How to Say Hello in Korean: 안녕하세요 and 12 More Greetings

Korean 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)

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.

Frequently 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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