What does 잘 자 (jal ja) mean?
- 잘 자jal ja
Good night / Sleep well
Casual: friends and people younger than you
잘 자 (jal ja) means "good night" or "sleep well" in Korean. It is casual, said to friends, partners, younger siblings and kids. It is a very common last text of the day.
Where it comes from
잘 means "well" and 자 is the casual command form of 자다 (to sleep), so it is literally "sleep well."
How to use 잘 자
Use it with people you talk to casually. Adding 요 (잘 자요) makes it polite.
For parents, grandparents or anyone you need to show respect to, say 안녕히 주무세요 (annyeonghi jumuseyo), which uses the honorific verb for sleeping.
People often pair it with 좋은 꿈 꿔 (sweet dreams).
Examples
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Saying good night to mom
Replying to a friend's good night text
Ending a group chat for the night
Other ways to say it
| Korean | Meaning | When |
|---|---|---|
| 잘 자요 | Good night (polite) | Polite form. |
| 안녕히 주무세요 | Good night (respectful) | For parents, elders and bosses. |
| 좋은 꿈 꿔 | Sweet dreams | Casual; literally "dream a good dream." |
| 굿밤 | Night night | Playful slang from "good" + 밤 (night). |
Hear it in songs
Real lines from songs broken down on Hanbok. Open a song to see every line explained.
Questions learners ask
Can I say jal ja to my parents?
Many families do, especially with 잘 자요. The most respectful option is 안녕히 주무세요.
How do you reply to jal ja?
Say 너도 잘 자 (neodo jal ja), "you too, sleep well."