What Does "Jinjja" Mean? Really, Seriously and For Real in Korean
Jinjja (진짜) means really, real or seriously in Korean. Learn how to use it as a reaction, as a word for really, and how it differs from jeongmal, with examples.
By a native Korean teacher · · 2 min read
Jinjja (진짜) means "real" or "really" in Korean. On its own, said with a rising tone, it is the Korean "Really?" or "For real?" Inside a sentence it works like "really" or "so," as in 진짜 맛있다 (jinjja masitda), "this is really good."
Word at a glance
진짜jinjja
- Literally
- real, the real thing
- In natural English
- really, for real, seriously
The basic meaning of jinjja
As a noun, 진짜 means the real thing, the opposite of 가짜 (gajja), a fake. You can say a bag is 진짜 if it is genuine, or that a friend is 진짜 if they are the real deal.
In everyday speech, though, you will hear it far more often as an adverb meaning "really" or as a one-word reaction. It is one of the most common words in spoken Korean, and once you notice it in K-dramas you will hear it in almost every episode.
진짜 가방이에요, 가짜 아니에요.
Jinjja gabangieyo, gajja anieyo.
It's a real bag, not a fake.
Jinjja? as a reaction
Said alone with a rising tone, 진짜? means "Really?" or "Are you serious?" It can sound excited, shocked or doubtful depending on the voice. Adding -야 makes it a fuller question: 진짜야? (jinjjaya?), "Is that for real?"
Koreans often pair it with other reaction words, so you will hear combinations like 진짜? 대박! in the same breath.
진짜? 대박!
Jinjja? Daebak!
Really? No way!
진짜야? 거짓말하지 마.
Jinjjaya? Geojinmalhaji ma.
For real? Don't lie to me.
Jinjja as "really" in a sentence
Placed before a verb or adjective, 진짜 adds emphasis, much like "really" or "so" in English. It is casual but not rude, so you can use it with friends, and many people also use it with coworkers in relaxed conversation.
이거 진짜 맛있다.
Igeo jinjja masitda.
This is really good.
진짜 미안해.
Jinjja mianhae.
I'm really sorry.
오늘 진짜 피곤해.
Oneul jinjja pigonhae.
I'm so tired today.
Jinjja vs jeongmal
정말 (jeongmal) also means "really," and in most sentences you can swap the two. The difference is tone. 정말 sounds a little more neutral and is common in writing, speeches and polite speech, as in 정말 감사합니다 (jeongmal gamsahamnida), "thank you very much." 진짜 sounds more spoken and more emotional.
If you are writing a formal email, choose 정말. If you are reacting to gossip from a friend, 진짜 sounds more natural.
How to pronounce jinjja
The second syllable starts with ㅉ, a tense consonant with no exact English match. Say "j" with your throat tight and no puff of air, a bit like the "dg" in "edgy" said sharply. The official romanization doubles the letter, jinjja, while many fans write "jinja" or "jinjja."
Questions people ask
Is jinjja rude?+
No. It is casual, but it is not rude. With a boss or an elder in a formal setting, 정말 sounds more polished.
How do you reply when someone says jinjja?+
Answer as you would to "Really?": 응, 진짜 (eung, jinjja), "Yeah, really," or 진짜야 (jinjjaya), "It's true."
What does jinjja jinjja mean?+
Repeating it adds emphasis, like "really, really" or "I swear." It is very common when someone is trying to be believed.
Is jinjja the same as daebak?+
No. Jinjja means "really," while daebak means "awesome" or "no way." They are often said together as a reaction.