What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of 잘 (well), 지내다 (to spend time/live) and the polite ending -요.
Which one should you use?
While 잘 지내요? is the standard polite form, you can use 어떻게 지내세요? to ask the same question more formally. For very casual situations with friends or family, you can use the informal 어떻게 지내? or the even more casual 잘 지내?
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The level of formality depends on the ending used. 잘 지내요? is a polite, standard form. For highly formal professional settings or when addressing someone of much higher status, use the highly formal 잘 지내십니까? In contrast, removing the -요 ending to create 잘 지내? makes the phrase informal and suitable only for close friends, siblings, peers of the same age or people younger than you.
How does it change in a sentence?
To ask how someone has been since you last saw them, it is very common to use the past tense 지냈어요 in the phrase 잘 지냈어요? instead of the present tense 지내요.
How do you pronounce it?
jal jinaeyo?
When do people say it?
When someone asks you this, common responses include 네, 잘 지내요 (Yes, I am doing well), 잘 지내고 있어요 (I'm doing well), 괜찮아요 (I'm okay) or 그럭저럭 해요 (I'm so-so).
Did you know?
- In Korea, people often substitute 잘 지내요? with 밥 먹었니? ('Did you eat?'). This is a cultural way of asking if someone is doing well and is treated as a warm greeting rather than a literal question about a meal.
- Koreans rarely use 잘 지내요? with people they see every single day. Instead, they use phrases like 어디 가요? ('Where are you going?') or 뭐 해요? ('What are you doing?') as spontaneous greetings.
- While 잘 지내요? asks about general well-being, Koreans may use the word 건강 ('health') in greetings for elders. Asking about someone's health specifically is considered more respectful and thoughtful than a general 'how are you'.
Examples in context
- 요즘 잘 지내요?yojeum jal jinaeyo?Are you doing well lately?
- 오랜만이에요, 잘 지내요?oraenmanieyo, jal jinaeyo?It's been a while, how are you doing?
- 가족들은 다 잘 지내요?gajokdeureun da jal jinaeyo?Is your family doing well?
Example conversation
Jihoon meets Jieun at a cafe after a long time.
- 지훈 Ji-hun지은 씨, 잘 지내요?Jieun ssi, jal jinaeyo?Jieun, how are you doing?
- 지은 Ji-eun네, 저는 잘 지내요. 지훈 씨는요?Ne, jeoneun jal jinaeyo. Jihoon ssi-neunyo?Yes, I am doing well. How about you, Jihoon?
- 지훈 Ji-hun저도 잘 지내요. 다행이네요.Jeodo jal jinaeyo. Dahaeng-ineyo.I am doing well too. That's good to hear.
- 지은 Ji-eun반가워요, 지훈 씨.Bangawoyo, Jihoon ssi.It's nice to see you, Jihoon.
