잘 지냈어요?
The English phrase "how are you?" is translated into Korean as 잘 지냈어요?
While the English "how are you?" can be a generic greeting, 잘 지냈어요? implies a genuine inquiry into how the person has been since the last time you met.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase 잘 지냈어요? is composed of 잘 (well), 지내다 (to spend time/live) and the polite past tense ending 었어 (did/have been).
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The informal version 잘 지냈어? is used with close friends or people younger than you. The honorific form 잘 지내셨어요? is used when speaking to elders or people of higher social status.
When do people say it?
A common way to respond to this question is 네, 잘 지냈어요 (Yes, I've been well).
Did you know?
- In Korea, people often replace 잘 지냈어요? with questions about eating, such as 밥 먹었어?, which literally means 'did you eat rice?' This reflects a cultural history where checking on someone's meal was the most sincere way to show care for their well-being.
- The word 잘 used in this phrase is actually a shortened form of the older Korean word 자루.
- In a Korean social context, a single mistake in verb conjugation, such as forgetting the honorific -시-, can change a friendly greeting into a perceived social slight.
Examples in context
- 안녕하세요? 어떻게 지내세요?Hello? How are you?
- 안녕하세요? 잘 지내고 계세요?Hello? Are you doing well?
- 안녕하세요? 오늘 기분은 어떠세요?Hello? How do you feel today?
- 안녕? 어떻게 지내?Hey! How are you?
- 안녕! 잘 지냈어?Hi! How have you been?
- 헤이! 요즘 어떻게 지내?Hey! How have you been lately?
- 그동안 잘 지냈어요?geudong-an jal jinaesseoyo?Have you been doing well lately?
- 요즘 잘 지냈어요?yojeum jal jinaesseoyo?Have you been doing well these days?
- 오랜만이에요, 잘 지냈어요?oraenmanieyo, jal jinaesseoyo?It's been a long time, how are you?
Example conversation
Dohyun and Jieun meet at a cafe after a long time.
- 도현 Do-hyeon지은 씨, 오랜만이에요. 잘 지냈어요?Jieun-ssi, oraenmanieyo. jal jinaesseoyo?Jieun, it's been a long time. How are you?
- 지은 Ji-eun네, 저는 잘 지냈어요. 도현 씨는요?ne, jeoneun jal jinaesseoyo. Dohyun-ssineunyo?Yes, I've been doing well. How about you, Dohyun?
- 도현 Do-hyeon저도 잘 지냈어요.jeodo jal jinaesseoyo.I have been doing well too.
- 지은 Ji-eun정말 다행이네요.jeongmal dahaeng-ineyo.I am really glad to hear that.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 잘, CC BY-SA 4.0.
