Here’s a fun cultural trap: translate “How are you?” literally into Korean, greet your Korean friend with it every morning, and you’ll sound like a textbook — because Koreans don’t actually ask “how are you” in daily life.
They have something better. Let’s cover what the phrasebooks teach, what natives really say, and the beloved food-based greeting that confuses every learner the first time.
The Textbook Versions (Real, But Situational)
These are correct — for catching up with someone you haven’t seen in a while:
| Korean | Romanization | Politeness |
|---|---|---|
| 잘 지냈어요? | jal ji-naess-eo-yo | polite — “have you been well?” |
| 어떻게 지내세요? | eo-tteo-ke ji-nae-se-yo | polite+ — “how have you been doing?” |
| 잘 지내셨어요? | jal ji-nae-syeoss-eo-yo | honorific — for elders |
| 잘 지냈어? | jal ji-naess-eo | casual — friends |
Responding:
네, 잘 지냈어요. 어떻게 지내셨어요? — Yes, I’ve been well. And you? 응, 잘 지냈어! — Yep, been good! (casual) 그냥 그래요. — So-so. / Same as always.
That last one, 그냥 그래요 (geunyang geuraeyo), is the honest-mood answer Koreans actually use — no forced “great!” culture here.
What Koreans Say Instead: 밥 먹었어요?
The everyday “how are you” of Korea is a question about food:
밥 먹었어요? (bap meogeosseoyo?) — Have you eaten?
It is not an invitation to lunch and not a request for your meal history. It’s warmth — a culture that historically knew hunger asks “have you eaten?” the way English asks “how are you?” The expected exchange:
A: 밥 먹었어요? — Have you eaten? B: 네, 먹었어요. 먹었어요? — Yes, I ate. You? A: 네! — Yep!
Casual version: 밥 먹었어? Notice the pronunciation: [밤 머거써] — the ㅂ in 밥 nasalizes before ㅁ, and 먹었어 runs together through liaison. If you read it “bap meok-eott-eo,” this is exactly the written-vs-spoken gap that reading practice closes.
Quick Daily Greetings (What Replaces “How Are You”)
For everyday hellos, Koreans keep it simple:
| Situation | What’s said |
|---|---|
| Standard any-time greeting | 안녕하세요 — our full guide |
| Morning at work | 좋은 아침이에요 (good morning — office culture) |
| Seeing a coworker working | 수고하세요 (keep up the good work) |
| Running into someone | 어디 가세요? (where are you headed? — friendly, not nosy) |
어디 가세요? is another culture-flavored greeting: like 밥 먹었어요?, it’s phatic — a warm acknowledgment, not an interrogation. A vague answer (그냥 뭐 좀… “just, something…”) is perfectly polite.
Asking About Someone’s Day
When you genuinely want to know how someone’s doing:
오늘 어땠어요? — How was today? 요즘 어때요? — How are things lately? 별일 없어요? — Nothing new? / Everything okay? 무슨 일 있어요? — Is something wrong? (when they look off)
The Politeness Ladder, One Table
| Casual (친구) | Polite (존댓말) | Honorific (높임말) |
|---|---|---|
| 잘 지냈어? | 잘 지냈어요? | 잘 지내셨어요? |
| 밥 먹었어? | 밥 먹었어요? | 식사하셨어요? |
| 요즘 어때? | 요즘 어때요? | 요즘 어떠세요? |
Notice 식사하셨어요 — even “eating” upgrades to the honorific word 식사 (meal) for elders. That’s the Korean speech-level system at work.
Put It Together
A natural catch-up conversation:
A: 어! 오랜만이에요! 잘 지냈어요? — Oh! Long time no see! Been well? B: 네, 잘 지냈어요. 밥 먹었어요? — Yes! Have you eaten? A: 아직요. 같이 먹을래요? — Not yet. Eat together?
Three lines, maximum Korean warmth. Keep stacking phrases with nice to meet you and the full essential phrases guide — and train your eyes to read them at conversation speed with Batchim.