how are you
jal jinaesseoyo
This phrase is the standard way to ask someone how they have been doing. Literally translating to "Have you spent [your time] well?", it acts as a polite inquiry into the other person's general well-being or state of life since you last met. It is versatile and used across most social contexts. In a formal setting, you would use "잘 지내셨어요?" (jal jinaesyeosseoyo), while among close friends, you might simply shorten it to "잘 지내?" (jal jinae?). It is rarely used with total strangers, as it assumes a pre-existing connection.
In conversation
Checking in with a colleague
김 대리님, 오랜만이에요. 잘 지내셨어요?
Assistant Manager Kim, it's been a while. How have you been?
네, 덕분에 잘 지냈습니다. 과장님은요?
Yes, I've been well, thanks to you. How about you, Manager?
Using honorific endings is essential in professional settings.
Meeting a friend at a cafe
야! 진짜 오랜만이다. 잘 지냈어?
Hey! It's been so long. How have you been?
응, 완전 바빴어. 너는?
Yeah, I've been super busy. How about you?
Casual speech drops the honorific suffixes and is very direct.
Examples
잘 지내셨어요?
jal jinaesyeosseoyo
Have you been well?
요즘 어떻게 잘 지내고 계세요?
yojeum eotteoke jal jinaego gyeseyo
How have you been doing these days?
그동안 별일 없이 잘 지내셨는지 궁금하네요.
geudongan byeolil eopsi jal jinaesyeonneunji gunggeumhaneyo
I was wondering if you have been doing well without any issues during the meantime.
