Few things open a door in Korea faster than a warm, well-timed greeting. Whether you are meeting a new colleague in Seoul, video-calling a language exchange partner, or ordering tteokbokki at a street stall, the way you say hello signals respect, warmth, and social awareness all at once. The good news is that Korean greetings follow clear, learnable patterns. Once you understand the logic behind politeness levels, a handful of core phrases will carry you through almost any situation.
In this guide we will walk through the essential hellos and goodbyes, the politeness levels that decide which version you use, the role of bowing, how to ask “how are you?”, and the small mistakes learners make most often. Every phrase comes with Hangul and romanization so you can start speaking today.
The one greeting you must know: 안녕하세요
If you learn only a single Korean phrase, make it 안녕하세요 (annyeonghaseyo). It literally draws on the word 안녕 (annyeong), meaning “peace” or “well-being,” so you are essentially wishing the other person a peaceful state. It works as “hello,” “hi,” “good morning,” “good afternoon,” and “good evening” all at once — Korean does not split greetings by time of day the way English does.
안녕하세요 is the polite, standard register. You can safely use it with strangers, shopkeepers, coworkers, teachers, elders, and anyone you have just met. Pronounce it smoothly as ahn-nyeong-ha-se-yo, letting the final “yo” rise slightly, and you will sound friendly and respectful.
Among close friends and people younger than you, the shortened 안녕 (annyeong) is the casual “hi.” It is affectionate and relaxed — perfect between classmates or siblings — but using it with a boss, an elder, or someone you have just met can come across as too familiar. When in doubt, choose the longer, safer 안녕하세요.
Understanding Korean politeness levels
Korean is built around speech levels that reflect the relationship between speaker and listener. Getting these right matters more than perfect pronunciation, because they communicate respect. For greetings, three levels cover almost everything you need.
- Formal (deferential): 안녕하십니까 (annyeonghasimnikka) — used in speeches, news broadcasts, the military, customer service, and highly formal business settings.
- Polite (standard): 안녕하세요 (annyeonghaseyo) — your everyday default with strangers, colleagues, and elders.
- Casual (intimate): 안녕 (annyeong) — for close friends, family your own age or younger, and children.
A helpful rule of thumb: start at the polite level with everyone. A Korean friend may later invite you to “speak comfortably” (반말, banmal), which is your cue to switch to casual speech. Downgrading formality without permission can feel presumptuous, while staying polite a little too long is never rude.
| Korean | Romanization | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| 안녕하십니까 | annyeonghasimnikka | Formal — business, broadcasts, presentations, customer service, the military |
| 안녕하세요 | annyeonghaseyo | Polite standard — strangers, coworkers, elders, teachers, shopkeepers |
| 안녕 | annyeong | Casual — close friends, younger people, children, family your age |
| 여보세요 | yeoboseyo | Answering the phone — “hello?” when you cannot see the caller |
| 오랜만이에요 | oraenmanieyo | “Long time no see” — greeting someone after a while (polite) |
Bowing: the greeting you make with your body
In Korea, words are only half of a greeting. A slight bow almost always accompanies 안녕하세요. This is not the deep, formal bow you might picture — for everyday situations it is a quick nod of the head and a small dip from the neck or upper back, taking less than a second.
The depth of the bow scales with respect. A casual nod suits peers and shop interactions, while a deeper bow from the waist is reserved for elders, senior colleagues, or moments of sincere thanks or apology. When shaking hands in a business setting, Koreans often support the right forearm with the left hand and add a small bow — a graceful blend of Western and Korean etiquette. As a learner, even a modest nod paired with your greeting shows you have done your homework, and locals will appreciate the effort.
How to ask “how are you?” in Korean
Unlike English speakers, Koreans do not automatically tack “how are you?” onto every hello. It is used more genuinely, often when you have not seen someone for a while. The standard polite version is 잘 지내세요? (jal jinaeseyo?), meaning “Are you doing well?”
- 잘 지내세요? (jal jinaeseyo?) — “How have you been?” (polite)
- 잘 지내? (jal jinae?) — casual version for friends
- 네, 잘 지내요. (ne, jal jinaeyo.) — “Yes, I’m doing well.” (a natural reply)
- 오랜만이에요! (oraenmanieyo!) — “Long time no see!” — a warm greeting for a reunion
If someone asks how you are, a simple 네, 잘 지내요 (ne, jal jinaeyo) followed by 그쪽은요? (geujjogeunyo? — “and you?”) keeps the conversation flowing naturally.
Saying goodbye: 가세요 vs 계세요
Here is where Korean does something English does not: there are two different goodbyes, and which one you use depends on who is leaving. Both start with 안녕히 (annyeonghi, “peacefully”), but the verb changes.
- 안녕히 가세요 (annyeonghi gaseyo) — literally “go peacefully.” You say this to the person who is leaving.
