어떻게 지내세요?
eotteoke jinaeseyo?
The English phrase "how are you?" can be translated into Korean as 어떻게 지내세요? (eotteoke jinaeseyo?)
This phrase is a polite greeting used to ask someone how their life has been since the last time you met. A very common alternative is 잘 지냈어요?, which focuses on whether the person has been doing well rather than the method of their living.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of 어떻게 (how) and 지내세요 (to spend time/live/get along) in a polite form.
Which one should you use?
You can use 잘 지내시죠? to specifically ask, "Are you doing well?" If you want to ask "How have you been?", you should use the informal 어떻게 지냈어?
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
For highly formal or professional settings, use 어떻게 지내십니까? The standard polite form is 어떻게 지내세요? If you are speaking with close friends or people younger than you, use the informal 어떻게 지내?
How do you pronounce it?
eotteoke jinaeseyo?
What mistakes should you avoid?
Do not use 안녕? to mean "How are you?" While it is a common greeting meaning "Hi" or "Hello", it is a greeting, not a question about one's well-being.
When do people say it?
When someone asks you 어떻게 지내세요?, a standard polite response is 잘 지내요 (I am doing well).
Did you know?
- In Korea, asking 'Have you eaten?' (밥 먹었어?) often functions as a warmer, more caring version of 'How are you?' than the standard 어떻게 지내세요?
- While English speakers use 'how are you' as a ritual greeting with strangers, Koreans rarely use 어떻게 지내세요? for people they have never met.
- Koreans may respond to 어떻게 지내세요? by complaining slightly about being busy or tired, as this is often seen as more humble and authentic than a perfect 'I am doing well'.
Examples in context
- 안녕하세요? 어떻게 지내세요?Hello, how are you doing?
- 잘 지내시죠?Are you doing well?
- 안녕! 어떻게 지내?Hi! How are you?
- 오랜만이야, 어떻게 지냈어?Long time no see, how have you been?
- 그동안 어떻게 지내세요?geudong-an eotteoke jinaeseyo?How have you been lately?
- 요즘 어떻게 지내세요?yojeum eotteoke jinaeseyo?How are you getting along these days?
Example conversation
Two acquaintances meet by chance at a cafe.
- 도현 Do-hyeon수빈 씨, 오랜만이에요. 어떻게 지내세요?Subin-ssi, oraenmanieyo. eotteoke jinaeseyo?Subin, it has been a long time. How are you?
- 수빈 Su-bin도현 씨, 잘 지내고 있어요.Dohyeon-ssi, jal jinaego isseoyo.Dohyeon, I am doing well.
- 도현 Do-hyeon정말 다행이네요.jeongmal dahaeng-ineyo.I am really glad to hear that.
- 수빈 Su-bin도현 씨도 잘 지내고 있죠?Dohyeon-ssido jal jinaego itjyo?You are doing well too, right?
