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A2 adjective #1,500 le plus courant 7 min de lecture

잘되다

jaldoeda Top 1,500

At the A1 level, learners should understand '잘되다' in its simplest past tense form: '잘됐다!'. This is a common reaction to good news, equivalent to 'That's good!' or 'Great!'. At this stage, the focus is on recognizing the word as a positive exclamation rather than worrying about complex grammar. You might hear it when a friend says they finished their homework or found their keys. It's a foundational word for expressing empathy and shared happiness in basic Korean social interactions. Simple sentences like '일이 잘돼요' (Work is going well) are also introduced to describe daily life in a positive light. The connection between '잘' (well) and '되다' (to become) helps A1 students build their vocabulary through logical combinations.

At the A2 level, learners begin to use '잘되다' in various tenses and with common nouns like '공부' (study), '시험' (exam), and '음식' (food). You will learn that '잘되다' describes the state of an activity progressing smoothly. For example, '공부가 잘돼요' means your studying is effective. You also learn the negative form '잘 안 돼요' to express frustration when things aren't going as planned. This level focuses on the practical application of the word in school and work contexts. Understanding the spelling '잘돼요' (not '잘되요') is a key goal here. Learners also start to see how it can describe the quality of a result, such as '밥이 잘됐어요' (The rice is cooked well).

At the B1 level, the usage of '잘되다' expands into more abstract and social realms. Learners use it to talk about business ('장사가 잘되다'), relationships, and long-term plans. You will encounter it in complex sentences using connectors like '-면' (if) or '-니까' (because), such as '노력하면 다 잘될 거예요' (If you work hard, everything will go well). This level also introduces the nuance of '잘되다' as 'prospering' or 'succeeding in life.' You might hear parents talking about their children '잘되기를 바란다' (wishing for their children to succeed). The word becomes a tool for expressing hopes, wishes, and encouragement in more detailed conversations.

At the B2 level, learners master the subtle differences between '잘되다' and its synonyms like '성공하다' or '풀리다'. You will understand that '잘되다' is often preferred in spoken Korean for its natural, less formal feel. You'll also encounter the word in more literary or journalistic contexts, describing economic trends or social phenomena. For example, '기부 문화가 잘 정착되었다' (The culture of donation has been well-established). At this stage, you should be able to use the word in the passive or causative-like structures and understand its role in idiomatic expressions. The ability to use '잘되다' to describe the 'fit' or 'suitability' of something (e.g., '구성이 잘된 책' - a well-organized book) is also developed.

At the C1 level, learners appreciate the pragmatic functions of '잘되다', including its use in sarcasm or irony. Depending on the tone, '잘~ 됐다' can mean 'You're in trouble now' or 'That's just great (sarcastic)'. You will also use the word to describe complex systems or abstract concepts, such as '법 체계가 잘되어 있다' (The legal system is well-structured). C1 learners can use '잘되다' to discuss the nuances of human character and destiny, often appearing in philosophical discussions about what it means for a person to 'turn out well' in society. The word is used with high-level vocabulary to describe sophisticated outcomes in art, science, and politics.

At the C2 level, '잘되다' is used with native-like precision, incorporating all its historical and cultural connotations. You can distinguish between the compound verb '잘되다' and the phrase '잘 되다' in highly technical or legal writing. You will encounter it in classical literature or high-level academic papers where it describes the 'becoming' of a state in a metaphysical sense. C2 learners can use the word to navigate delicate social situations, using its various forms to offer nuanced praise, subtle criticism, or profound encouragement. The word becomes a versatile instrument in the learner's linguistic repertoire, used to express the finest shades of meaning regarding success, harmony, and the natural order of things.

Entraîne-toi Exemples Notes et astuces

잘되다 en 30 secondes

Means 'to go well' or 'to succeed' in daily contexts.
Commonly used as an exclamation '잘됐다!' (That's great!).
Describes smooth progress in work, study, or business.
Must be conjugated as '잘돼요' (not '잘되요').

