B1 Expression Formel

요즘 어떻게 지내요?

Yojeum eotteoke jinaeyo?

How have you been lately?

Phrase in 30 Seconds

A polite, standard way to ask 'How have you been lately?' when catching up with acquaintances or colleagues.

  • Means: 'How are you spending your time these days?'
  • Used in: Casual office chats, meeting old friends, or starting a text message.
  • Don't confuse: With '처음 뵙겠습니다' which is only for people you meet for the first time.
🕒 (Recent time) + 🤔 (How) + 🚶 (Passing time) = 🤝 (Friendly connection)

Explanation at your level:

This is a basic greeting. '요즘' means 'nowadays'. '어떻게' means 'how'. '지내요' means 'live' or 'spend time'. You use it to say 'How are you?' to people you know. It is polite because it ends in '요'.
At this level, you should recognize '지내다' as a verb for spending time. This phrase is used for people you have met before. It is more specific than just saying 'Hello'. You can answer with '잘 지내요' (I am well).
This intermediate expression bridges the gap between simple greetings and deeper conversation. It uses the adverb '어떻게' to inquire about the manner of one's life. It's essential for maintaining social relationships in professional and casual settings. You should be able to vary the formality based on the listener.
The phrase functions as a consultative register tool. It implies a duration of time (aspect) rather than a single point. Learners should understand that '지내다' is preferred over '있다' or '이다' when discussing the quality of life over a recent period. It often triggers a response about one's current projects or state of mind.
Linguistic analysis reveals the phrase's role in 'Phatic communication'—speech used to perform a social function rather than convey information. The choice of '지내다' reflects the Korean conceptualization of time as something one 'passes through'. Advanced learners should master the subtle shift to honorifics like '지내셨어요' to acknowledge the listener's status.
This expression sits at the intersection of sociolinguistic competence and cultural pragmatics. It embodies the 'Anbu' (well-being) culture. Mastery involves navigating the 'Che-myeon' (face) dynamics, knowing when the question is a mere formality and when it invites a genuine disclosure of one's 'Sim-gyeong' (mental state). It is a foundational element of Korean interpersonal harmony.

Signification

An informal way to ask someone about their recent well-being.

🌍

Contexte culturel

The concept of 'Anbu' (안부) is central. It's not just a greeting; it's a way to maintain social harmony (Inhwa). Failing to ask 'Anbu' to a senior can be seen as a lack of respect. In business, this phrase is often a 'buffer' before getting to the point. Jumping straight into business without asking how the other person is doing can seem cold or aggressive. On KakaoTalk, this phrase is often accompanied by 'emoticons'. A simple '요즘 어떻게 지내요?' with a cute character sticker is a very common way to maintain 'Jeong' without a long conversation. For Koreans living abroad, this phrase carries a weight of shared identity. It's a way to check if the other person is adjusting well to a foreign environment.

💡

The 'Busy' Response

If someone asks you this, it's very common to answer with '정신없이 지내요' (I'm living frantically/busily). It shows you are a hard worker!

⚠️

Don't say 'How are you?'

Avoid translating 'How are you?' literally as '어떻게 있어요?'. It sounds like you are asking about their physical posture.

Signification

An informal way to ask someone about their recent well-being.

💡

The 'Busy' Response

If someone asks you this, it's very common to answer with '정신없이 지내요' (I'm living frantically/busily). It shows you are a hard worker!

⚠️

Don't say 'How are you?'

Avoid translating 'How are you?' literally as '어떻게 있어요?'. It sounds like you are asking about their physical posture.

💬

The 'Rice' Greeting

Sometimes '밥 먹었어?' (Did you eat?) is used similarly to '요즘 어떻게 지내요?'. Both are ways to check on your well-being.

Teste-toi

Choose the most natural response to '요즘 어떻게 지내요?'

가: 요즘 어떻게 지내요? 나: ____________________

✓ Correct ! ✗ Pas tout à fait. Rponse correcte : b

'잘 지내요' (I'm doing well) is the standard response to an inquiry about well-being.

Fill in the blank with the correct word to complete the greeting.

오랜만이에요! 요즘 _______ 지내요?

✓ Correct ! ✗ Pas tout à fait. Rponse correcte : c

'어떻게' (how) is the only adverb that fits with '지내요' in this context.

Complete the dialogue between two colleagues.

민수: 지영 씨, 새 프로젝트는 잘 돼가요? 요즘 어떻게 지내요? 지영: ___________________________________

✓ Correct ! ✗ Pas tout à fait. Rponse correcte : a

Option 'a' directly answers the question about how she is spending her time in the context of her work.

Match the phrase to the correct situation.

Which phrase should you use when meeting your boss after a vacation?

✓ Correct ! ✗ Pas tout à fait. Rponse correcte : b

When speaking to a superior (boss) after a gap in time, the formal honorific '지내셨습니까' is most appropriate.

🎉 Score : /4

Aides visuelles

Formality Levels

Formal
어떻게 지내십니까? How are you? (Formal)
Polite
어떻게 지내요? How are you? (Polite)
Casual
어떻게 지내? How are you? (Casual)

Questions fréquentes

10 questions

Yes, for very close friends, you should drop the '요' and say '요즘 어떻게 지내?'. Using '요' might make them feel like you are distancing yourself.

Absolutely. It is a very standard and polite way to start an email to someone you haven't contacted in a while.

'살다' means to live (as in reside or exist), while '지내다' means to spend time or get along. You use '지내다' for well-being.

You can say '그저 그래요' (Just so-so) or '좀 힘들게 지내요' (I'm having a bit of a hard time).

