JINJJA (진짜) Meaning — How Koreans Say "REALLY?!" | SingSay Korean
How Koreans say
“Really?” before
they react.
A friend got the job. The tickets are free.
Before you decide whether to believe it,
one word comes out first.
What does ‘진짜’ mean?
‘진짜’ (Jinjja) means “Really?”, “For Real?” or “Seriously?”
The word itself means real or genuine.
Its opposite is ‘가짜’ (Gajja), fake.
So ‘진짜 커피’ (Jinjja Keopi) is real coffee,
and ‘진짜 이야기’ (Jinjja Iyagi) is a true story.
But most of the time you hear it alone, with a question mark.
One word, and you have responded.
Up or down?
The pitch at the end changes the job completely.
Same word, same spelling.
Your voice decides which one you mean.
When Koreans say it
Notice the last one. ‘진짜’ is not only for doubting.
Add ‘-야’ (-Ya) and you are the one swearing it is true: “I’m Not Kidding!”
Level it up
Doubt has degrees in Korean.
‘설마’ is the interesting one. It is less about facts,
more a reaction to something you hope is not true.
Koreans say it slowly, trailing off,
often before the other person has even finished.
정말?
‘정말’ (Jeongmal) means the same thing,
but sounds a little more polite and written.
‘진짜’ is what friends say out loud.
‘정말’ is what you see in textbooks. Both are safe.
The polite versions
‘진짜?’ on its own is casual: friends, classmates, people your own age.
Friends, Classmates
Teachers, Older People
Careful Speech
Same reaction, just dressed for the occasion.
Lyrics
When you can’t believe it, say:
진짜? 진짜? 진짜?
When you can’t believe it, say: jinjja?BRIDGE
It is free today? 진짜로?
Something too good to be true? 설마…
But it IS real: 진짜! 진짜!
This one is a call-and-response, so answer back.
Let your voice rise on ‘진짜?’ and drop it on ‘진짜!’.
That one move is the whole lesson.
Words in this song
Three songs in, you can doubt the news,
celebrate it with ‘대박’, or sigh at it with ‘아이고’.
Want to keep ‘진짜’ handy?
Save the word cards on Instagram @singsaykorean.
Watch the full song on YouTube @SingSayKorean
and sing it until it sticks.
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