The Korean word 잘되다 is a multifaceted term that primarily translates to "to go well," "to proceed successfully," or "to turn out fine." At its core, it combines the adverb 잘 (well) and the verb 되다 (to become/to happen), but in modern Korean, it functions as a single unit to describe the positive progression of a situation, task, or even a person's life state. Unlike the English word 'success,' which often implies a final, grand achievement, 잘되다 is frequently used to describe the smooth flow of daily events or the healthy development of things.

Literal Meaning: To become well; to happen in a good way.
Contextual Nuance: It suggests a lack of obstacles and a favorable outcome that meets or exceeds expectations.

모든 일이 생각보다 잘되다. (Everything is going better than expected.)

In a broader sense, 잘되다 can also refer to the quality of a product or the result of a creative process. For instance, if a photo is taken well, a Korean speaker might say "사진이 잘됐다." If a meal is cooked perfectly, they might say "밥이 잘됐다." This versatility makes it one of the most common and essential words for learners to master at the A2 level and beyond.

공부가 잘돼서 기분이 좋아요. (I feel good because my studies are going well.)

Social Usage: It is often used as a congratulatory exclamation: "잘됐다!" (That's great! / I'm glad to hear that!)

Furthermore, the word encompasses the idea of prosperity. When a business is thriving, Koreans say "사업이 잘된다." When a child grows up to be successful and virtuous, parents might say "자식이 잘됐다." It is a word deeply rooted in the Korean value of harmony and positive outcomes. Understanding this word requires looking beyond a simple dictionary definition and seeing how it acts as a bridge between effort and result.

올해는 농사가 아주 잘됐다. (The farming went very well this year.)

Using 잘되다 correctly involves understanding its conjugation and its relationship with particles. Although the prompt labels it as an adjective, in Korean grammar, it is technically a verb (동사) because it describes a process or a change in state. However, it often functions like a descriptive verb in English. The most important thing to remember is that 잘되다 is a single word; writing it with a space (잘 되다) is technically incorrect in most standard contexts, though common in casual writing.

Present Tense: 잘돼요 (Polite), 잘된다 (Plain). Used for ongoing situations or general truths.
Past Tense: 잘됐어요 (Polite), 잘됐다 (Plain). Used to react to news or describe completed events.

수술이 잘돼서 다행이에요. (It's a relief that the surgery went well.)

When constructing sentences, the subject is usually the thing that is "going well," marked by the particles 이/가. For example, 일이 잘되다 (Work goes well), 공부가 잘되다 (Studying goes well), or 장사가 잘되다 (Business goes well). It is rarely used with the object particle 을/를 because the subject is the one undergoing the state of being "well-done."

이번 프로젝트가 정말 잘될 것 같아요. (I think this project will go really well.)

In negative forms, you can say 잘 안 되다 (It's not going well) or 잘되지 않다. Note that 안 되다 (to not work/to be bad) is different from 잘 안 되다 (to not go *well*). The latter implies effort was made but the progress is slow or hindered. Mastery of these nuances allows for much more natural Korean conversation.

Future Tense: 잘될 거예요 (It will go well). Often used to encourage others.

걱정 마세요, 다 잘될 거예요. (Don't worry, everything will work out fine.)

잘되다 is ubiquitous in Korean society, appearing in professional, academic, and personal settings. In the workplace, you will hear it during meetings when managers evaluate the progress of a project. A phrase like "진행이 잘되고 있습니까?" (Is the progress going well?) is a standard way to check in on tasks. It conveys a sense of professional competence and smooth operation.

In Business: Used to describe market performance, sales, and internal workflows.

신제품 반응이 아주 잘되고 있습니다. (The reaction to the new product is going very well.)

In schools and universities, students use it to talk about their exam results or their focus during study sessions. If a student says "오늘 공부가 진짜 잘된다," they mean they are in a 'flow state' where information is being absorbed easily. Conversely, if they say "잠을 못 자서 공부가 잘 안 돼," they are struggling to focus. It’s also a common word in K-Dramas, often used in emotional scenes where one character wishes for the other's happiness: "네가 잘됐으면 좋겠어" (I want things to go well for you).

시험 공부 잘돼가요? (Is your exam study going well?)

In the service industry, such as restaurants or shops, owners use it to describe their business volume. "장사가 잘된다" is the ultimate goal for any small business owner. You'll see this word in news headlines regarding the economy, in self-help books about achieving success, and in daily greetings. It is a word that encapsulates the collective Korean desire for progress and prosperity.

