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 a standard polite form, you can use 어떻게 지내시나요? for a polite and formal way to ask "how are you doing?" For very formal settings like business or speaking to superiors, use 잘 지내십니까? If you are speaking casually to someone you are familiar with, you can use 안녕? to say "Hello" or "Hi" or use 어떻게 지내? and 잘 지내? to ask how they are.
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 form. For a more polite and formal manner, use 어떻게 지내시나요? or 안녕하십니까? In highly formal situations like business settings, use 잘 지내십니까? For casual situations with close friends or people younger than you, use 안녕?, 어떻게 지내? or 잘 지내?
How does it change in a sentence?
Removing the -요 ending from 잘 지내요? to make it 잘 지내? makes the phrase informal. Using the -습니까 ending to create 잘 지내십니까? makes the phrase highly formal.
How do you pronounce it?
jal jinaeyo?
When do people say it?
When someone asks you this, a standard response is to state 잘 지내요. (I am doing well) or 네, 잘 지내요 (Yes, I am doing well).
Did you know?
- Instead of asking 'how are you', Koreans often use the phrase 밥 먹었어? (Did you eat rice?) to perform the same social function of checking on your well-being.
- While English speakers use 'how are you' as a passing greeting, asking 잘 지내요? in Korean often implies a genuine interest in the person's recent life events since your last meeting.
- Using the highly formal 잘 지내십니까? with a close friend can sound sarcastic or ironic, as if you are treating them like a distant stranger.
Examples in context
- 잘 지내요?jal jinaeyo?How are you doing?
- 요즘 잘 지내요?yojeum jal jinaeyo?Are you doing well these days?
Example conversation
Two acquaintances meet by chance on the street.
- 서연 Seo-yeon지훈 씨, 잘 지내요?Jihun ssi, jal jinaeyo?Jihun, how are you doing?
- 지훈 Ji-hun네, 서연 씨도 잘 지내요?Ne, Seoyeon ssi-do jal jinaeyo?Yes, are you doing well too, Seoyeon?
- 서연 Seo-yeon저도 잘 지내요.Jeodo jal jinaeyo.I am doing well too.
- 지훈 Ji-hun다행이네요.Dahaeng-ineyo.That's good to hear.
