잘 지냈어요?
jal jinaesseoyo?
In Korean, "how are you?" is expressed as 잘 지냈어요? (jal jinaesseoyo?)
This phrase is used as a greeting when you encounter someone after a period of absence, rather than as a daily "hello" to a stranger. It specifically implies a period of time has passed since your last encounter.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of 잘 (well), 지내다 (to spend time/live) and the past tense polite ending.
Which one should you use?
Unlike the English 'How are you?' which can be a generic greeting, 잘 지냈어요? specifically implies a period of time has passed since your last encounter.
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase uses the -어요 ending, making it appropriate for speaking to people you are not intimate with or those older than you. Removing the 요 from the end makes the phrase informal and suitable for close friends or younger people, resulting in 잘 지냈어?
How do you pronounce it?
jal jinaesseoyo?
When do people say it?
A standard way to respond to this question is to say 네, 잘 지냈어요 followed by asking the other person how they have been.
Did you know?
- In Korean culture, asking 'how are you?' is often skipped in favor of asking if you have eaten, using phrases like 밥 먹었어? (did you eat?).
- The word 잘 in 잘 지냈어요? is a native Korean word, meaning it does not originate from Chinese characters, which make up a huge portion of the Korean lexicon.
- In very formal settings, such as business or with elders, one might switch from 잘 지냈어요? to the much more respectful 잘 지내셨어요?, adding the honorific -시-.
Examples in context
- 그동안 잘 지냈어요?geudong-an jal jinaesseoyo?Have you been doing well lately?
- 요즘 잘 지냈어요?yojeum jal jinaesseoyo?Have you been doing well these days?
- 다들 잘 지냈어요?dadeul jal jinaesseoyo?Has everyone been doing well?
Example conversation
Subin and Minjun run into each other at a cafe.
- 수빈 Su-bin민준 씨, 잘 지냈어요?Minjun-ssi, jal jinaesseoyo?Minjun, how have you been?
- 민준 Min-jun네, 잘 지냈어요. 수빈 씨는요?Ne, jal jinaesseoyo. Subin-ssineun-yo?Yes, I've been well. How about you, Subin?
- 수빈 Su-bin저도 잘 지냈어요.Jeodo jal jinaesseoyo.I have been doing well too.
- 민준 Min-jun정말 다행이네요.Jeongmal dahaeng-ineyo.I'm really glad to hear that.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 잘, CC BY-SA 4.0.
