What does 진짜 (jinjja) mean?
- 진짜jinjja
Really / Seriously
Casual: friends and people younger than you
진짜 (jinjja) means "really", "seriously" or "real" in Korean. On its own with a rising tone, 진짜? means "Really?", and before a word it adds emphasis, like "really good".
Where it comes from
As a noun, 진짜 means "the real thing", the opposite of 가짜 (fake). It is also used as an adverb meaning "really".
How to use 진짜
Say 진짜? when you can hardly believe something, and 진짜! to insist something is true. Put it before adjectives for emphasis: 진짜 맛있어 (It's really tasty).
진짜 by itself is casual. Add 요 to ask politely: 진짜요? The word 정말 means the same thing and sounds a little more neutral, so it is a safe choice in polite speech too.
People also sigh 아 진짜... when annoyed, a bit like "Oh, come on...".
Examples
Tap a word to see what it means and save it to your flashcards.
Tasting your friend's cooking
A coworker shares surprising news
Texting a close friend who moved away
Other ways to say it
| Korean | Meaning | When |
|---|---|---|
| 진짜요? | Really? | Polite question form. |
| 진짜로 | for real | Adverb form, stresses that you mean it. |
| 정말 | really | Near synonym, slightly more neutral. |
| ㅈㅉ | rly | Typed shorthand using the first consonants. |
Hear it in songs
Real lines from songs broken down on Hanbok. Open a song to see every line explained.
Questions learners ask
What is the difference between jinjja and jeongmal?
Both mean "really". 진짜 is more casual and conversational, while 정말 sounds a bit more neutral.
Is jinjja polite?
On its own it is casual. Say 진짜요? to someone you should be polite to.
What does "ah jinjja" mean?
아 진짜 said with a sigh means something like "Oh, come on" or "Seriously...", showing annoyance.