잘 지내세요?
How are you?
字面意思: well (잘) + spend time (지내) + polite ending (세요)
Use this to warmly reconnect with anyone you haven't seen for at least a few days.
15秒了解
- Used to ask 'How are you?' after a period of absence.
- Literally means 'Are you spending time well?'
- Polite and safe for most social and professional situations.
意思
This phrase is a warm way to ask 'How are you?' or 'Have you been doing well?' It specifically asks about how you've been spending your time since you last met.
关键例句
3 / 6Meeting a former coworker for coffee
오랜만이에요! 그동안 잘 지내세요?
It's been a long time! Have you been doing well?
Sending a professional follow-up email
김 팀장님, 잘 지내세요? 다름이 아니라...
Manager Kim, are you doing well? The reason I'm contacting you is...
Texting a close friend you haven't seen in a week
야, 잘 지내? 보고 싶다!
Hey, how are you? I miss you!
文化背景
This phrase reflects the Korean emphasis on social harmony and 'Jeong' (emotional attachment). While Westerners might say 'How are you?' as a passing greeting, Koreans use this phrase to genuinely acknowledge the time that has passed since the last encounter. It is a key tool for maintaining long-term social networks.
The 'Well' is Key
Don't forget the '잘' (jal). Without it, '지내세요?' just means 'Are you spending time?' which sounds like you're asking if they are literally existing.
Not a Daily Hello
Avoid using this with people you see every day. It implies you haven't seen them for a while. Stick to '안녕하세요' for your daily coffee shop run.
15秒了解
- Used to ask 'How are you?' after a period of absence.
- Literally means 'Are you spending time well?'
- Polite and safe for most social and professional situations.
What It Means
Think of this phrase as the Korean version of 'How's life treating you?' It comes from the verb 지내다, which means to spend time or live through days. When you ask 잘 지내세요?, you aren't just saying hello. You are genuinely asking if the other person's recent days have been peaceful and good. It’s a step up from a simple 'Hi.' It shows you care about their life journey. It’s like a warm hug in sentence form.
How To Use It
You usually say this after an initial greeting like 안녕하세요. It’s the perfect follow-up. In Korean, we don't usually jump straight into business. We like to check the 'vibe' first. You can use it in person, over the phone, or in an email. If you want to sound even more natural, add 요즘 (yojum) at the start. This means 'these days.' So, 요즘 잘 지내세요? sounds very smooth. It’s like saying, 'How have you been lately?'
When To Use It
This is your go-to phrase for people you haven't seen in a while. Maybe it's been a week, a month, or a year. Use it with a former teacher you’re visiting. Use it with a colleague from a different department. It’s perfect for that friend you haven't texted in ages. It works wonders in professional emails to soften the tone. If you’re meeting a language exchange partner for the second time, this is the gold standard. It bridges the gap between 'stranger' and 'acquaintance.'
When NOT To Use It
Don't use this with people you see every single day. If you ask your roommate 잘 지내세요? every morning, they might think you have amnesia! It implies a gap in time. Also, be careful with the formality. This version is polite but standard. If you’re talking to your best friend, drop the 세요 and just say 잘 지내?. If you’re talking to a CEO or a grandparent, you might want to use the even more respectful 잘 지내셨어요?. Using the wrong level can feel a bit stiff or accidentally rude.
Cultural Background
Korean culture is deeply communal. Checking in on others is a social duty and a sign of affection. Historically, asking about someone's well-being was vital during tough times. Today, it remains a pillar of 'Jeong' (social bonding). Interestingly, Koreans also ask 'Did you eat?' as a greeting. 잘 지내세요? is the more modern, direct cousin of that food-based greeting. It reflects a society that values harmony and the collective health of the group. It’s about maintaining the 'connection' between two people.
