-을지

Etymology

From Middle Korean 을디 (Yale: -ulti), equivalent to Middle Korean 을 (Yale: -ul, irrealis adnominal suffix) + ᄃᆞ (Yale: to, semantically light dependent noun) + 이 (Yale: -i). This construction was extremely rare in Middle Korean (apparently attested only once, near the very end of the MK period) but became increasingly popular beginning in the seventeenth century.^[1]

Pronunciation

• (SK Standard/Seoul) IPA^(key): [ɯʎt͡ɕ͈i]
• Phonetic hangul: [을찌]

Suffix

을지 • (-eulji)

1. Used to convey a doubt, or an indirect question about the future:

   Coordinate terms: 던지 (-deonji, retrospective), 는지 (-neunji, realis), 을는지 (-eulleunji, irrealis/future)

   1. Used to connect a dependent clause conveying such a doubt or question to the main clause conveying judgment or a fact.

      이제 뭘 해먹고 살지 걱정이 태산이다.

      Ije mwol hae-meokgo salji geokjeong-i taesan-ida.

      I am greatly worried about how I'm going to make a living.

      제가 작년에 어떻게 하는 게 옳았을지 모르겠습니다.

      Je-ga jangnyeon-e eotteoke haneun ge orasseulji moreugetseumnida.

      I am unsure about what the right way I should have acted last year might be.

      얘들아, 휴가를 어디로 갈지 정했니?

      Yae-deur-a, hyuga-reul eodi-ro galji jeonghaenni?

      Kids, did you decide where you're going to go for vacation?

   2. I wonder...; an intimate-style suffix introducing a doubt that one does not necessarily expect to be answered; mainly used when talking to oneself.

      내일도 오늘처럼 추울지.

      Naeil-do oneul-cheoreom chuulji.

      I wonder if tomorrow is going to be as hot as today.

      그녀도 나를 사랑했을지.

      Geunyeo-do na-reul sarang-haesseulji.

      I wonder if she loved me too.

   3. In the polite level, conveys a careful, indirect question; used to add further politeness than 는지 (-neunji).

      내일 통화 드려도 괜찮으실지요.

      Naeil tonghwa deuryeodo gwaenchaneusilji-yo.

      May I call tomorrow?

References