Korean · Everyday Verbs
"to sleep" in Korean: 자다
자다jada
to sleep in Korean is 자다 (jada). 자다 means sleep; 잠을 자다 is the full noun-plus-verb expression.
to sleep: an everyday statement
매일 일찍 자요.maeil iljjik jayo.
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How to pronounce 자다
Say it
jada
/tɕata/
Read 자다 as jada. The spoken form 자요 is jayo; preserve its final 요 when addressing someone politely.
"to sleep" in Korean: quick reference
| Korean | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| 자다jada | to sleep Dictionary form. | Dictionary form. |
| 자요jayo | to sleep (polite present) Use 자요 in an everyday polite sentence. | Use 자요 in an everyday polite sentence. |
| 잤어요jasseoyo | to sleep (polite past) Use 잤어요 for a completed past action or state. | Use 잤어요 for a completed past action or state. |
How to use 자다 in real life
- 1to sleep: an everyday statement
매일 일찍 자요.
maeil iljjik jayo.
I sleep early every day.
자요 is the present form of 자다.
- 2to sleep: a different situation
어제 잘 잤어요.
eoje jal jasseoyo.
I slept well yesterday.
잤어요 is the past form of 자다.
- 3to sleep: a question or request
밤에 몇 시간 자요?
bame myeot sigan jayo?
How many hours do you sleep at night?
자요 is the present form of 자다.
Mistakes English speakers make with 자다
Incorrect: 자다.
Correct: 자요.
When practicing to sleep, 자다 names the dictionary entry. In polite speech, change the ending to 자요.
Incorrect: 어제 자요.
Correct: 어제 잤어요.
When practicing to sleep, for a completed event yesterday, use 잤어요; the present form 자요 does not express that past event.
Good to know
자다 means sleep; 잠을 자다 is the full noun-plus-verb expression. 자요 is the polite conversational form of 자다; 잤어요 gives a past-tense form.
Read this practice conversation aloud
Tutor-led everyday verbs study exercise: two sentences with 자다
Partner
이 표현을 사용해서 한 문장 말해 볼까요?
i pyohyeoneul sayonghaeseo han munjang malhae bolkkayo?
Shall we say a sentence using this expression?
You
매일 일찍 자요.
maeil iljjik jayo.
I sleep early every day.
Partner
좋아요. 다른 문장으로도 연습해 볼까요?
joayo. dareun munjangeurodo yeonseupae bolkkayo?
Good. Shall we practice with another sentence too?
You
어제 잘 잤어요.
eoje jal jasseoyo.
I slept well yesterday.
This is a sample dialogue for reading aloud. Try both parts, then replace a detail with one from your own life.
Explore ChatPal"to sleep" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "to sleep" in Korean
How do I use 자다 in polite speech?
자요 is the polite conversational form of 자다; 잤어요 gives a past-tense form.
How do I use 자다 in a past-tense sentence?
잤어요 is the polite past form. 자다 means sleep; 잠을 자다 is the full noun-plus-verb expression.
What does 자요 mean here?
자요 is used for to sleep. For example, 매일 일찍 자요. means “I sleep early every day.”
What should I remember about 자다?
자다 means sleep; 잠을 자다 is the full noun-plus-verb expression.
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