🇰🇷 Korean phrases

How to Say "How are you?" in Korean

The SPAIKING TeamJuly 27, 2026
어떻게 지내세요?
"How are you?" in Korean · say it like uh-tuh-keh jee-nae-seh-yo

The most natural way to say "How are you?" in Korean is 어떻게 지내세요?. Tap the speaker above to hear it, then say it back out loud. That is the fastest way to make it stick.

Other ways to say it

잘 지내요?
more casual, used among friends
잘 지내십니까?
formal, used in polite or official contexts

When to use it

Use this phrase when you meet someone and want to ask how they are doing. It is polite and appropriate for most situations. You can use it with acquaintances, colleagues, or anyone you want to show respect to.

Say it out loud, get corrected

Reading it is not the same as saying it. Practice "How are you?" and thousands more with an AI coach that listens.

Examples in Korean

KoreanEnglish
안녕하세요! 어떻게 지내세요?Hello! How are you?
Common mistake
Some learners might say '어떻게 지내?' which is too casual for formal situations.

The fastest way to remember it

Vocabulary you only read fades fast. Vocabulary you say out loud sticks. Hear 어떻게 지내세요?, repeat it a few times, then use it in a real sentence. SPAIKING lets you practice exactly that, speaking Korean with a coach that corrects your pronunciation in real time. You can start with two free conversations.

Frequently asked questions

Is there a difference between '어떻게 지내세요?' and '잘 지내세요?'?

'어떻게 지내세요?' is more general, while '잘 지내세요?' specifically asks if someone is doing well.

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