Ways to say it
| Korean | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 안녕히 주무십시오 | annyeonghi jumusipsio | |
| 안녕히 주무세요 | annyeonghi jumuseyo | |
| 잘 자요 | jal jayo | [t͡ɕa̠ʎd͡ʑa̠jo] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) |
| 잘 자 | jal ja |
These phrases are used as a farewell at the end of the day.
What does it mean word for word?
The informal form 잘 자 is composed of 잘, meaning "well" and 자, meaning "sleep".
Which one should you use?
While the informal 잘 자 literally means "sleep well", the polite versions 안녕히 주무세요 and 안녕히 주무십시오 literally mean "sleep peacefully".
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The informal 잘 자 is used with friends, siblings or people younger than you. The polite form 잘 자요 is a slightly more casual polite way to say good night. For more respect, use the polite 안녕히 주무세요, which is suitable for parents or people older than you. The most formal option is 안녕히 주무십시오, used toward elders or in highly formal settings.
How does it change in a sentence?
The verb 자다 (to sleep) changes to the honorific form 주무시다 in the polite and formal versions of this phrase.
How do you pronounce it?
jal ja
Did you know?
- The concept of 'peace' in 안녕히 is actually written with Chinese characters, 安 (peace) and 寧 (tranquility), reflecting the deep history of Sino-Korean influence.
- In a traditional Korean household, you would never use 잘 자 to a grandparent, even if you are very close, as age always dictates the level of politeness.
- The most formal version 안녕히 주무십시오 is often heard in historical K-dramas when servants or subordinates address royalty or nobility.
Examples in context
- 잘 자!Good night!This is an example of an informal "Good night!" using 잘 자.Tatoeba #13174788 by atitarev, translation #426950 by Pun_intended
- 잘 자요.Good night.This is an example of a polite "Good night." using 잘 자요.Tatoeba #10622379 by Adelpa, translation #2362724 by NotApplicable
- 이제 잘 자.ije jal ja.Now, go to sleep (good night).
- 2 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two roommates are getting ready for bed in their dorm.
- 서연 Seo-yeon오늘 정말 피곤했지?oneul jeongmal pigonhaetji?Today was really tiring, right?
- 도현 Do-hyeon응, 너무 졸려.eung, neomu jollyeo.Yeah, I'm so sleepy.
- 서연 Seo-yeon그래, 잘 자.geurae, jal ja.Okay, good night.
- 도현 Do-hyeon너도 잘 자.neodo jal ja.You too, good night.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “good night” translations and entries 잘 자요, 잘 자, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 안녕히, 자, 잘, 잘 자, 잘 자요, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
