How to Say “How Are You” in Korean: 잘 지내 (jal jinae)
“Jal jinae?” asks “Are you doing well?” and “Jal jinae” (statement) means “take care.” It’s how Koreans ask after and wish well to each other.
“Jal jinae?” asks “Are you doing well?” and “Jal jinae” (statement) means “take care.” It’s how Koreans ask after and wish well to each other.
잘 지내 (jal jinae) — how are you / take care
How it feels and when to use it
Note: Korean doesn’t use a literal “How are you?” with strangers the way English does. “Jal jinae?” is for people you actually know and haven’t seen in a while.
Politeness levels
- 잘 지내? (jal jinae?) — Casual (반말): with close friends and people younger than you
- 잘 지내요? (jal jinaeyo?) — Polite (해요체): the safe everyday level for most people
- 잘 지내십니까? (jal jinaesimnikka?) — Formal (합쇼체): in business, announcements, and to elders
Real examples from native Korean
Here’s how native speakers actually use 잘 지내 in real Korean:
- 잘 지내라 — Pork cutlet!
- 잘 지냈어? — How have you been?
- 너도 잘 지내라 — What?
A common mistake to avoid
Not a greeting for strangers — Don’t open with “jal jinaeyo?” to someone you just met — it implies you already know them. Use “annyeonghaseyo” for first meetings.
Related expressions
- 어떻게 지내 (eotteoke jinae) — how have you been
- 안녕 (annyeong) — hi / bye
Want to hear 잘 지내 spoken by real Koreans? Search it on Langle and watch it across dozens of real video clips.
Frequently asked questions
- What does “잘 지내” mean in Korean?
- “Jal jinae?” asks “Are you doing well?” and “Jal jinae” (statement) means “take care.” It’s how Koreans ask after and wish well to each other. It’s romanized as “jal jinae.”
- Is “잘 지내” formal or casual?
- “잘 지내?” is casual (반말); “잘 지내요?” is polite (해요체); “잘 지내십니까?” is formal (합쇼체). Match the level to who you’re talking to.
- How do you pronounce “잘 지내”?
- It’s pronounced “jal jinae.” Not a greeting for strangers: Don’t open with “jal jinaeyo?” to someone you just met — it implies you already know them. Use “annyeonghaseyo” for first meetings.
- When should I use “잘 지내”?
- Note: Korean doesn’t use a literal “How are you?” with strangers the way English does. “Jal jinae?” is for people you actually know and haven’t seen in a while.
- What can I say instead of “잘 지내”?
- Try “어떻게 지내” (how have you been) or “안녕” (hi / bye).