진짜
jinjja[t͡ɕiɲt͡ɕ͈a̠]
jinjja is the Korean expression for 'really' or 'for real'.
진짜 is an expression used to ask for confirmation or to express surprise. When used with a rising intonation as a question, 진짜? functions as 'Really?' to express disbelief or to seek confirmation.
Which one should you use?
While jinjja is very common in casual speech, jeongmal is often perceived as slightly more formal or polite.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
To use it in a polite way, such as when speaking to a stranger or someone older, you should add the polite ending '-yeyo' to make it 진짜예요.
How does it change in a sentence?
Adding the particle '-ro' to 진짜 turns it into the adverb 진짜로, which means 'really' or 'truly' in a more grammatically complete sense.
How do you pronounce it?
jinjja
Did you know?
- While 진짜 and 정말 both mean 'really', 진짜 originally referred to something being 'genuine' or 'authentic' as opposed to a fake.
- The first part of 진짜, 진, comes from the Chinese character for 'truth' (眞).
- To convey extreme disbelief or urgency, Koreans may repeat the word rapidly as jinjja jinjja jinjja?, which carries more weight than a single use.
Examples in context
- 이 사진은 정말 예쁘다.This picture is really beautiful.
- 진짜? 너 정말 그렇게 생각해?Really? Do you genuinely think so?
- 진짜로 맛있어!It's really delicious!
- 진짜요?jinjja-yo?Really?
- 진짜 맛있어요.jinjja masisseoyo.It is really delicious.
- 그거 진짜예요?geugeo jinjja-ye-yo?Is that for real?
Example conversation
Jihoon tells Jieun some surprising news about a movie.
- 지훈 Ji-hun이 영화 진짜 재미있어요.i yeonghwa jinjja jaemiisseoyo.This movie is really fun.
- 지은 Ji-eun진짜요? 저도 보고 싶어요.jinjja-yo? jeodo bogo sipeoyo.Really? I want to see it too.
- 지훈 Ji-hun내일 같이 보러 갈까요?naeil gatchi boreo galkkayo?Shall we go see it together tomorrow?
- 지은 Ji-eun좋아요, 같이 가요!joayo, gatchi gayo!Great, let's go together!
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry 진짜, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 진짜, CC BY-SA 4.0.
