Definition
To sleep; to be in a state of rest with eyes closed and the mind inactive.
Example
나는 어젯밤에 여덟 시간 잤어요.
Show translation
I slept for eight hours last night.
Etymology
Native Korean verb (고유어, *goyueo*), present in the language since Old Korean. It conjugates as an ㅏ-stem verb: 자 + 요 → 자요 (polite), 잤어요 (past polite). The stem 자- is found in related forms like 재우다 ("to put someone to sleep") and 잠 ("sleep," a related noun).
Cultural note
In Korean culture, asking whether someone has slept well — "잘 잤어요?" — is a common and warm greeting in the morning, similar to "Good morning!" It reflects the Confucian-influenced value placed on caring about others' well-being. Note that 잠 (the noun "sleep") and 자다 share the same root, making them easy to learn together.