안녕히 주무세요, 잘 자요
annyeonghi jumuseyo, jal jayo
In Korean, "good night, sleep well" is said as 안녕히 주무세요, 잘 자요 (annyeonghi jumuseyo, jal jayo).
This phrase is a polite expression used to wish someone a restful sleep before they go to bed.
What does it mean word for word?
In the second part of the phrase, 잘 means "well" or "properly" and 자요 is the polite form of the verb "to sleep".
Which one should you use?
The phrase consists of two parts: 안녕히 주무세요 is a formal and highly polite way to say "good night" used for elders or superiors, while 잘 자요 is a polite but more casual way to say "sleep well" used with people of similar status or younger than you.
How do you pronounce it?
annyeonghi jumuseyo, jal jayo
When do people say it?
In Korean culture, you should use the formal 안녕히 주무세요 rather than the casual 잘 자 when speaking to grandparents or parents.
Did you know?
- The formal verb 주무시다 used in 안녕히 주무세요 is a special honorific version of the verb 'to sleep'. In Korean, using the standard word for sleep when speaking to an elder can be perceived as unintentionally rude.
- The term 안녕 inside 안녕히 주무세요 is the same root used for both 'hello' and 'goodbye', reflecting a consistent wish for peace and safety.
- In highly traditional contexts, the act of simply lying down can be expressed with specialized honorifics that go beyond the standard 'sleep well' phrase.
Examples in context
- 잘 자, 친구야Sleep well, buddy.
Example conversation
Seoyeon and Dohyun are saying goodnight at home.
- 서연 Seo-yeon도현 씨, 이제 잘 시간이에요.Dohyun ssi, ije jal siganieyo.Dohyun, it is time to sleep now.
- 도현 Do-hyeon네, 서연 씨도 얼른 자요.ne, Seoyeon ssi-do eolleun jayo.Yes, you should go to sleep quickly too, Seoyeon.
- 서연 Seo-yeon네, 안녕히 주무세요, 잘 자요.ne, annyeonghi jumuseyo, jal jayo.Yes, good night and sleep well.
- 도현 Do-hyeon고마워요. 내일 봐요.gomawoyo. naeil bwayo.Thank you. See you tomorrow.
