What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of 잘 (well), 먹었어요 (ate/have eaten) and the question particle/ending.
Which one should you use?
While 잘 먹었어요? is a polite way to ask the question, you can use 밥 먹었어? to simply ask if someone has eaten. If you want to ask specifically if they ate well in a highly formal way for seniors or formal occasions, you might use 잘 드셨습니까? or even the very high honorific 진지 잡수셨습니까?
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The level of formality depends on who you are speaking to. 잘 먹었어요? is polite. You should use the informal 잘 먹었어? or 밥 먹었어? with close friends or people younger than you. For much older people or those in much higher social positions, the highly formal 진지 잡수셨습니까? is more appropriate. Other polite variations include 식사하셨어요? and 밥 먹었어요?
How do you pronounce it?
jal meogeosseoyo?
When do people say it?
When someone asks you if you have eaten well, it is customary to respond with 네, 잘 먹었습니다 or 네, 잘 먹었어요. to indicate that you have eaten well.
Did you know?
- The honorific 잡수시다 used in 진지 잡수셨습니까? is a 'specialized' verb that cannot be used for oneself, as using it would be grammatically absurd and socially offensive.
- The word for 'meal' in the formal phrase 진지 잡수셨습니까? is 진지, a term traditionally reserved for royalty or ancestors.
- Because food was scarce during the Japanese occupation and the Korean War, asking if someone has eaten became a vital way to check on their survival and well-being.
Examples in context
- 점심은 잘 먹었어요?jeomsimeun jal meogeosseoyo?Did you eat lunch well?
- 어제 저녁은 잘 먹었어요?eoje jeonyeogeun jal meogeosseoyo?Did you eat dinner well yesterday?
- 혼자서도 잘 먹었어요?honjaseodo jal meogeosseoyo?Did you eat well even by yourself?
Example conversation
Jihoon and Minji meet after their lunch break.
- 지훈 Ji-hun민지 씨, 잘 먹었어요?Minji ssi, jal meogeosseoyo?Minji, did you eat well?
- 민지 Min-ji네, 정말 맛있게 잘 먹었어요.ne, jeongmal masitge jal meogeosseoyo.Yes, I really enjoyed my meal.
- 지훈 Ji-hun다행이네요. 식당이 괜찮았나요?dahaeng-ineyo. sikdangi gwaenchanatnayo?That's good. Was the restaurant okay?
- 민지 Min-ji네, 아주 좋았어요.ne, 아주 joasseoyo.Yes, it was very good.
