What it means
그래요? is the most natural Korean response to new information — acknowledging it, expressing mild surprise, or showing you're listening. Literally "is that so?" but functions like "oh really?" or "I see."
Nuance & when to use
그래요 (statement) = "is that so / it's like that." 그래요? (question, rising intonation) = "Really? Is that so?" 그랬어요? (past) = "Was that so? Did that happen?" Very commonly used as a conversational filler to show engagement. Essential for smooth Korean conversation.
⚠ Common mistake
그래요 and 정말요 are both "really?" but 그래요 is more neutral/acknowledging, while 정말요 shows more genuine surprise.
Example sentences
See also
FAQ
When is this used?
그래요 (statement) = "is that so / it's like that." 그래요? (question, rising intonation) = "Really? Is that so?" 그랬어요? (past) = "Was that so? Did that happen?" Very commonly used as a conversational filler to show engagement. Essential for smooth Korean conversation.
What's a common mistake?
그래요 and 정말요 are both "really?" but 그래요 is more neutral/acknowledging, while 정말요 shows more genuine surprise.
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