In Daily Life: Used when checking on friends, talking about hobbies, or even describing the weather's effect on plans.

오늘 날씨가 좋아서 빨래가 잘되겠어요. (The weather is good today, so the laundry will dry well.)

One of the most frequent mistakes learners make is confusing 잘되다 with 잘하다 (to do well). While they look similar, their grammatical functions and meanings are distinct. 잘하다 is an active verb where the subject is performing an action skillfully (e.g., "한국어를 잘해요" - I speak Korean well). In contrast, 잘되다 describes the *result* or the *state* of the situation itself. You don't "do" 잘되다; things "become" 잘되다.

Incorrect: 나는 시험을 잘됐어요. (I 'became' the exam well.)
Correct: 나는 시험을 잘 봤어요. (I took the exam well.) OR 시험이 잘됐어요. (The exam went well.)

그 사람은 사업을 잘해요. (That person is good at business.) vs 그 사람은 사업이 잘돼요. (That person's business is going well.)

Another common error is the spelling of the conjugated forms. Because the stem is 되-, when it meets the ending -어, it must contract to 돼. Writing 잘되요 or 잘됬어요 is a common spelling mistake even among native speakers, but it is grammatically incorrect. Always remember: 잘돼요 and 잘됐어요.

Lastly, be careful with the spacing. While 잘 되다 (spaced) can sometimes be used to emphasize that something is *functioning* well (like a machine), the compound verb 잘되다 (no space) is the standard form for "going well" or "succeeding." Using the space can subtly change the meaning to "becoming well" in a more literal, physical sense, though this distinction is becoming blurred in modern usage.

이 펜은 글씨가 잘 써져요. (This pen writes well.) - Here, '잘' is an adverb. Don't confuse this with '잘되다'.

To truly master 잘되다, it's helpful to compare it with other words that express success or positive outcomes. The most direct synonym is 성공하다 (to succeed), but 성공하다 is much more formal and usually refers to a significant achievement or reaching a major goal. 잘되다 is more everyday and covers the process as much as the result.

성공하다 (To Succeed): Formal, goal-oriented. Used for careers, big projects, or life goals.
번창하다 (To Prosper): Specifically used for businesses or families growing wealthy and large.

사업이 번창하시길 바랍니다. (I hope your business prospers.) - Very formal.

Another interesting comparison is with 풀리다 (to be untied/solved). When you say "일이 잘 풀린다," it means things are working out smoothly, similar to 잘되다, but with the added nuance that previous problems or 'knots' are being resolved. It's a very common idiomatic way to express that things are finally going your way.

요즘 모든 일이 술술 풀려요. (Lately, everything is working out smoothly/easily.)

Lastly, consider 이루어지다 (to be achieved/realized). This is used when a dream or a specific wish comes true. While 잘되다 can describe the process of a dream going well, 이루어지다 marks the moment of realization. By choosing between these words, you can express varying degrees of success and different stages of a journey.

이루어지다 (To come true): Used for dreams, wishes, or long-term hopes.

How Formal Is It?

Formel

Informel

Niveau de difficulté

Grammaire à connaître

Exemples par niveau

일이 잘돼요.

Work is going well.

Present tense, polite.

잘됐다!

That's great!

Past tense, used as an exclamation.

공부가 잘돼요?

Is your studying going well?

Question form.

밥이 잘됐어요.

The rice is cooked well.

Describing a result.

다 잘될 거예요.

Everything will be fine.

Future tense for encouragement.

잠이 잘 안 와요.

I can't sleep well.

Negative usage with '잘 안'.

사진이 잘됐네요.

The photo turned out well.

-네요 ending for realization.

기분이 잘돼요.

I feel good. (Note: Usually '기분이 좋아요' is better, but '잘되다' can describe a state.)

State description.

시험이 생각보다 잘됐어요.

The exam went better than I thought.

Comparison with '생각보다'.

오늘 공부가 진짜 잘돼요.

My studies are going really well today.

Adverb '진짜' for emphasis.

컴퓨터가 잘 안 돼요.

The computer isn't working well.

Negative form for malfunction.

