good night in korean
How to Say "Good Night" in Korean (잘 자 / 잘 자요): Casual & Polite
잘 자
jal ja
Quick answer
The most natural way to say good night in Korean is 잘 자 (jal ja) to a friend or 잘 자요 (jal jayo) for a polite version — literally 'sleep well.'
Common forms
| Register | Hangul | Romanization | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| casual | 잘 자 | jal ja | Between close friends and partners — the everyday night-time send-off. |
| polite | 잘 자요 | jal jayo | Polite form; safe with people slightly above your age or not super close. |
| formal (to elders) | 안녕히 주무세요 | annyeonghi jumuseyo | Honorific form used to parents, grandparents, or seniors — shows real respect. |
| sweet / affectionate | 꿈에서 봐 | kkume-seo bwa | Literally 'see you in my dreams' — a romantic way to say good night to a partner. |
How it changes by relationship
잘 자! 내일 봐!
Jal ja! Naeil bwa!
to a close friend: Often paired with 'see you tomorrow' in texting or late-night calls.
잘 자, 꿈에서 봐.
Jal ja, kkume-seo bwa.
to a romantic partner: Very sweet and common in K-drama texts and phone calls before bed.
안녕히 주무세요.
Annyeonghi jumuseyo.
to a parent or elder: Respectful and expected — saying just 잘 자 to a parent sounds too casual.
굿밤 ✨
gut bam
in a text (casual): 굿밤 (gut bam) is a loanword-style shorthand for 'good night' used in text slang.
Examples
잘 자, 내일 봐!
Jal ja, naeil bwa!
Good night, see you tomorrow!
안녕히 주무세요, 어머니.
Annyeonghi jumuseyo, eomeoni.
Good night, mom.
꿈에서 봐.
Kkume-seo bwa.
See you in my dreams.
Usage note
There's no single Korean phrase that maps exactly to 'good night' as a greeting — 잘 자 literally means 'sleep well,' so it's said when someone is actually about to go to sleep, not as a general evening farewell the way English speakers use it.
Mini quiz
What is the primary Korean phrase for "good night" here?
FAQ
Can I say 안녕 instead of 잘 자 at night?
안녕 is more of a general hello/bye. When someone's going to bed, 잘 자 is more appropriate and natural.
How do I say 'sweet dreams' in Korean?
좋은 꿈 꿔 (joeun kkum kkwo) means 'have a good dream' — a sweet and genuine way to wish someone pleasant dreams.
What does 굿밤 mean?
굿밤 (gut bam) is a casual, text-slang version of 'good night,' borrowed from English sounds. Very informal — only between close friends.