Dictionary — Entry No. 0333
잘자
jalja · expression
잘자
jalja
[jal-JAH]
expressionbeginner
Meaning
An informal expression meaning ‘sleep well’ or ‘good night,’ combining ‘잘 (jal — well)’ and ‘자 (ja — sleep, the informal imperative of 자다).’ Reserved for close friends, romantic partners, or family — using it signals genuine intimacy and care.
K-Pop & K-Drama Context
BTS members regularly close late-night Weverse posts and V Lives with ‘잘자 ARMY,’ turning this simple phrase into a tender daily ritual between idols and fans across time zones. In K-Dramas, late-night phone calls softly ending in ‘잘자’ have become iconic romantic beats that fans clip and rewatch endlessly.
Example Sentences
잘자! 좋은 꿈 꿔.
Jalja! Joeun kkum kkwo.
Sleep well! Have sweet dreams. (warm, affectionate send-off at the end of the night)
오늘 수고했어. 잘자.
Oneul sugohasseo. Jalja.
You worked hard today. Sleep well. (caring acknowledgment of someone’s effort before wishing them rest)
잘자, 내일 봐!
Jalja, naeil bwa!
Good night, see you tomorrow! (upbeat and casual — common between close friends parting for the evening)
⚠️ Don’t use jalja when…
Never say ‘잘자 (jalja)’ to elders, parents-in-law, or anyone you address formally — use ‘안녕히 주무세요 (annyeonghi jumuseyo)’ to show proper respect. Don’t confuse ‘잘자 (jalja — sleep well)’ with ‘잘해 (jalhae — do well / do it right)’ — they sound alike but mean entirely different things.
🎵 Heard In
- K-Drama: Something in the Rain — the couple’s tender late-night phone calls ending with a quiet ‘잘자’ became one of the most replayed romantic moments in the drama, perfectly capturing its warm, slow-burn atmosphere.
- K-Pop: EXO — ‘Lullaby’ (2018) — a lush, romantic title track built around soothing a loved one to sleep, directly evoking the gentle intimacy of wishing someone a peaceful night.
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.