How to Say How Are You in Korean
Learn how to say how are you in Korean. '잘 지내요?' (jal jinaeyo?) is the standard polite question, with casual and formal variations. Pronunciation guide and how to reply.
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Quick answer
To say 'how are you?' in Korean, say '잘 지내요?' (jal jinaeyo?, jal ji-NEH-yo) politely, meaning 'are you doing well?'. Casually with friends, drop the ending: '잘 지내?' (jal jinae?). A common reply is '네, 잘 지내요' (yes, I'm doing well). Note that Koreans use this more as 'how have you been?' than as a routine greeting.
잘 지내요?
/jal ji-NEH-yo/ — Korean
How to Say How Are You in Korean
In Korean, “how are you?” isn’t the reflexive greeting it is in English. 잘 지내요? is closer to “how have you been?” — something you ask someone you haven’t seen in a while.
The Standard Phrase
잘 지내요? — pronounced jal ji-NEH-yo (polite)
This literally asks “are you getting along well?” and is the most common polite way to check in on someone.
Copy the Phrase
The Korean phrase for “how are you?” is 잘 지내요? (jal ji-NEH-yo). Casually it becomes 잘 지내? (jal jinae?).
Formal vs. Informal
| Korean | Romanization | Pronunciation | Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| 잘 지내? | jal jinae? | jal ji-NEH | Casual — close friends, younger people |
| 잘 지내요? | jal jinaeyo? | jal ji-NEH-yo | Polite — the safe everyday choice |
| 잘 지내세요? | jal jinaeseyo? | jal ji-NEH-seh-yo | More polite/honorific — elders, respect |
| 어떻게 지내세요? | eotteoke jinaeseyo? | uh-DDUH-keh ji-NEH-seh-yo | Formal — “how are you getting along?” |
| 잘 지내십니까? | jal jinaesimnikka? | jal ji-NEH-sim-nee-kka | Very formal — business, formal speech |
A Greeting, Not a Reflex
Unlike English, Korean doesn’t tack “how are you?” onto every “hello”. Asking 잘 지내요? signals you genuinely want to know how the person has been — so it fits reunions, catching up, and people you haven’t seen recently. For a simple daily hello, just say 안녕하세요.
How to Answer
| Korean | Romanization | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 네, 잘 지내요 | ne, jal jinaeyo | Yes, I’m doing well |
| 잘 지내요, 고마워요 | jal jinaeyo, gomawoyo | I’m well, thanks |
| 그냥 그래요 | geunyang geuraeyo | So-so / nothing special |
| 요즘 좀 바빠요 | yojeum jom bappayo | I’ve been a bit busy lately |
| 잘 못 지내요 | jal mot jinaeyo | Not doing great |
Then return the question:
- ○○ 씨는요? — And you, Mr./Ms. ○○? (polite)
- 너는? — And you? (casual)
Related Phrases
| Korean | Romanization | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 요즘 어때요? | yojeum eottaeyo? | How are things these days? |
| 별일 없어요? | byeoril eopseoyo? | Anything new? / All good? |
| 밥 먹었어요? | bap meogeosseoyo? | Have you eaten? (a caring greeting) |
| 오랜만이에요 | oraenmanieyo | Long time no see |
Pronunciation Tips
- 잘 (jal): one short syllable, “jal” with a soft “l”.
- 지내요 (jinaeyo): “ji-NEH-yo” — the “ae” (ㅐ) sounds like the “e” in “bed”.
- Because it’s a question, let your voice rise gently at the end.
Cultural Notes
A famously Korean way to show care is to ask 밥 먹었어요? (“have you eaten?”). It functions almost like “how are you?” — a warm check-in rooted in a culture where sharing food signals concern for someone’s well-being. So if a Korean friend asks whether you’ve eaten, they aren’t necessarily inviting you to dinner; they’re simply being kind, much like asking “how are you?”.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you say how are you in Korean?
The standard polite phrase is '잘 지내요?' (jal jinaeyo?, jal ji-NEH-yo), literally 'are you living/getting along well?'. Casually it is '잘 지내?' (jal jinae?). More formally you can say '잘 지내세요?' (jal jinaeseyo?) or '어떻게 지내세요?' (eotteoke jinaeseyo?, 'how are you getting along?').
How do you pronounce 잘 지내요?
'잘 지내요' is pronounced jal ji-NEH-yo. '잘' (jal) rhymes with 'doll' said softly; '지내요' (jinaeyo) is 'ji-NEH-yo', with the stress on 'NEH'. Korean stress is light, so keep it even and end on a gentle rising tone since it is a question.
What does 잘 지내요 literally mean?
'잘 지내요' literally means 'are you getting along/living well?'. '잘' (jal) means 'well', and '지내요' comes from '지내다' (jinaeda), 'to spend time / get along / live'. So you are really asking 'have you been doing well lately?', which is why it suits people you haven't seen in a while.
How do you answer 잘 지내요 in Korean?
Common replies: '네, 잘 지내요' (yes, I'm doing well), '잘 지내요, 고마워요' (I'm well, thanks), '그냥 그래요' (so-so), or '잘 못 지내요' (not doing great). Then return the question: '○○ 씨는요?' (and you, Mr./Ms. ○○?) or casually '너는?' (and you?).
Do Koreans say 'how are you' as a greeting like in English?
Not exactly. Koreans don't use 'how are you?' as an automatic greeting the way English speakers do. '잘 지내요?' is more like 'how have you been?' and is used when you haven't seen someone for a while. For a routine hello, Koreans simply say '안녕하세요' without expecting a status update.