The one greeting that works everywhere: 안녕하세요 (annyeonghaseyo) - polite, all-purpose, any time of day. Casual with friends: 안녕 (annyeong). Formal (business, presentations): 안녕하십니까 (annyeonghasimnikka). On the phone only: 여보세요 (yeoboseyo). Add a small nod or bow and you’re set.
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Take the free Korean level testKorean greetings come in politeness levels, not times of day - there’s no everyday “good morning / good afternoon” split like English. That makes your first decision simple: how formal is this moment? Here’s every greeting you’ll actually use, organized exactly that way.
The three levels of hello
| Korean | Say it | When |
|---|---|---|
| 안녕하세요 | an-nyeong-ha-se-yo | Default. Strangers, shops, colleagues, teachers - 95% of situations |
| 안녕 | an-nyeong | Casual: close friends, children, same age or younger |
| 안녕하십니까 | an-nyeong-ha-sim-ni-kka | Formal: presentations, news anchors, military, first business meetings |
When unsure, choose 안녕하세요 - being slightly too polite is charming; being too casual with the wrong person is not. The word itself means “peace/well-being” (안녕, 安寧), so you’re literally asking “are you at peace?”
Meeting someone new
| Korean | Say it | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 처음 뵙겠습니다 | cheo-eum boep-gess-seum-ni-da | “First time meeting you” (formal opener) |
| 만나서 반갑습니다 | man-na-seo ban-gap-seum-ni-da | Nice to meet you (polite) |
| 반가워요 | ban-ga-wo-yo | Nice to meet you (friendly-polite) |
| 잘 부탁드립니다 | jal bu-tak-deu-rim-ni-da | “Please take care of me” - closes introductions at work/school |
A natural first-meeting combo: 안녕하세요. 마크입니다. 만나서 반갑습니다. - “Hello, I’m Mark, nice to meet you.” Three sentences, and you’ve made a perfect first impression.
Hellos for people you already know
| Korean | Say it | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 잘 지냈어요? | jal ji-naess-eo-yo | How have you been? |
| 오랜만이에요 | o-raen-man-i-e-yo | Long time no see |
| 밥 먹었어요? | bap meog-eoss-eo-yo | “Have you eaten?” - a warm hello, not a lunch invitation |
| 여보세요 | yeo-bo-se-yo | Hello? (phone only - never in person) |
밥 먹었어요? surprises every learner: asking “have you eaten?” is a classic Korean way of saying “I care about you.” The expected answer is just 네, 먹었어요 (yes, I ate) - no menu discussion required.
The two goodbyes (this trips everyone)
Who’s leaving?
- To the person leaving: 안녕히 가세요 (annyeonghi gaseyo) - “go in peace.”
- To the person staying: 안녕히 계세요 (annyeonghi gyeseyo) - “stay in peace.”
- Casual, either way: 잘 가 (bye - to leaver) / 잘 있어 (bye - to stayer), or just 안녕.
Leaving a shop? You’re the one going, so the staff say 안녕히 가세요 to you - and you reply 안녕히 계세요 since they’re staying. Get this right and Korean shopkeepers visibly brighten.
The bow that goes with it
Greetings come with body language: a small nod for equals and everyday moments, a deeper bow (~30°) for elders, bosses and first meetings. Hand-shakes happen in business - support your right forearm with your left hand for extra respect. You don’t need perfection; the visible effort is what registers.
Say it right from day one
Reading “an-nyeong-ha-se-yo” isn’t the same as saying it naturally. Hanguljo’s conversation practice has you shadow real dialogues aloud with speech recognition and native audio, level by level - and its Hangul foundations track gets you off romanization within days.
Learn Korean with Hanguljo - FreeFrequently asked questions
Is there “good morning” in Korean?
Not in daily speech - 안녕하세요 covers morning to midnight. You may see 좋은 아침이에요 (“good morning”) in offices or dramas, but it’s an English-influenced nicety, not the default.
How is 안녕하세요 actually pronounced?
Five smooth syllables: an-nyeong-ha-se-yo, with the “nyeong” like “nyuhng.” Once you read Hangul, the spelling tells you everything - another reason to skip romanization early.
Can I say 안녕 to someone older?
Only if you’re close and they’ve invited casual speech (반말). Default to 안녕하세요 with anyone older or senior - politeness levels are real social currency in Korea.
What do I say entering a shop or restaurant?
Usually nothing - staff greet you with 어서 오세요 (“welcome”). A smile or nod is a fine response; answer 안녕하세요 if you like.
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