Korean for Beginners: Asking How Someone's Day Was and Answering Simply
Learn to ask 어떻게 지냈어요? and respond with short, natural details like 바빴지만 좋았어요. Practice a four-line social follow-up conversation in polite Korean.
By TheaFirst conversations · Yapr Learn
In Korean, asking how someone's day went is a common social follow-up, not a request for a full report. This lesson teaches the polite question 어떻게 지냈어요? (eotteoke jinaesseoyo?, literally 'how did you spend/pass time?') and simple answers such as 바빴지만 좋았어요 (bappatjiman joasseoyo, 'busy, but good'). You will practice a short exchange, learn how to add one detail, and see why this differs from information-seeking wh-questions.
By the end, you can…
- ask a friend or colleague how their day was using polite Korean.
- answer with a short feeling plus one simple detail.
- use but (지만) to connect two opposite ideas in one sentence.
- respond naturally when someone asks me the same question back.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
어떻게 지냈어요?
How was your day? / How have you been?
eo-tteo-ke ji-nae-sseo-yo?
Polite, friendly follow-up. Use with coworkers, friends you speak politely to, or someone you have not seen today.
바빴지만 좋았어요.
It was busy, but good.
ba-ppat-ji-man jo-a-sseo-yo
A compact answer with a contrast. 바빴어요 comes from 바쁘다 (to be busy); 좋았어요 is the past polite form of 좋다 (to be good).
그냥 그랬어요.
It was just okay. / Nothing special.
geu-nyang geu-rae-sseo-yo
A soft, non-committal answer when you do not want to give details. It is not rude, but it closes the topic.
좀 피곤했어요.
I was a bit tired.
jom pi-gon-hae-sseo-yo
Adds a mild feeling. 좀 softens the statement; 피곤했어요 is the past polite form of 피곤하다 (to be tired).
오늘은 어땠어요?
How was today?
o-neu-reun eo-ttaesseo-yo?
A natural return question after you answer. It keeps the conversation going instead of ending it.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
The core question is 어떻게 지냈어요? (eotteoke jinaesseoyo?). 어떻게 means 'how,' and 지냈어요 is the past polite form of 지내다, 'to spend time / get along.' Answer with a past polite verb: 바빴어요 (bappasseoyo, 'was busy'), 좋았어요 (joasseoyo, 'was good'), 피곤했어요 (pigonhaesseoyo, 'was tired'). To combine two ideas, attach -지만 (-jiman) to the first verb stem: 바빴지만 좋았어요 (bappatjiman joasseoyo, 'busy, but good'). The past tense -았/었- appears before -지만, so you say 바빴지만, not 바쁘지만, when talking about today.
When to use it
Use 어떻게 지냈어요? as a social follow-up after a greeting, especially with someone you have not seen since morning or since yesterday. It is not the same as asking for facts like 이름이 뭐예요? ('what is your name?') or 어디에 살아요? ('where do you live?'). Those wh-questions seek information; this question invites a short personal update. If you want to be more specific, say 오늘 하루 어땠어요? (oneul haru eottaesseoyo?, 'how was your day today?'). A one-sentence answer is usually enough, and then you can return the question with 오늘은 어땠어요?
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
안녕하세요, 민수 씨. 어떻게 지냈어요?
Hello, Minsu. How was your day?an-nyeong-ha-se-yo, min-su ssi. eo-tteo-ke ji-nae-sseo-yo?바빴지만 좋았어요. 회사 일이 많았어요.
It was busy, but good. I had a lot of work at the office.ba-ppat-ji-man jo-a-sseo-yo. hoe-sa i-ri ma-na-sseo-yo.아, 그래요? 좀 피곤하겠어요.
Oh, really? You must be a bit tired.a, geu-rae-yo? jom pi-gon-ha-ge-sseo-yo.네, 조금 피곤해요. 오늘은 어땠어요?
Yes, I am a little tired. How was your day?ne, jo-geum pi-gon-hae-yo. o-neu-reun eo-ttaesseo-yo?A little context goes a long way
Korean politeness is built into verb endings, not just word choice. The -요 ending makes these lines polite and safe for coworkers, acquaintances, and strangers. With a close friend of the same age, you might drop to 반말 (banmal, casual speech): 어떻게 지냈어? and 바빴지만 좋았어. Do not mix levels in one exchange; choose polite or casual and stay consistent. Also, a brief answer is normal. Pressing for many details can feel intrusive, so let the other person decide how much to share.
One thing to watch for
Using the present tense 바쁘지만 좋아요 when talking about a day that has already passed.
Try this instead: For a finished day, use past polite forms: 바빴지만 좋았어요 (bappatjiman joasseoyo, 'it was busy, but good'). Use the present 바쁘지만 좋아요 only for a general habit or a current state, such as 'I am busy but it is good' in the moment.
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1How do you politely ask a coworker how their day was?
Show a sample answer
어떻게 지냈어요?
This is the standard polite follow-up question. With a close same-age friend, 어떻게 지냈어? is also valid in casual speech.
2Turn 바빴어요 and 좋았어요 into one sentence meaning 'It was busy, but good.'
Show a sample answer
바빴지만 좋았어요.
Attach -지만 to the first past stem: 바빴- + -지만. The past tense stays before -지만, so 바쁘지만 would change the meaning to a present/general statement.
3Someone asks 어떻게 지냈어요? but you do not want to give details. What can you say?
Show a sample answer
그냥 그랬어요.
This means 'It was just okay / nothing special.' It politely closes the topic. If you want to add a mild feeling instead, 좀 피곤했어요 is also a natural answer.
Ask 어떻게 지냈어요? as a warm follow-up, answer with one past polite sentence such as 바빴지만 좋았어요, and return the question with 오늘은 어땠어요? to keep the conversation going.
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