Common Variations
잘 지내?(Jal jinae?): The casual version for close friends or younger people.잘 지내셨어요?(Jal jinaesyeosseoyo?): The honorific past tense. Use this for elders or bosses.그동안 잘 지내셨습니까?(Geudongan jal jinaesyeossseumnikka?): Very formal. Use this in high-stakes business meetings or military contexts.잘 지내고 있어요.(Jal jinaego isseoyo): The answer! It means 'I am doing well.'
使用说明
This is a polite (존댓말) expression. Use it with acquaintances, colleagues, or people older than you to show interest in their well-being without being overly intimate.
The 'Well' is Key
Don't forget the '잘' (jal). Without it, '지내세요?' just means 'Are you spending time?' which sounds like you're asking if they are literally existing.
Not a Daily Hello
Avoid using this with people you see every day. It implies you haven't seen them for a while. Stick to '안녕하세요' for your daily coffee shop run.
The Meal Secret
If someone asks '밥 먹었어요?' (Did you eat?), they are often asking 'How are you?' in a traditional way. You can answer both with '네, 잘 지내요'!
例句
6오랜만이에요! 그동안 잘 지내세요?
It's been a long time! Have you been doing well?
Adding '그동안' (during that time) emphasizes the gap since you last met.
김 팀장님, 잘 지내세요? 다름이 아니라...
Manager Kim, are you doing well? The reason I'm contacting you is...
Using the phrase before getting to the point makes the email feel less cold.
야, 잘 지내? 보고 싶다!
Hey, how are you? I miss you!
The '세요' is dropped for an informal, close vibe.
네, 저는 아주 잘 지내요. 걱정해 주셔서 감사합니다.
Yes, I am doing very well. Thank you for worrying about me.
A standard, polite response to the question.
초록아, 너 아직 잘 지내니...?
Greenie, are you... still doing okay...?
Using the question with an object or pet for comedic effect.
어머니, 아프지 말고 잘 지내세요.
Mother, please stay healthy and be well.
Here, it functions as a wish for their continued well-being.
自我测试
Choose the correct ending to ask a teacher how they have been.
선생님, 그동안 잘 ___?
'지내세요' is the polite form suitable for a teacher, whereas '지내' is too casual.
Complete the response: 'Yes, I am doing well.'
네, 잘 ___.
'지내요' is the standard polite response to 'How are you?'
🎉 得分： /2
视觉学习工具
Formality Levels of 'How are you?'
For close friends/younger people
잘 지내?
Safe for most adults and acquaintances
잘 지내세요?
For elders, teachers, or bosses
잘 지내셨어요?
Speeches, military, or formal letters
잘 지내셨습니까?
When to use '잘 지내세요?'
Reconnecting with an old classmate
Hey, it's been years!
Emailing a client
Opening a business inquiry
Visiting a former mentor
Checking in on their health
Calling a relative
Asking about their week
常见问题
10 个问题Not really. It's better for people you already know. For strangers, stick to a simple 안녕하세요.
It's closer to 'How have you been?' because it focuses on the time spent since the last meeting.
You can say 그저 그래요 (Just so-so) or 좀 바빠요 (I'm a bit busy/hectic). It's honest but remains polite.
Yes, but it's more respectful to use the past tense honorific: 잘 지내셨어요?. It acknowledges their status better.
지내다 implies the passage of time and living through it, while 있다 simply refers to existence or location.
Absolutely! It's one of the most common ways to start a conversation with someone you haven't messaged in a while.
요즘 means 'these days.' Adding it makes the question feel more specific to the current moment: 요즘 잘 지내세요?.
Not exactly a slang word, but friends often just say 잘 지냄? (Jal jinaem?) which is a very shortened, cool way to text it.
If you are speaking to someone older or in a formal setting, a slight nod or bow while saying it is very appropriate.
No, but you can say 잘 지내세요! as a command meaning 'Stay well!' or 'Take care!' when parting for a long time.
相关表达
어떻게 지내세요? (How are you getting along?)
별일 없으시죠? (Nothing special/bad going on, right?)
건강하시죠? (You are healthy, right?)
요즘 어때요? (How is it lately?)
밥 먹었어? (Did you eat? - Informal)
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