“We’ve known each other for quite a while” in Korean

알고 지낸 지 꽤 됐네요

algo jinaen ji kkwae dwaenneyo

Situation: Introductions & meeting peopleLevel: Advanced (TOPIK 5–6)

Meaning

We’ve known each other for quite a while.

Said when looking back warmly on time spent with someone. 꽤 means “quite.”

Romanization follows the Revised Romanization system and is a guide to pronunciation.

Syllables: 9 · Words: 5

Said aloud, it sounds like [알고 지낸 지 꽤 됀네요].

Syllable	Letters (consonant + vowel + final)	Romanization
알고
알	ㅇ+ㅏ+ㄹ	al
고	ㄱ+ㅗ	go
지낸
지	ㅈ+ㅣ	ji
낸	ㄴ+ㅐ+ㄴ	naen
지	ㅈ+ㅣ	ji
꽤	ㄲ+ㅙ	kkwae
됐네요
됐	ㄷ+ㅙ+ㅆ	[됀] dwaen
네	ㄴ+ㅔ	ne
요	ㅇ+ㅛ	yo

A ㅇ at the start of a syllable is silent; at the end of a syllable it sounds like “ng”.

Nasalization: a final ㄱ, ㄷ or ㅂ becomes ㅇ, ㄴ or ㅁ before ㄴ or ㅁ (and a ㄹ after ㅁ or ㅇ becomes ㄴ). 됐네 → [됀네]

Style: Polite (해요체)Sentence type: Statement or set phrase

Ends in -요. The everyday polite style, and a safe choice with shop staff, colleagues, strangers and anyone older than you.

These words from the TOPIK vocabulary lists appear in the phrase (shown in dictionary form).

Korean	Part of speech	Meaning	Level
알다	verb	to know	TOPIK level 1
꽤	adverb	fairly, quite	TOPIK level 4

Test yourself before you move on. Tap an answer.

Question 1 What does “알고 지낸 지 꽤 됐네요” mean?

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Answer: We’ve known each other for quite a while

Question 2 How do you say “We’ve known each other for quite a while” in Korean?

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Answer: 알고 지낸 지 꽤 됐네요 algo jinaen ji kkwae dwaenneyo

Question 3 How is “알고 지낸 지 꽤 됐네요” pronounced?

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Answer: [알고 지낸 지 꽤 됀네요]

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