이제 잘게
ije jalge
The phrase 'I will sleep now' in Korean is expressed as 이제 잘게 (ije jalge).
This phrase is used to tell someone that you are going to bed or going to sleep now. Depending on the form used, you can focus on the act of sleeping itself or the movement of going to bed.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of 이제, which means 'now' and 잘게, which means 'will sleep'.
Which one should you use?
While 이제 잘게 focuses on the act of sleeping, the variation 자러 갈게 focuses on the movement of going to bed.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
To make the phrase polite and suitable for speaking to elders or people you are not close with, you can add the suffix '-요' to the end to say 이제 잘게요. For a more formal context, you might use 저는 지금 자려고 합니다 or 자러 갈게요.
How does it change in a sentence?
The ending '-ㄹ게' in 잘게 is used to express a promise or an intention to the listener.
How do you pronounce it?
ije jalge
Did you know?
- In Korean culture, instead of saying 'I will sleep now', people often use the phrase 먼저 잘게 which means 'I will sleep first'. This acknowledges that others may still be awake and active.
- In Korean, the verb 자다 is used not only for people but also to describe a computer or machine entering a 'sleep' or dormant mode.
- The word 이제 is a combination of 이, meaning 'this', and 제, meaning 'when'.
Examples in context
- 이제 잘게.ije jalge.I will sleep now.
- 피곤해서 이제 잘게.pigonhaeseo ije jalge.I'm tired, so I will sleep now.
- 내일 봐, 이제 잘게.naeil bwa, ije jalge.See you tomorrow, I will sleep now.
Example conversation
Jihoon and Minji are talking on the phone late at night.
- 지훈 Ji-hun민지야, 아직 안 자?Minji-ya, ajik an ja?Minji, are you not sleeping yet?
- 민지 Min-ji응, 조금 더 하려고.Eung, jogeum deo haryeogo.No, I'm going to do a little more.
- 지훈 Ji-hun너무 늦었어. 나 이제 잘게.Neomu neujeosseo. Na ije jalge.It's too late. I will sleep now.
- 민지 Min-ji그래, 지훈아 잘 자.Geurae, Jihoon-a jal ja.Okay, good night, Jihoon.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 이제, CC BY-SA 4.0.
