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jal

Not 'excellently' — 'without snagging'

The picture Gears turning without catching anywhere. A person, a machine, a sound — if it runs without snagging, that's 잘.

Everyday expressions

Where the picture shows up in

  1. time that rolled by without trouble

    그동안 지내셨어요?

    geu-dong-an jal ji-nae-syeo-sseo-yo

    How have you been?

  2. not coming through smoothly

    소리가 안 들려요.

    so-ri-ga jal an deul-lyeo-yo

    I can't hear you well.

    Not about bad ears — the sound isn't arriving smoothly.

  3. a skill that runs smooth

    한국말을 참 하시네요.

    han-gung-ma-reul cham jal-ha-si-ne-yo

    Your Korean is really good.

  4. a frozen set phrase

    먹겠습니다.

    jal meok-get-seum-ni-da

    Thank you for the meal.

    Said before eating; nobody is literally promising to eat 'excellently'.

  5. before a negative: 'not exactly'

    저도 모르겠어요.

    jeo-do jal mo-reu-ge-sseo-yo

    I don't really know either.

    잘 몰라요 is closer to 'I'm not sure' than to 'I have no idea'.

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