What does 잘 지냈어요 (jal jinaesseoyo) mean?
- 잘 지냈어요jal jinaesseoyo
How have you been?
Polite: safe with most people
잘 지냈어요 (jal jinaesseoyo) means "How have you been?" in Korean when said as a question. It is the polite way to greet someone you have not seen for a while. Said as a statement, it means "I've been well."
Where it comes from
잘 means "well," and 지냈어요 is the polite past form of 지내다, "to get along" or "to live (day to day)." So it literally means "Did you get along well?"
How to use 잘 지냈어요
Use it when you meet someone after weeks, months or years. It often comes with 오랜만이에요 (long time no see).
The answer uses the same words: 네, 잘 지냈어요 (yes, I've been well). Then ask back with 잘 지냈어요?
With friends, say 잘 지냈어? With someone older or a boss, the respectful 잘 지내셨어요? is better.
Examples
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Meeting an old classmate
Answering the question
Greeting a coworker back from a long trip
Other ways to say it
| Korean | Meaning | When |
|---|---|---|
| 잘 지냈어? | How have you been? | Casual. |
| 잘 지내셨어요? | How have you been? | Respectful, for elders. |
| 잘 지내요 | I'm doing well / Take care | Present tense, also used as a goodbye. |
| 오랜만이에요 | Long time no see | Often said right before it. |
| 그동안 잘 지냈어요? | How have you been all this time? | Warmer, longer version. |
Questions learners ask
How do you answer jal jinaesseoyo?
Say 네, 잘 지냈어요 (yes, I've been well) and ask back: 잘 지냈어요?
What is the difference between jal jinaesseoyo and jal jinaeyo?
잘 지냈어요 is past tense, "have you been well?" 잘 지내요 is present, "I'm doing well," and is also a way to say "take care" when parting.