How to Say You're Doing Well in Korean (Casual Responses Beyond "I'm Fine")
Learn casual Korean answers to "How are you?" like 괜찮아, 잘 지내, and 피곤해, plus how to bounce the question back with 너는?
By PookieFriends & plans · Yapr Learn
In Korean, answering "How are you?" with just 괜찮아 (gwaenchana, "I'm fine") every time sounds flat and a little robotic. This lesson teaches you casual, everyday responses you can use with friends, classmates, and people your age or younger: pretty good, a bit tired, so-so, and busy. You will also learn the most natural follow-up move in Korean conversation: returning the question with 너는? (neoneun?, "and you?"). Everything here is in casual polite style (반말, banmal), the speech level Koreans use with close friends and people younger than them. If you need formal speech for strangers or elders, that is a different set of endings, so keep this lesson for casual settings only.
By the end, you can…
- answer "How are you?" in Korean with several casual responses beyond "I'm fine."
- return the question naturally using 너는? or 너는 어때?
- recognize when casual 반말 is appropriate and when it is not.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
잘 지내?
How are you doing? / Are you doing well?
jal jinae?
The standard casual greeting question to a close friend. Literally "Are you living well?"
응, 잘 지내.
Yeah, I'm doing well.
eung, jal jinae
A simple positive answer. 응 (eung) is casual "yes."
완전 좋아!
Pretty good! / Really good!
wanjeon joa!
완전 (wanjeon) means "totally/really" and adds energy. Use with close friends.
좀 피곤해.
I'm a bit tired.
jom pigonhae
좀 (jom) softens the statement, like "a bit." Honest but not complaining heavily.
그럭저럭 괜찮아.
So-so, I'm okay.
geureokjeoreok gwaenchana
그럭저럭 (geureokjeoreok) means "so-so" or "getting by." Useful when you don't want to sound too positive or too negative.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
Most casual answers follow a simple pattern: 상태 + ending. You can attach 해 (hae) to many feeling words: 피곤해 (pigonhae, "I'm tired"), 바빠 (bappa, "I'm busy"), 좋아 (joa, "I'm good"). To soften or hedge, add 좀 (jom, "a bit") before the word: 좀 피곤해 (jom pigonhae, "I'm a bit tired"). To return the question, say 너는? (neoneun?, "and you?") or 너는 어때? (neoneun eottae?, "how about you?").
When to use it
Use these casual forms with friends, classmates, siblings, and anyone clearly younger than you after you are on friendly terms. Do not use 반말 with strangers, teachers, bosses, or elders you have just met; there, use formal questions like 잘 지내세요? (jal jinaeseyo?) and answers like 잘 지내요 (jal jinaeyo). If you are unsure of the relationship, stay formal until the other person invites you to speak casually.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
민수야, 잘 지내?
Minsu, how are you doing?Minsu-ya, jal jinae?응, 완전 좋아! 너는?
Yeah, pretty good! And you?eung, wanjeon joa! neoneun?나는 좀 피곤해. 어제 늦게 잤어.
I'm a bit tired. I went to bed late yesterday.naneun jom pigonhae. eoje neutge jasseo.아, 그래? 그럼 오늘 일찍 자.
Oh, really? Then sleep early today.a, geurae? geureom oneul iljjik ja.A little context goes a long way
Korean conversation often expects you to return the question rather than just answer it. Saying 응, 잘 지내 and stopping can feel abrupt; adding 너는? keeps the exchange going. Also, Koreans may give a modest or slightly negative answer like 그럭저럭 or 좀 피곤해 instead of an enthusiastic one, and that is normal, not rude.
One thing to watch for
Using casual 잘 지내? with someone you just met or someone older, because it is shorter and easier than formal speech.
Try this instead: Use the formal question 잘 지내세요? (jal jinaeseyo?) with strangers, elders, and superiors. Casual 잘 지내? is only for friends and people younger than you. For example, to an older coworker say 사장님, 잘 지내세요? not 사장님, 잘 지내?
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1Your close friend asks 잘 지내? You are actually a little tired. What is a natural casual answer?
Show a sample answer
좀 피곤해.
좀 (jom) softens the answer to "a bit," and 피곤해 (pigonhae) is the casual form of "I'm tired." You could also say 그럭저럭 괜찮아 if you want to sound more neutral.
2How do you return the question to your friend after answering?
Show a sample answer
너는?
너는? (neoneun?) means "and you?" and is the shortest natural way to bounce the question back. 너는 어때? (neoneun eottae?) is also correct and slightly more explicit.
3You want to say "pretty good" with extra enthusiasm to a close friend. Which phrase fits?
Show a sample answer
완전 좋아!
완전 (wanjeon) means "totally/really" and 좋아 (joa) means "good." Together they make an energetic casual response. 잘 지내 is also fine but sounds calmer.
Answer with a real feeling, not just 괜찮아, and almost always add 너는? to keep the conversation going. Save these casual forms for friends; use 잘 지내세요? with anyone older or unfamiliar.
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