how are you in korean
How to Say "How Are You" in Korean (잘 지냈어요?): What Koreans Actually Ask
잘 지냈어요?
jal jinaesseoyo?
Quick answer
The most natural way to say 'how are you' in Korean is 잘 지냈어요? (jal jinaesseoyo?) politely or 잘 지냈어? (jal jinaesseo?) casually — but this is used after not seeing someone for a while, not as an everyday passing greeting.
Common forms
| Register | Hangul | Romanization | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| casual | 잘 지냈어? | jal jinaesseo? | How have you been? — between close friends after some time apart. Drop-in with 오랜만이야! (long time no see!) to sound completely natural. |
| polite | 잘 지내셨어요? | jal jinaesyeosseoyo? | Honorific form using the -시- stem — adds genuine respect, appropriate for someone older, a teacher, or any adult you're meeting again after a gap. |
| simple check-in (casual) | 요즘 어때? | yojeum eottae? | How have things been lately? — works as a lighter, lower-stakes check-in without implying a long absence. More versatile in everyday friendship. |
| passing greeting alternative | 어디 가? | eodi ga? | Where are you going? — one of the most common Korean passing greetings. It's not intrusive; no detailed answer is expected. Saying it shows you noticed and acknowledged the other person. |
How it changes by relationship
오랜만이야! 잘 지냈어?
Oraenmaniya! Jal jinaesseo?
to a close friend after time apart: 오랜만이야 (long time no see) sets the reunion context, making 잘 지냈어? feel warm rather than formulaic.
오랜만에 뵙네요, 잘 지내셨어요?
Oraenmane boepneyo, jal jinaesyeosseoyo?
to someone older after time apart (polite): 뵙다 (boepda) is the humble form of 'to see someone' — using it here shows extra courtesy and is appreciated by elders.
요즘 어때? 잘 지내?
Yojeum eottae? Jal jinae?
texting a friend you haven't talked to: Two soft questions back-to-back is a natural Korean texting style — it sounds caring without being heavy.
어디 가? / 밥 먹었어?
Eodi ga? / Bap meogeosseo?
when meeting someone in passing on the street: Koreans use 'where are you going?' or 'have you eaten?' as casual social greetings — no detailed answer is expected, just a warm acknowledgment of the encounter.
Examples
잘 지냈어? 오래간만이다!
Jal jinaesseo? Oraegammanida!
How have you been? It's been so long!
요즘 어때요, 힘들지는 않아요?
Yojeum eottaeyo, himdeulji-neun anayo?
How are things lately — are you doing okay?
밥은 먹었어?
Babeun meogeosseo?
Have you eaten? (casual check-in)
Usage note
Unlike English where 'how are you?' functions as a reflexive greeting to anyone, Korean has no single phrase that serves this purpose. 잘 지냈어요? specifically implies you haven't seen someone in a meaningful stretch of time — using it every time you greet someone will sound oddly formal or worried. Instead, Koreans default to 안녕하세요 for polite hellos, or 밥 먹었어요? (have you eaten?) as a culturally warm check-in rooted in a time when meals were not guaranteed. If you want a genuine everyday check-in, 요즘 어때? is the most versatile choice.
Mini quiz
What is the primary Korean phrase for "how are you" here?
FAQ
Why do Koreans ask 'did you eat?' instead of 'how are you?'
밥 먹었어요? (have you eaten?) is a traditional expression of care — rooted in eras when food security was uncertain. Today it's a warm, low-stakes social greeting, not a literal inquiry about your last meal.
How do I reply to 잘 지냈어?
응, 잘 지냈어! 너는? (Yeah, I've been good! You?) is the natural reply — short, warm, and reciprocal. Adding 덕분에 (deokbune, thanks to you) sounds extra polite.
Is there a direct translation for 'how are you?'
어때요? (eottaeyo?) can mean 'how is it / how are you doing?' but it's situational and usually refers to something specific. 잘 지냈어요? is the closest structural equivalent.
How do I ask 'how are you?' formally in Korean?
잘 지내셨어요? (jal jinaesyeosseoyo?) with the honorific -시- is the respectful formal version — suitable for teachers, elders, or a boss you haven't seen in a while.
Can I say 잘 지냈어요? when I just saw someone yesterday?
It would sound odd — this phrase implies a meaningful gap. For a shorter absence or just showing care, 요즘 어때요? (how have things been lately?) is more natural.
What do Koreans say on the phone as a greeting?
여보세요 (yeoboseyo) is the standard phone greeting — it means something like 'hello? are you there?' and is used exclusively for phone calls, not in person.