Ways to say it
| Korean | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 잘 지냈어요? | jal jinaesseoyo? | ||
| 처음 뵙겠습니다 | cheo'eum boepgetseumnida | [t͡ɕʰʌ̹ɯm pwe̞(ː)p̚k͈e̞ss͈ɯmnida̠] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) [t͡ɕʰʌ̹ɯm pø̞(ː)p̚k͈e̞ss͈ɯmnida̠] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) |
formal |
| 어떻게 지내세요? | eotteoke jinaeseyo? | ||
| 안녕하세요? | annyeong-haseyo? | polite | |
| 안녕하십니까? | annyeong-hasimnikka? | formal | |
| 안녕? | annyeong? | informal |
The phrase used depends on whether you are greeting someone for the first time, asking a general 'hello' or inquiring specifically about how someone has been since your last meeting. For example, 처음 뵙겠습니다 is used specifically when meeting someone for the very first time rather than as a general way to ask an acquaintance how they are. 안녕하세요? serves as a general greeting that functions as both 'Hello' and 'How are you?' 잘 지냈어요? is used to ask specifically about how someone has been since the last time you saw them. You can also combine forms, such as using 안녕하세요? with 어떻게 지내세요? for acquaintances or semi-formal situations.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase 잘 지냈어요? literally translates to 'Did you spend (time) well?'
Which one should you use?
While 안녕하세요? is a general greeting used for both 'Hello' and 'How are you?', 잘 지냈어요? asks specifically about how a person has been since your last meeting. If you are asking a person how they are doing, you might also use 어떻게 지내세요? or the formal 어떻게 지내시나요?
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
안녕하십니까? is a highly formal and respectful way to greet someone, suitable for business settings, news broadcasts or addressing someone of much higher social status. 처음 뵙겠습니다 and 안녕하십니까? are both formal. 안녕하세요? is a polite form. For casual settings, use 안녕? or 어떻게 지내? with close friends or people younger than you.
How do you pronounce it?
jal jinaesseoyo?
When do people say it?
When someone asks you 잘 지냈어요?, a common response is 네, 잘 지냈어요 (Yes, I've been well). Other possible responses to indicate your status include 괜찮아요 (I'm okay) or 그냥 그래요 (Just so-so). When addressing someone formally, it is common to use their name and a title, such as in the phrase 안녕하십니까, 홍길동 씨. 어떻게 지내시나요?
Did you know?
- In Korea, it is common to ask if someone has 'eaten rice' 밥 먹었어? as a way of saying 'how are you' or showing care.
- When saying 안녕하세요?, it is customary to accompany the phrase with a bow, with the depth of the bow indicating the level of respect.
- In Korean, the greeting 안녕하세요? literally translates to 'Are you at peace?' This reflects a cultural emphasis on the recipient's state of tranquility.
Examples in context
- 안녕하세요?How are you?This sentence shows the polite greeting 안녕하세요? used for 'How are you?'Tatoeba #10663803 by Adelpa, translation #373320 by CK
- 어떻게 지내세요?How are you doing?This sentence shows the way to ask 'How are you doing?' using 어떻게 지내세요?Tatoeba #8119491 by noget, translation #38926 by Zifre
- 잘 지냈어요?jal jinaess-eoyo?Have you been doing well?
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Ji-eun meets Do-hyeon after a long time at a cafe.
- 지은 Ji-eun도현 씨, 잘 지냈어요?Do-hyeon ssi, jal jinaess-eoyo?Do-hyeon, have you been doing well?
- 도현 Do-hyeon네, 지은 씨도 잘 지냈어요?ne, Ji-eun ssi-do jal jinaess-eoyo?Yes, have you been doing well too, Ji-eun?
- 지은 Ji-eun저도 잘 지냈어요.jeo-do jal jinaess-eoyo.I have been doing well too.
- 도현 Do-hyeon다행이네요.dahaeng-ineyo.That is a relief.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “how are you” translations and entries 처음 뵙겠습니다, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
