What it means
The standard polite way to say "good night" or "sleep well" in Korean. 잘 means "well" and 자요 means "to sleep" — literally "sleep well".
Nuance & when to use
This is the polite form. To close friends/family: 잘 자 (jal ja). You can also add 꿈 꿔요 (kkum kkkweoyo — have sweet dreams) for a warmer good night. Often heard in K-dramas at the end of late-night phone calls.
⚠ Common mistake
Koreans don't say 굿나잇 (good night in English) naturally — 잘 자요 is always preferred.
Example sentences
See also
FAQ
When is this used?
This is the polite form. To close friends/family: 잘 자 (jal ja). You can also add 꿈 꿔요 (kkum kkkweoyo — have sweet dreams) for a warmer good night. Often heard in K-dramas at the end of late-night phone calls.
What's a common mistake?
Koreans don't say 굿나잇 (good night in English) naturally — 잘 자요 is always preferred.
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