잘 지냈어요?
How to say “how are you” in Korean A1
Koreans rarely say “how are you” — learn what they say instead: 잘 지냈어요?, 밥 먹었어요?, 별일 없어요?
Every form, from formal to casual
There is no everyday “How are you?” exchanged with strangers; 안녕하세요 already asks it. Between people who know each other, these are the real ones.
| Korean | Romanization | Level | Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| 잘 지내셨어요? | jal jinaesyeosseoyo? | Honorific | Elders / seniors you haven’t seen in a while |
| 잘 지냈어요? | jal jinaesseoyo? | Polite | Acquaintances |
| 잘 지내? | jal jinae? | Casual | Friends |
| 밥 먹었어요? | bap meogeosseoyo? | Polite | Literal “did you eat?” = warm hello |
| 별일 없어요? | byeoril eopseoyo? | Polite | Anything new? |
| 요즘 어때요? | yojeum eottaeyo? | Polite | How are things lately? |
Which one do I actually use?
Answers: 네, 잘 지냈어요 (“yes, I’ve been well”), 그냥 그래요 (“so-so”), 바빠요 (“busy”). To 밥 먹었어요? answer honestly about food — 네, 먹었어요 — it is a greeting, but the reply is still literal. Do not translate “how are you” as 어떻게 지내세요? to a shop clerk; it sounds like an interview question.
Pronunciation notes
- 잘 지냈어요
지냈어요 → [지내써요]: ㅆ batchim moves onto 어.
- 밥 먹었어요
밥 먹 → [밤먹]: ㅂ before ㅁ nasalizes to ㅁ.
Vocabulary set
Cards are saved in this browser and scheduled with spaced repetition.
Quick drill
Common mistakes
- ✗ 어떻게 지내세요? as a daily hello to strangers✓ 안녕하세요Koreans do not ask strangers how they are; 안녕하세요 covers it.
- ✗ Answering 밥 먹었어요? with “I’m fine”✓ 네, 먹었어요It is a greeting, but the reply stays about food.
Example sentences
FAQ
How do you say “how are you” in Korean?
Between acquaintances: 잘 지냈어요? (“have you been well?”). Casual: 잘 지내? Koreans also use 밥 먹었어요? (“have you eaten?”) as a warm hello.
How do you answer 잘 지냈어요?
네, 잘 지냈어요 (“yes, well”), 그냥 그래요 (“so-so”), or 바빴어요 (“I was busy”).
Why do Koreans ask if I have eaten?
밥 먹었어요? is a traditional way of showing care. Answer literally: 네, 먹었어요 or 아직 안 먹었어요.
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