How are you?

[phoenixroo7239]

I only started learning Korean a week ago, so I'm still quite new at all of this. This site has been a lot of help so far, though. However, in all the beginning lessons I've taken, there has been no explanation on how to say "how are you?" Is "how are you?" not a phrase that is commonly used in Korean?

[iDoof]

How are you? --> 잘 지내세요? (jal jinae sae yeo?)

This is one of the more common ways to say that phrase, but you are partially correct -- 'how are you' is surprisingly not THAT commonly used. It's not that it's NEVER used, it's just that in English, "how's it goin" and "how are you" are our go-to conversation starters. We tend to just throw those phrases out there immediately after "hello", but in Korean it isn't quite like that.

In Korean, I generally use 잘 지내세요 or (잘 지내? - to friends) when I haven't seen them in at least a week...it's closer to a "how are things going for you these days," a similar phrase but not one you'd use with someone you see nearly every day, you know?

Others, feel free to weigh in if I've missed anything...

[phoenixroo7239]

Thank you so much *bows in appreciation*