- 안녕히 계세요 (annyeonghi gyeseyo) — literally “stay peacefully.” You say this to the person who is staying.
Picture leaving a shop: you are walking out, so you tell the shopkeeper 안녕히 계세요 (stay well), and the shopkeeper, watching you go, replies 안녕히 가세요 (go well). If both people are leaving and parting ways, you both say 안녕히 가세요. Among friends, you can simply say 안녕 or the borrowed, breezy 바이바이 (bai-bai). For a “see you later,” reach for 또 봐요 (tto bwayo) or the more casual 나중에 봐 (najunge bwa).
| Korean | Romanization | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| 안녕히 가세요 | annyeonghi gaseyo | To the person who is leaving — “go well” |
| 안녕히 계세요 | annyeonghi gyeseyo | To the person who is staying — “stay well” |
| 안녕 | annyeong | Casual “bye” between friends (also means “hi”) |
| 또 봐요 | tto bwayo | “See you again” (polite) |
| 나중에 봐 | najunge bwa | “See you later” (casual) |
| 들어가세요 | deureogaseyo | “Get home safely” — a warm parting, especially on the phone |
Answering the phone: 여보세요
Korean has a dedicated telephone hello: 여보세요 (yeoboseyo). You use it specifically when you cannot see the person — answering a call or checking whether the line is still connected. Saying 안녕하세요 when you pick up the phone is not wrong, but 여보세요 is what native speakers reach for first. In a business call, you might follow it with your name and company for clarity.
Thank you and mealtime greetings
Greetings blend naturally into everyday courtesy phrases. Two ways to say thank you cover most situations: 감사합니다 (gamsahamnida), a formal-polite “thank you,” and 고마워요 (gomawoyo), a softer polite version, with the casual 고마워 (gomawo) for friends.
Korea also has beautiful mealtime greetings. Before eating, you say 잘 먹겠습니다 (jal meokgetseumnida) — “I will eat well,” a way of thanking whoever prepared or is paying for the food. After finishing, you say 잘 먹었습니다 (jal meogeotseumnida) — “I ate well.” Using these at a Korean table is a small gesture that never fails to earn a smile.
Common mistakes learners make
- Using 안녕 with elders or strangers. The casual hello can sound disrespectful outside close relationships. Default to 안녕하세요.
- Mixing up 가세요 and 계세요. Remember: 가 (ga) is in “go,” so 가세요 goes to the one leaving. 계세요 keeps the one staying.
- Answering the phone with 안녕하세요 by reflex. Reach for 여보세요 instead when you cannot see the caller.
- Forgetting the bow. A greeting without a small nod can feel incomplete in person.
- Over-adding “how are you?”. 잘 지내세요? is sincere, not a reflexive filler — save it for people you actually want to check in with.
Pronunciation gets easier once you are comfortable reading Hangul, so it is worth strengthening your foundations. Our guides to Korean vowels and Korean numbers pair perfectly with these greetings, and you can add warmth to your speech with Korean nicknames and the right words for family members in Korean. For extra practice tips, resources like 90 Day Korean and How To Study Korean are excellent free companions.
Learning greetings in another language? Compare how other cultures open a conversation with our guides to Spanish greetings and French greetings — you will notice how each language weaves in its own ideas of politeness.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most common way to say hello in Korean?
The most common and safest greeting is 안녕하세요 (annyeonghaseyo). It is the polite standard “hello” and works at any time of day with almost anyone — strangers, coworkers, elders, and shopkeepers alike.
What is the difference between 안녕히 가세요 and 안녕히 계세요?
Both mean “goodbye,” but they depend on who is moving. Say 안녕히 가세요 (annyeonghi gaseyo, “go well”) to the person who is leaving, and 안녕히 계세요 (annyeonghi gyeseyo, “stay well”) to the person who is staying behind.
When should I use 안녕 instead of 안녕하세요?
Use the casual 안녕 (annyeong) only with close friends, family your own age, and people younger than you. With elders, strangers, teachers, or in any formal setting, stick with the polite 안녕하세요.
Do I really need to bow when greeting someone in Korea?
In person, yes — a small nod or slight bow usually accompanies a spoken greeting. It does not need to be deep; a quick dip of the head shows respect. Deeper bows are reserved for elders, seniors, and sincere thanks or apologies.
How do Koreans answer the phone?
Koreans answer the phone with 여보세요 (yeoboseyo), a greeting used specifically when you cannot see the other person. It is preferred over 안녕하세요 for calls, though in formal business contexts you may add your name and company afterward.
Ready to greet Korea with confidence? At The Cognitio, our friendly tutors help you master pronunciation, politeness levels, and real conversation from your very first lesson. Book a class and start learning Korean with The Cognitio today.