잘 지내고 있어요
jal jinaego isseoyo
In Korean, the phrase "I am doing well" is expressed as 잘 지내고 있어요 (jal jinaego isseoyo).
This phrase is used as a response to tell someone that your life is going well when they ask how you are.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of 잘 (well), 지내고 있다 (to be spending/passing time) and the polite ending 어요.
Which one should you use?
While 잘 지내고 있어요 is the default, you may encounter 잘 지내요, which is a more common, slightly less continuous way to say "I am doing well" in daily conversation.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
There are several levels of formality depending on the setting. 잘 지내고 있습니다 is used in highly formal settings, such as business environments or when speaking to superiors. For informal situations, you can use 잘 지내고 있어 or 잘 지내. when speaking to friends or people younger than you.
How does it change in a sentence?
The shorter form 잘 지내요 is a more common way to express the idea in daily conversation compared to the continuous form.
How do you pronounce it?
jal jinaego isseoyo
Did you know?
- While 잘 지내고 있어요 is the literal translation for 'I am doing well', Koreans often answer a 'how are you' question by talking about their health or appetite, such as saying they have 'eaten well'.
- The word 잘 is so versatile that it can be used sarcastically to mean 'just great' when something goes wrong, similar to how an English speaker might say 'Well, this is just great'.
- In casual speech, the phrase 잘 지내 can be used as a parting wish meaning 'take care' or 'stay well' rather than just a response to a question.
Examples in context
- 네, 잘 지내고 있어요.ne, jal jinaego isseoyo.Yes, I am doing well.
- 저는 아주 잘 지내고 있어요.jeoneun aju jal jinaego isseoyo.I am doing very well.
Example conversation
Two friends meet at a cafe after a long time.
- 현우 Hyeon-woo민지 씨, 그동안 어떻게 지냈어요?Minji ssi, geudongan eotteoke jinaesseoyo?Minji, how have you been?
- 민지 Min-ji저야 잘 지내고 있어요. 현우 씨는요?jeoya jal jinaego isseoyo. Hyeonwu ssi-neunyo?I am doing well. How about you, Hyeonwu?
- 현우 Hyeon-woo저도 잘 지내고 있어요.jeodo jal jinaego isseoyo.I am doing well too.
- 민지 Min-ji다행이네요. 정말 반가워요!dahaeng-ineyo. jeongmal bangawoyo!That's a relief. It's so good to see you!
