How to say hello in Korean (and when to use each greeting)
Korean has one word for hello, but three ways to say it. Annyeonghaseyo (안녕하세요) works with almost everyone; annyeonghasimnikka (안녕하십니까) is for formal settings; plain annyeong (안녕) is for close friends and children. Choosing the wrong level is the mistake learners make most, so this page sorts every greeting by formality.
Below you will find hellos, goodbyes, introductions, thanks and apologies, plus the everyday phrases Koreans actually use instead of “how are you?”. Each entry shows the Korean, the romanization and the situation it fits.
Three levels of politeness
Korean verbs change their ending depending on who you are talking to. Greetings follow the same pattern, so learn each phrase together with its level.
Formal
Endings in -ㅂ니다 / -습니다. Use with customers, in interviews, announcements and to people clearly senior to you.
Polite
Endings in -요. The safe default for strangers, colleagues, shopkeepers and anyone you are not close to.
Casual
No polite ending. Only for close friends of the same age or younger, and children. Never use it with someone older or in a service situation.
Hello
| Korean | Meaning | When to use it |
|---|---|---|
| 안녕하십니까annyeonghasimnikkaFormal | Hello (formal) | Job interviews, presentations, customer service, the military. You will hear it more than you say it. |
| 안녕하세요annyeonghaseyoPolite | Hello (polite) | The greeting you will use 90% of the time — shops, offices, neighbours, anyone you do not know well. Works at any time of day. |
| 안녕annyeongCasual | Hi / bye (casual) | Close friends and children only. It also works as a casual goodbye. |
Goodbye
| Korean | Meaning | When to use it |
|---|---|---|
| 안녕히 가세요annyeonghi gaseyoPolite | Goodbye (to someone who is leaving) | Say it to the person walking away — literally “go peacefully”. A shopkeeper says this to you as you leave. |
| 안녕히 계세요annyeonghi gyeseyoPolite | Goodbye (to someone who is staying) | Say it to the person who stays behind — literally “stay peacefully”. You say this to the shopkeeper. |
| 잘 가jal gaCasual | Bye (casual) | Friends only. The staying-behind version is 잘 있어 (jal isseo). |
Meeting someone
| Korean | Meaning | When to use it |
|---|---|---|
| 처음 뵙겠습니다cheoeum boepgetseumnidaFormal | How do you do (first meeting) | The formal opener when meeting someone for the first time, usually followed by your name. |
| 반갑습니다bangapseumnidaFormal | Glad to meet you (formal) | Business cards, first day at work, meeting parents. Often paired with a small bow. |
| 만나서 반가워요mannaseo bangawoyoPolite | Nice to meet you (polite) | Friendly first meetings — language exchange, classmates, new neighbours. |
| 제 이름은 ___입니다je ireumeun ___ imnidaFormal | My name is ___ | Put your name in the blank. 입니다 (imnida) is the formal “is”; in polite speech say 저는 ___이에요 / 예요. |
Thank you
| Korean | Meaning | When to use it |
|---|---|---|
| 감사합니다gamsahamnidaFormal | Thank you (formal) | Safe everywhere: shops, offices, strangers. If in doubt, use this one. |
| 고마워요gomawoyoPolite | Thank you (polite, warmer) | Slightly softer and more personal than 감사합니다 — colleagues you know, a friendly neighbour. |
| 고마워gomawoCasual | Thanks (casual) | Friends only. |
Sorry and excuse me
| Korean | Meaning | When to use it |
|---|---|---|
| 죄송합니다joesonghamnidaFormal | I am sorry (formal) | Real apologies and anything involving a customer or a senior. Also used to get attention politely: “excuse me, sorry”. |
| 미안해요mianhaeyoPolite | Sorry (polite) | Small everyday apologies to people around your level — bumping into someone, being a few minutes late. |
| 미안해mianhaeCasual | Sorry (casual) | Friends only. |
| 실례합니다sillyehamnidaPolite | Excuse me | Before interrupting, passing through, or entering a room. Not an apology — a way to ask for attention. |
Everyday phrases
| Korean | Meaning | When to use it |
|---|---|---|
| 잘 지냈어요?jal jinaesseoyo?Polite | Have you been well? | Said to someone you have not seen for a while. Koreans do not ask “how are you?” at every meeting — 안녕하세요 already covers it. |
| 오랜만이에요oraenmanieyoPolite | Long time no see | Meeting a friend or colleague after weeks or months. Often followed by 잘 지냈어요? |
| 밥 먹었어요?bap meogeosseoyo?Polite | Have you eaten? | A friendly greeting, not a lunch invitation. The expected answer is 네, 먹었어요 (yes, I have) even if you have not. |
| 안녕히 주무세요annyeonghi jumuseyoPolite | Good night (polite) | To family members or hosts before bed — literally “sleep peacefully”. |
| 잘 자jal jaCasual | Good night (casual) | Friends and family your age or younger. |
| 수고하셨습니다sugohasyeotseumnidaFormal | Thank you for your hard work | Said when leaving the office or finishing a task together. There is no exact English equivalent — it is the standard end-of-work goodbye. |
| 네nePolite | Yes | Also used as “I see / go on” while listening. 예 (ye) is the more formal spelling. |
| 아니요aniyoPolite | No | Polite no. Answering a negative question works the opposite way from English — 네 agrees with the question. |
| 새해 복 많이 받으세요saehae bok mani badeuseyoPolite | Happy New Year | Literally “receive many New Year blessings”. Used around both 1 January and Lunar New Year (설날). |
Bowing, hands and other things words do not show
- A greeting comes with a small bow — a nod of the head for peers, a deeper bow for seniors. You do not need to shake hands unless the other person offers.
- Age and position decide the level. When you are unsure, use the polite -요 form; being slightly too polite is never rude.
- Two goodbyes exist because Korean marks who moves and who stays. Get this one right and people notice.
Korean greetings FAQ
- Is annyeonghaseyo used in the morning, afternoon and evening?
- Yes. Korean has no separate good morning or good evening for everyday use — 안녕하세요 covers the whole day. 좋은 아침 (good morning) exists but is rare outside workplaces.
- What is the difference between annyeonghaseyo and annyeong?
- Politeness. 안녕하세요 has the polite -요 ending and suits strangers and seniors; 안녕 has no ending and is only for close friends and children.
- How do I say goodbye in Korean?
- It depends on who is leaving. Say 안녕히 가세요 to the person going away and 안녕히 계세요 to the person staying. Between friends, 잘 가 or just 안녕.
- Is it rude to skip the bow?
- A quick nod is enough between peers. Skipping it entirely with a senior or a customer reads as cold, so pair every polite greeting with at least a nod.
- How do Koreans really say how are you?
- They usually do not. 안녕하세요 already means “are you at peace?”. For someone you have not seen in a while, 잘 지냈어요? or 오랜만이에요 is natural.
Practice with audio and quizzes on WeBring Korean — free.
Romanization follows the official Revised Romanization of Korean. Content reviewed on 2026-09-12.