잘 가
jal ga[t͡ɕa̠ɭ ka̠]
In Korean, the phrase "go well" is expressed as 잘 가 (jal ga).
잘 가 is a casual way to say goodbye to someone who is leaving. It is specifically used when the other person is the one departing.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of 잘 (well) and 가 (go, imperative/informal form).
Which one should you use?
Use 잘 가 specifically when the other person is the one leaving. In contrast, if you are the one leaving and the other person is staying, you would use 잘 있어 (stay well).
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
It should only be used with friends, people younger than you or those with whom you have a very close relationship. For formal situations, the standard way to wish someone a safe departure or a good journey is to use 잘 가세요.
How do you pronounce it?
jal ga
Did you know?
- The word 가 in the phrase 잘 가 can be written using the very first consonant and the very first vowel of the Hangul alphabet, namely ‘ㄱ’ and ‘ㅏ’.
- Because Korean social hierarchy is so strict, using 잘 가 to someone slightly older or higher in rank can be perceived as a significant social blunder or an insult.
Examples in context
- 잘 가세요!Safe journey!
- 행운을 빕니다!Good luck!
- 잘 가!Bye!
- 잘 다녀와!Have a good trip and come back safely!
- 재은 씨, 잘 가세요Jae-eun, jal gaseyo
- 집에 잘 가.jibe jal ga.Go home well (Get home safely).
Example conversation
Subin and Hyunwoo are saying goodbye after meeting at a cafe.
- 수빈 Su-bin현우야, 나 이제 갈게.Hyeon-u-ya, na ije galge.Hyunwoo, I'm leaving now.
- 현우 Hyeon-woo그래, 조심히 들어가.geurae, josimhi deureoga.Okay, get home safely.
- 수빈 Su-bin응, 너도 잘 가!eung, neodo jal ga!Yeah, you go well too!
- 현우 Hyeon-woo응, 다음에 또 봐.eung, da-ume tto bwa.Yeah, see you next time.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry 잘 가, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 가, 잘, 잘 가, CC BY-SA 4.0.