Yes, but use the honorific: '선생님, 요즘 어떻게 지내세요?'.

No, '요즘' means 'lately' or 'these days'. 'Today' is '오늘'.

Yes, '요즘 어때요?' is a shorter, slightly more casual version that is very common.

It's a way to maintain social bonds and show that you care about the other person's life, not just the business at hand.

Yes: '그동안 어떻게 지냈어요?' (How have you been during that time?).

Yes, but use the formal '어떻게 지내십니까?' or '어떻게 지내세요?'.

Expressions liées

🔗

잘 지내요

similar

I'm doing well / Are you doing well?

🔗

별일 없어요?

similar

Anything special going on?

🔗

뭐 하고 지내요?

builds on

What have you been doing lately?

🔗

살아 있었어?

specialized form

Were you alive? (Are you still alive?)

Où l'utiliser

☕

Office Breakroom

Colleague A: 지수 씨, 오랜만이에요! 요즘 어떻게 지내요?

Colleague B: 아, 과장님! 저 요즘 프로젝트 때문에 좀 바쁘게 지내요.

neutral
🍻

Meeting an Old Friend

Friend 1: 야! 진짜 오랜만이다. 요즘 어떻게 지내?

Friend 2: 나야 뭐 똑같지. 너는?

informal
📱

First Message on KakaoTalk

Sender: 안녕하세요, 민호 씨. 잘 지내시죠? 요즘 어떻게 지내요?

Receiver: 네, 안녕하세요! 저는 잘 지내고 있어요.

neutral
🎓

Alumni Reunion

Alumnus A: 선배님, 그동안 어떻게 지내셨어요?

Alumnus B: 어, 나 요즘 대학원 다니느라 정신없이 지내요.

formal
🏋️

At the Gym

Trainer: 회원님, 일주일 동안 어떻게 지내셨어요?

Member: 요즘 근육통 때문에 힘들게 지내요. 하하.

neutral
💘

Dating App Match

Match A: 반가워요! 요즘 어떻게 지내요?

Match B: 반가워요~ 저는 요즘 운동에 빠져서 지내요. 그쪽은요?

neutral

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Imagine a 'Yo-Yo' (요) going up and down 'Zooming' (즘) through time. Ask 'How' (어떻게) it 'Journeys' (지내요).

Visual Association

A person walking across a bridge that represents a week. Each step is a day. You are asking them how the walk across that bridge is going.

Rhyme

Yo-jeum, eo-tteo-ke, ji-nae-yo? Don't just sit there, say hello!

Story

You meet a friend named Yo-jeum. He is always moving. You ask him 'How' (어떻게) he 'Journeys' (지내요) through his busy life. He smiles and tells you about his week.

Word Web

지내다 (to spend time)생활 (daily life)안부 (well-being)최근 (recently)어떻게 (how)잘 (well)요즘 (lately)그동안 (meanwhile/during that time)

Défi

Send a KakaoTalk or text message to one Korean-speaking friend or language partner using exactly this phrase today.

In Other Languages

Spanish high

¿Cómo te va últimamente?

Korean requires a specific verb for 'spending time' rather than just 'being'.

French moderate

Comment ça va ces derniers temps ?

French is more likely to use 'ça va' as a throwaway greeting, whereas the Korean version expects a real answer.

German high

Wie geht es dir in letzter Zeit?

German grammar requires the dative 'dir', while Korean omits the subject/object entirely.

Japanese high

最近どうですか？ (Saikin dou desu ka?)

Korean is more verb-centric (지내다), while Japanese is more state-centric (desu).

Arabic moderate

كيف حالك مؤخراً؟ (Kayfa haluka mu'akharan?)

Arabic focuses on the 'condition' (noun), while Korean focuses on the 'living' (verb).

Chinese high

最近怎么样？ (Zuìjìn zěnmeyàng?)

Chinese often omits the verb entirely, whereas Korean almost always includes '지내요'.

Portuguese very_high

Como tem passado ultimamente?

Portuguese uses a compound tense (tem passado), while Korean uses a simple present that implies duration.

English high

How have you been lately?

English 'How are you?' is often a greeting; Korean '요즘 어떻게 지내요?' is a genuine question.

Easily Confused

요즘 어떻게 지내요? vs 어떻게 생각해요?

Both start with '어떻게' (how).

Remember that '지내요' is about living/time, while '생각해요' is about thinking/opinions.

요즘 어떻게 지내요? vs 어디 지내요?

Learners mix up 'how' and 'where'.

You 'live' (살아요) in a place, but you 'spend time' (지내요) in a manner.

FAQ (10)

Yes, for very close friends, you should drop the '요' and say '요즘 어떻게 지내?'. Using '요' might make them feel like you are distancing yourself.

Absolutely. It is a very standard and polite way to start an email to someone you haven't contacted in a while.

'살다' means to live (as in reside or exist), while '지내다' means to spend time or get along. You use '지내다' for well-being.

You can say '그저 그래요' (Just so-so) or '좀 힘들게 지내요' (I'm having a bit of a hard time).

Yes, but use the honorific: '선생님, 요즘 어떻게 지내세요?'.

No, '요즘' means 'lately' or 'these days'. 'Today' is '오늘'.

Yes, '요즘 어때요?' is a shorter, slightly more casual version that is very common.

It's a way to maintain social bonds and show that you care about the other person's life, not just the business at hand.

Yes: '그동안 어떻게 지냈어요?' (How have you been during that time?).

Yes, but use the formal '어떻게 지내십니까?' or '어떻게 지내세요?'.

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