잘 지내요, 당신은요?
jal jinaeyo, dangsineunyo?
To say "I am fine, how are you?" in Korean, use 잘 지내요, 당신은요? (jal jinaeyo, dangsineunyo?)
This phrase is a polite response to a greeting that confirms you are doing well and then asks the other person about their well-being.
What does it mean word for word?
The second part of the phrase, 당신은요?, uses the topic marker 은 and the polite particle 요 to ask "And what about you?"
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
While 잘 지내요, 당신은요? is a standard polite way to respond, using 잘 지내요, 어떻게 지내세요? is considered a more natural and polite way to ask "How are you doing?" in standard social settings.
How do you pronounce it?
jal jinaeyo, dangsineunyo?
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often over-use the word 당신 because it translates to "you", but in Korean, it can sound confrontational or overly formal/romantic depending on the context. It is often better to use the person's name or title instead of 당신.
Did you know?
- In Korea, a common way to ask how someone is doing is 밥 먹었어?, which literally means 'did you eat rice?' This phrase functions as a greeting of care rather than a literal question about a meal.
- Depending on the context, the word 당신 can be used exclusively between spouses to express intimacy or romance. Outside of a relationship, it is rarely used in friendly, polite conversation.
- The word 잘 in 잘 지내요 is thought by some linguists to be a shortened form of the native Korean word 자루.
Examples in context
- 안녕하세요? 어떻게 지내세요?Hello? How are you?
- 잘 지내셨어요?Have you been well?
- 안녕! 어떻게 지내?Hey! How are you?
- 잘 지내?Are you doing well?
Example conversation
Minji and Minjun meet at a cafe after a long time.
- 민지 Min-ji민준 씨, 오랜만이에요. 잘 지냈어요?Minjun ssi, oraenman-ieyo. jal jinaesseoyo?Minjun, it has been a long time. Have you been well?
- 민준 Min-jun네, 잘 지내요, 당신은요?ne, jal jinaeyo, dangsineun-yo?Yes, I am fine, how are you?
- 민지 Min-ji저도 아주 잘 지냈어요.jeodo aju jal jinaesseoyo.I have been doing very well too.
- 민준 Min-jun다행이네요. 같이 커피 마셔요.dahaeng-ineyo. gati keopi masyeoyo.That's a relief. Let's have coffee together.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 잘, CC BY-SA 4.0.
