Korean Dictionary
How to say "How is your family?" in Korean
“How is your family?” in Korean is 가족은 잘 지내요 (pronounced "Gajokuneun jal jinaeyo").
가족은 잘 지내요
Gajokuneun jal jinaeyo
Usage & Context
Asking about someone's family as a way to show care and interest. Koreans place great importance on family, so asking about family members shows genuine consideration. Often asked between older acquaintances or when reconnecting after a long time.
Example Sentence
부모님은 잘 계세요? 가족은 잘 지내요?
Are your parents doing well? How is your family?
How to use 가족은 잘 지내요 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “How is your family?” is 가족은 잘 지내요, romanized as Gajokuneun jal jinaeyo.
Usage tip
Check the politeness level before using this word. Korean greetings often change depending on age, relationship, and setting.
Common mistake
Do not rely only on the English meaning. Read the Korean example sentence and notice the particles, word order, and politeness level around 가족은 잘 지내요.
Pronunciation Guide
가족은 (Gajogeun) sounds like 'Gah-joh-geun', with 'Gah' like 'gah' in 'garlic', 'joh' like 'jaw', and 'geun' like 'gun'. 잘 (Jal) sounds like 'Jahl', similar to 'jal' in 'jalapeño'. 지내요 (Jinaeyo) sounds like 'Jee-neh-yo', with 'Jee' like 'jeep', 'neh' like 'neh' in 'never', and 'yo' like 'yo-yo'. The stress is fairly even.
Formal & Casual Forms
Formal (존댓말)
가족분들은 잘 지내십니까?
Gajokbundeureun jal jinaesimnikka?
A very formal way to ask, using honorifics (분들) and a formal ending (십니까). Used in highly respectful or formal situations.
Casual (반말)
가족 잘 지내?
Gajok jal jinae?
Used with close friends, family, or people younger than you.
More Example Sentences
Catching up with an acquaintance after a long time.
오랜만에 뵙네요. 가족은 잘 지내요?
It's been a long time. How is your family?
After a major holiday, asking about family gatherings.
명절 잘 보내셨어요? 가족은 잘 지내요?
Did you have a good holiday? How is your family?
Asking about a specific family member and then generally about the family.
어머니는 좀 어떠세요? 가족은 잘 지내요?
How is your mother doing? How is your family?
Cultural Context
Family is a cornerstone of Korean culture, and asking about someone's family is a common way to show genuine care and respect. It's often used as a conversation starter, especially among older acquaintances or when reconnecting. It's particularly polite to ask about parents (부모님) using honorifics like '부모님은 잘 계세요?' (Bumonimeun jal gyeseyo?). Avoid overly personal questions about family members' lives unless you know the person very well.
Editorial note
We check greetings like 가족은 잘 지내요 for politeness and timing, since Korean greetings change with relationship, age, and setting.
Reviewed by Min-jung Park, Korean Language Teacher. Updated May 31, 2026. See our editorial standards.
Common Phrases
네, 잘 지내요
Yes, they are doing well.
덕분에 잘 지내요
Thanks to you, they are doing well.
모두 건강해요
Everyone is healthy.
Related Expressions
부모님은 잘 계세요?
Bumonimeun jal gyeseyo?
Are your parents doing well? (Honorific)
어머니/아버지는 잘 지내세요?
Eomeoni/Abeojineun jal jinaeseyo?
Is your mother/father doing well? (Honorific)
건강은 어떠세요?
Geongangeun eotteoseyo?
How is your health? (General well-being)
별일 없으시죠?
Byeolil eopseusijyo?
Nothing special happening, right? (General check-in)
More Greetings Words
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