Dictionary — Entry No. 0717
잘 자요
jal-jayo · expression
잘 자요
jal-jayo
[jahl JAH-yoh]
expressionbeginner
Meaning
Means ‘sleep well’ or ‘good night,’ composed of 잘 (well) and 자요 (polite form of 자다, to sleep). It is a warm, caring farewell used at the end of the day. The phrase implies you are thinking about the other person’s rest and wellbeing, making it both practical and affectionate — a small act of care before separation.
K-Pop & K-Drama Context
K-Pop idols posting 잘 자요 on fan platforms like Weverse or X before bed has become a beloved nightly ritual connecting idols with fans across time zones. BTS’s V (Kim Taehyung) is particularly known for late-night Weverse posts ending with 잘 자요 아미. IU’s ballad ‘Through the Night’ (밤편지) is essentially a musical 잘 자요 — watching over someone as they sleep, wishing them peaceful rest from a distance.
Example Sentences
잘 자요, 꿈에서 봐요
Jal jayo, kkulme bwayo
Sleep well, see you in dreams (꿈에서 봐요 = see you in dreams — a sweet pairing that elevates a simple goodnight into something romantic)
다들 잘 자요, 오늘도 수고했어요
Dadeul jal jayo, oneuldo sugohesseoyo
Everyone sleep well, you all worked hard today (how idols address fans collectively — 다들 = everyone, inclusive and warm)
잘 자요, 내일 또 봐요
Jal jayo, naeil tto bwayo
Sleep well, see you again tomorrow (또 = again, adding the comfort of continuity — you’ll be here again tomorrow)
⚠️ Don’t use jal-jayo when…
잘 자요 is politely casual. For elders or very formal situations use 안녕히 주무세요 (annyeonghi jumuseyo), which uses the honorific verb 주무시다 (to sleep). Using 잘 자요 with a grandparent or professor may feel disrespectfully informal.
🎵 Heard In
- K-Drama: Reply 1988 — neighborhood families calling 잘 자요 across shared courtyards at night captures the communal warmth that made the drama a cultural phenomenon throughout Korea.
- K-Pop: IU — Through the Night (밤편지, 2017)
ℹ️ Editorial Note: The cultural context and example usage are for educational reference only. Artist names, song titles, and drama references are used descriptively to illustrate vocabulary in context. This content is AI-assisted and reviewed for accuracy. For official information, please refer to the respective artists’ or studios’ official channels.