수술이 잘돼서 다행입니다.

It's a relief the surgery went well.

-아서/어서 for reason.

장사가 잘되는 집이에요.

This is a shop where business goes well.

Noun modifying form -는.

화장이 잘됐어요.

My makeup turned out well.

Describing appearance.

연락이 잘 안 돼요.

I can't get in touch (with them) well.

Describing communication.

빨래가 잘됐네요.

The laundry is done well.

Describing household tasks.

사업이 잘되면 좋겠어요.

I hope the business goes well.

-면 좋겠다 for wishes.

자식이 잘되기를 바라는 마음.

The heart of wishing for one's child to succeed.

-기 바라다 for desires.

계획대로 잘되고 있습니다.

It is going well according to plan.

-고 있다 for continuous action.

모든 일이 잘될 테니 걱정 마세요.

Everything will go well, so don't worry.

-을 테니 for assurance.

면접이 잘됐는지 모르겠어요.

I don't know if the interview went well.

-는지 모르다 for uncertainty.

이 집은 채광이 잘돼요.

This house has good natural lighting.

Describing physical properties.

설명이 잘된 책을 찾고 있어요.

I'm looking for a book with good explanations.

Noun modifying past form -ㄴ.

의사소통이 잘되는 팀이 성공합니다.

Teams that communicate well succeed.

Relative clause.

정착이 잘된 제도를 도입해야 합니다.

We must introduce a well-established system.

Describing social systems.

이번 협상은 우리에게 유리하게 잘됐다.

This negotiation went well in our favor.

Adverbial usage '유리하게'.

그는 집안이 잘된 사람이다.

He comes from a well-to-do family.

Idiomatic use for family background.

마무리가 잘되어야 완벽한 작품이다.

The finishing must go well for it to be a perfect work.

-어야 for necessity.

농사가 잘돼서 풍년이 들었다.

The farming went well, so there was a bumper crop.

Cause and effect.

소화가 잘 안 돼서 약을 먹었어요.

I took medicine because my digestion wasn't going well.

Physiological usage.

말이 잘 안 통하는 것 같아요.

It seems like we're not communicating well.

-는 것 같다 for conjecture.

준비가 잘된 만큼 결과도 좋을 거예요.

As much as the preparation went well, the result will be good too.

-ㄴ 만큼 for proportion.

거참, 잘~ 됐다! (Sarcastic)

Well, isn't that just great! (Sarcastic)

Intonation-dependent sarcasm.

민주주의가 잘 구현된 사례입니다.

This is an example where democracy is well-implemented.

Academic/Political context.

그 영화는 캐릭터 설정이 아주 잘됐다.

That movie's character setup is very well-done.

Artistic criticism.

인간관계가 잘 풀려야 삶이 행복하다.

Life is happy only when human relationships go well.

Philosophical statement.

조직의 체계가 잘 잡혀 있습니다.

The organization's system is well-established.

Corporate structure.

이론과 실제가 잘 부합되는 연구다.

It is a study where theory and practice correspond well.

Academic research.

전통과 현대가 잘 어우러진 건축물.

A building where tradition and modernity blend well.

Aesthetic description.

일이 잘못되면 제가 책임지겠습니다.

If things go wrong, I will take responsibility.

Antonym '잘못되다' usage.

만물이 잘 조화되어 돌아가는 이치.

The principle of all things operating in harmony.

Metaphysical usage.

그의 문장은 수사가 잘 정제되어 있다.

His sentences have well-refined rhetoric.

Literary analysis.

국가 기강이 잘 서야 나라가 바로 선다.

The nation stands upright only when national discipline is well-established.

Political philosophy.

사건의 인과관계가 잘 규명되었다.

The causal relationship of the incident has been well-identified.

Legal/Investigative context.

동양과 서양의 철학이 잘 융합된 저서.

A book in which Eastern and Western philosophies are well-integrated.

Intellectual synthesis.

사회가 잘 돌아가려면 신뢰가 필수적이다.

Trust is essential for society to function well.

Sociological observation.

그는 처세가 잘된 인물로 평가받는다.

He is evaluated as a person who manages social life well.

Character evaluation.

모든 것이 잘 마무리된 후의 고요함.

