What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of 잘 자고 (sleep well and) and 좋은 꿈 꿔 (dream good dreams).
Which one should you use?
While 잘 자고 좋은 꿈 꿔 provides a complete sentiment, the shorter version 잘 자 is the most common way to simply say "good night" to friends or younger people.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
For more formal or polite situations, you can use 잘 자고 좋은 꿈 꾸세요 by adding the honorific ending -세요 to the final verb. Other formal options include 잘 주무세요 and 푹 자세요 to mean "sleep well," or the standard formal phrase 안녕히 주무세요 to wish someone a peaceful night's rest. In highly formal settings or when speaking to grandparents, 안녕히 주무세요 is the standard way to say good night.
How does it change in a sentence?
To make the phrase polite for elders or people you are not close to, add the honorific ending -세요 to the final verb, resulting in 잘 자고 좋은 꿈 꾸세요.
How do you pronounce it?
jal jago joeun kkum kkwo
Did you know?
- While the phrase means 'sweet dreams', the verb 꾸다 used in 꿈 꿔 is the same verb Koreans use for 'taking out a loan' from a bank.
- When wishing someone a restful sleep, Koreans may use the word 푹, as in 푹 자세요, which mimics the feeling of sinking deeply into a soft pillow or mattress.
- In Middle Korean, the word 꿈 was pronounced with a stronger initial sound, appearing as ᄭᅮᆷ in texts from 1447.
Examples in context
- 잘 자고 좋은 꿈 꿔.jal jago joeun kkum kkwo.Good night and sweet dreams.
- 내일 봐, 잘 자고 좋은 꿈 꿔!naeil bwa, jal jago joeun kkum kkwo!See you tomorrow, good night and sweet dreams!
- 이제 자야겠다. 잘 자고 좋은 꿈 꿔.ije jayagetda. jal jago joeun kkum kkwo.I should sleep now. Good night and sweet dreams.
Example conversation
Two friends are ending a late-night phone call.
- 지은 Ji-eun도현아, 벌써 시간이 이렇게 됐네.Dohyeon-a, beolsseo sigani ireoke dwaenne.Dohyeon, it's already this late.
- 도현 Do-hyeon그러게, 이제 그만 자자.Geureoge, ije geuman jaja.Right, let's get some sleep now.
- 지은 Ji-eun응, 잘 자고 좋은 꿈 꿔.Eung, jal jago joeun kkum kkwo.Okay, good night and sweet dreams.
- 도현 Do-hyeon지은이 너도 잘 자!Jieun-i neodo jal ja!You sleep well too, Jieun!
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 꿈, 잘, CC BY-SA 4.0.
