’라는 영화를 다시 봤는데 정말 재미있었어.
Yesterday, I saw the movie ‘The Way Home” again, and it was really good.
나: 난 아직도 못 봤는데 그렇게 재미있어? 그럼 나도 봐야지.
I haven’t seen it yet, but is it really that interesting? If so, I’ll have to see it, too.

가: 그렇게 자꾸 지각하다가는 승진하기 어려울 거야.
It’ll be difficult to get a promotion if you keep coming in late like that.
나: 내일부터는 절대 회사에 지각하지 말아야지요.
Starting tomorrow, I won’t be late to work under any circumstances.

가: 세미나에 꼭 가야 돼?
Do we absolutely have to attend the seminar?
나: 그럼요, 우리 교수님이 발표를 하시니까 꼭 가야지요.
Of course. Our professor is giving a presentation, so we have to go.

This expression is also used to indicate that the hearer or some other person should perform some action or behavior. Moreover, when the past tense form -았/었어야지 is used, the expression conveys a sense of scolding or rebuking the other person for not doing something that should have already been done.

가: 요즘 이가 자주 아파요, My teeth reaily hurt these days.
나: 그럼, 빨리 치과에 가야지요. Then you’d better go to the dentist promptly.

가: 몸이 안 좋은데 할 일이 있어서 밤을 샜더니 머리도 어지럽고 정말 힘드네요.
I wasn’t feeling well, and then I stayed up all night to get things done, so now I feel dizzy and am really tired.
나: 몸이 안 좋으면 무리하지 말고 쉬었어야지요.
If you weren’t feeling well, to begin with, you should have rested instead of pushing yourself too hard.