The silence after everything has been well-concluded.

Poetic expression.

Collocations courantes

일이 잘되다

공부가 잘되다

장사가 잘되다

시험이 잘되다

수술이 잘되다

농사가 잘되다

소화가 잘되다

연락이 잘되다

발음이 잘되다

해석이 잘되다

Phrases Courantes

잘됐다!

다 잘될 거야.

일이 잘 안 돼요.

공부가 잘되는 곳.

장사가 아주 잘돼요.

생각보다 잘됐어요.

준비가 잘됐네요.

말이 잘 안 통해요.

수술이 잘됐으면 좋겠어요.

모든 게 잘될 거예요.

Souvent confondu avec

잘되다 vs 잘하다 (to do well)

잘되다 vs 좋다 (to be good)

잘되다 vs 성공하다 (to succeed)

Expressions idiomatiques

Facile à confondre

잘되다 vs 잘하다

Focuses on the person's skill.

잘되다 vs 잘되다

Focuses on the situation's progress.

Structures de phrases

Famille de mots

Apparenté

Comment l'utiliser

spacing

Standard is '잘되다' (no space).

spelling

잘돼 (O), 잘되 (X - unless followed by certain endings).

Erreurs courantes

Writing '잘 되다' with a space in standard contexts.
Confusing '잘되다' with '잘하다' when talking about skills.
Spelling the polite form as '잘되요' instead of '잘돼요'.
Using the object particle '을/를' with '잘되다'.
Using '잘되다' when '좋다' (to be good) is more appropriate for simple qualities.

Astuces

Spelling Check

Remember: 되 + 어 = 돼. Always use '돼' before '요'.

Congratulating

Use '잘됐다!' immediately when a friend shares good news.

Context

Learn it with common subjects like '일', '공부', '시험'.

Intonation

A high pitch on '잘' makes you sound more enthusiastic.

Process vs Result

Use it to describe how things are currently moving, not just the end.

No Space

In most cases, write it as one word: 잘되다.

Sarcasm Detection

Pay attention to context if the tone sounds heavy or slow.

Antonym

The opposite of '잘되다' is often '잘 안 되다' or '잘못되다'.

Blessings

It's a very polite and kind word to use in letters and cards.

Business

Use '잘되고 있습니다' to report positive progress to a boss.

Mémorise-le

Moyen mnémotechnique

Jal (Well) + Doeda (Become) = It becomes well!

Origine du mot

Native Korean compound.

Contexte culturel

A major life goal for Korean parents is for their children to '잘되다'.

Koreans give gifts when a business '잘되다' to celebrate.

Pratique dans la vie réelle

Contextes réels

Amorces de conversation

"요즘 하시는 일은 잘돼가요?"

"시험 공부는 잘되고 있어요?"

"새로 시작한 운동은 잘돼요?"

"오늘따라 공부가 참 잘되네요, 그쵸?"

"다 잘될 거라고 믿어요."

Sujets d'écriture

오늘 하루 중 가장 잘된 일은 무엇인가요?

앞으로 잘됐으면 하는 계획에 대해 써 보세요.

최근에 '잘됐다!'라고 느낀 순간은 언제인가요?

공부가 잘 안 될 때 어떻게 하나요?

성공(잘되는 것)의 기준은 무엇이라고 생각하나요?

Questions fréquentes

10 questions

It is '잘돼요'. The stem '되' combines with the ending '어' to form '돼'. This is a very common spelling mistake.

Yes, but usually in the context of their life or success, like '그 친구 참 잘됐다' (That friend really succeeded/turned out well).

'안 되다' means it's not working or it's impossible. '잘 안 되다' means it's working, but not smoothly or successfully.

Yes! '밥이 잘됐다' means the rice is cooked perfectly.

It is neutral. It can be used in both formal and informal settings depending on the conjugation.

You can say '잘됐으면 좋겠어요' or '잘되길 바라요'.

Yes, with a specific tone, '잘~ 됐다' can mean 'Now you've done it' or 'What a mess'.

Usually the subject particle '이' or '가'.

Grammatically it is a verb because it describes a process, but it often describes a state like an adjective.

Yes, like '소화가 잘되다' (digestion goes well).