잘 자요
How to say good night in Korean A1
안녕히 주무세요, 잘 자요, 잘 자, 좋은 꿈 꿔 — good night by relationship, plus “sweet dreams.”
Every form, from formal to casual
Good night is built from the verb “to sleep”: plain 자다, honorific 주무시다. The verb changes with the person, not just the ending.
| Korean | Romanization | Level | Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| 안녕히 주무세요 | annyeonghi jumuseyo | Honorific | Parents, elders, hosts |
| 잘 자요 | jal jayo | Polite | Acquaintances, partner early on |
| 잘 자 | jal ja | Casual | Friends, partner, kids |
| 좋은 꿈 꿔 | joeun kkum kkwo | Casual | Sweet dreams |
| 푹 쉬세요 | puk swiseyo | Polite | Rest well (also daytime) |
| 굿나잇 | gunnait | Slang | Texting |
Which one do I actually use?
Staying at a Korean home: 안녕히 주무세요 to the parents, 잘 자 to your friend. Texting a partner: 잘 자, 좋은 꿈 꿔. There is no “good evening” greeting on arrival — use 안녕하세요.
Pronunciation notes
- 안녕히 주무세요
주무세요 ju-mu-se-yo; the honorific stem 주무시 + 어요 → 주무세요.
- 좋은 꿈 꿔
좋은 → [조은]; 꿈 꿔 has two tensed ㄲ — tight, no puff of air.
Vocabulary set
Cards are saved in this browser and scheduled with spaced repetition.
Quick drill
Common mistakes
- ✗ 잘 자요 to your host mother✓ 안녕히 주무세요Elders take the honorific verb 주무시다.
- ✗ 좋은 밤 as “good night” (calque)✓ 잘 자 / 안녕히 주무세요좋은 밤 is not an idiom for good night.
Example sentences
안녕히 주무세요. 내일 봬요.
annyeonghi jumuseyo. naeil bwaeyo.
Good night. See you tomorrow (honorific).
잘 자, 좋은 꿈 꿔!
jal ja, joeun kkum kkwo!
Good night, sweet dreams!
FAQ
How do you say good night in Korean?
잘 자 (casual), 잘 자요 (polite), 안녕히 주무세요 (honorific, to elders).
How do you say sweet dreams in Korean?
좋은 꿈 꿔 (casual) or 좋은 꿈 꾸세요 (polite).
Is there a “good evening” greeting in Korean?
Not in daily use. 안녕하세요 is used at any hour.
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