How to Say Good Night in Korean
Learn how to say good night in Korean. 'Jal ja' is casual (sleep well); 'Annyeonghi jumuseyo' is formal. Hangul, pronunciation, and Korean politeness levels.
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Quick answer
To say good night in Korean, say 'Jal ja' (잘 자, jal JA) casually with friends, meaning 'sleep well.' Formally, say 'Annyeonghi jumuseyo' (안녕히 주무세요, an-nyong-hee joo-moo-se-yo) to elders. A polite middle option is 'Jal jayo' (잘 자요). Korean good-night phrases change based on the politeness level for the listener.
잘 자
/jal JA/ — Korean
How to Say Good Night in Korean
Saying good night in Korean comes down to one thing: who are you talking to? Korean adjusts the phrase based on the respect owed to the listener, so the casual “sleep well” you say to a friend differs from the honorific version you offer an elder. Here is how to get it right.
The Casual Phrase: Jal ja
잘 자 (Jal ja) — pronounced jal JA — literally means “sleep well.” It is the everyday, casual good night for friends, partners, siblings, and anyone younger than you. Jal (잘) means “well,” and ja (자) is the casual form of jada (자다), “to sleep.”
| Korean | Romanization | Register |
|---|---|---|
| 잘 자 | Jal ja | Casual (close people) |
| 잘 자요 | Jal jayo | Polite |
| 안녕히 주무세요 | Annyeonghi jumuseyo | Formal / honorific |
The Formal Phrase: Annyeonghi jumuseyo
To wish an elder, parent, parent-in-law, or anyone you deeply respect a good night, use 안녕히 주무세요 (Annyeonghi jumuseyo) — an-nyong-hee joo-moo-se-yo. It uses the honorific verb jumusida (주무시다, the respectful word for “to sleep”) and means roughly “please sleep peacefully.”
You will notice annyeonghi (안녕히) here — the same root found in the Korean word annyeong (안녕, hello/peace) and the formal goodbye annyeonghi gaseyo. The shared root is the concept of peace.
Pronunciation Guide
| Phrase | Break it down |
|---|---|
| 잘 자 (Jal ja) | jal + JA |
| 잘 자요 (Jal jayo) | jal + JA + yo |
| 안녕히 주무세요 (Annyeonghi jumuseyo) | an + nyong + hee + joo + moo + se + yo |
Keep syllables even and gentle. The honorific phrase is longer but flows smoothly once you break it into beats.
Adding Sweetness: Sweet Dreams
To make a good night warm and affectionate:
| Korean | Romanization | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 좋은 꿈 꿔 | Joeun kkum kkwo | Sweet dreams (casual) |
| 좋은 꿈 꾸세요 | Joeun kkum kkuseyo | Sweet dreams (polite) |
| 잘 자, 내 꿈 꿔 | Jal ja, nae kkum kkwo | Good night, dream of me (flirty) |
The phrase 내 꿈 꿔 (nae kkum kkwo) — “dream of me” — is a cute, flirtatious add-on between partners.
Choosing the Right Level
| You’re speaking to | Use |
|---|---|
| Close friend, partner, younger sibling | Jal ja |
| Someone you’re polite with | Jal jayo |
| Parent, elder, boss, in-law | Annyeonghi jumuseyo |
Using casual Jal ja with an elder can sound disrespectful, while using the long honorific phrase with a close friend would feel oddly stiff. Matching the level is everything in Korean.
Useful Sentences
- 잘 자, 좋은 꿈 꿔. (Jal ja, joeun kkum kkwo.) — Good night, sweet dreams. (casual)
- 안녕히 주무세요, 어머니. (Annyeonghi jumuseyo, eomeoni.) — Good night, Mother. (formal)
- 내일 봐, 잘 자. (Naeil bwa, jal ja.) — See you tomorrow, good night.
- 푹 자. (Puk ja.) — Sleep deeply / rest well.
Quick Recap
Say Jal ja (jal JA, “sleep well”) for a casual good night, Jal jayo for polite, and Annyeonghi jumuseyo (an-nyong-hee joo-moo-se-yo) for elders and formal respect. Add joeun kkum kkwo for sweet dreams. As always in Korean, the politeness level you choose is the real key.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Jal ja literally mean?
'Jal ja' (잘 자) literally means 'sleep well' — 'jal' (잘) means 'well' and 'ja' (자) is the casual form of 'jada' (to sleep). It's the everyday, casual way to say good night to friends, partners, and people younger than you. The fuller polite form is 'Jal jayo' (잘 자요).
How do you say good night formally in Korean?
Say 'Annyeonghi jumuseyo' (안녕히 주무세요) to elders, parents-in-law, or anyone you respect. It uses the honorific verb 'jumusida' (to sleep, honorific) and literally means 'please sleep peacefully.' This is the respectful good-night phrase you'd use with seniors.
How do you pronounce Annyeonghi jumuseyo?
It's an-nyong-hee joo-moo-se-yo. 'Annyeonghi' is an-nyong-hee (the same root as 'annyeong,' hello/peace), and 'jumuseyo' is joo-moo-se-yo. Six syllables, evenly timed. The phrase shares 'annyeonghi' with the formal goodbye, both rooted in the word for peace.
What is the difference between Jal ja and Jal jayo?
'Jal ja' (잘 자) is casual — for close friends, partners, and younger people. 'Jal jayo' (잘 자요) adds the polite '-yo' ending, making it suitable for people you're polite with but not deeply formal toward. For elders and full respect, use 'Annyeonghi jumuseyo' instead.
How do you say sweet dreams in Korean?
'Joeun kkum kkwo' (좋은 꿈 꿔) means 'have a good dream / sweet dreams' (casual). Politely: 'Joeun kkum kkuseyo' (좋은 꿈 꾸세요). It's often added after 'Jal ja' — 'Jal ja, joeun kkum kkwo' (Good night, sweet dreams), a sweet thing to text someone you care about.