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 (μλ νμΈμ) works with almost everyone; annyeonghasimnikka (μλ νμλκΉ) is for formal settings; plain annyeong (μλ ) 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 βhow are you?β. 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 -γ λλ€ / -μ΅λλ€. Use with customers, in interviews, announcements and to people clearly senior to you.
Polite
Endings in -μ. 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 |
|---|---|---|
| μλ νμλκΉannyeonghasimnikkaFormal | Hello (formal) | Job interviews, presentations, customer service, the military. You will hear it more than you say it. |
| μλ νμΈμannyeonghaseyoPolite | Hello (polite) | The greeting you will use 90% of the time β shops, offices, neighbours, anyone you do not know well. Works at any time of day. |
| μλ annyeongCasual | Hi / bye (casual) | Close friends and children only. It also works as a casual goodbye. |
Goodbye
| Korean | Meaning | When to use it |
|---|---|---|
| μλ ν κ°μΈμannyeonghi gaseyoPolite | Goodbye (to someone who is leaving) | Say it to the person walking away β literally βgo peacefullyβ. A shopkeeper says this to you as you leave. |
| μλ ν κ³μΈμannyeonghi gyeseyoPolite | Goodbye (to someone who is staying) | Say it to the person who stays behind β literally βstay peacefullyβ. You say this to the shopkeeper. |
| μ κ°jal gaCasual | Bye (casual) | Friends only. The staying-behind version is μ μμ΄ (jal isseo). |
Meeting someone
| Korean | Meaning | When to use it |
|---|---|---|
| μ²μ λ΅κ² μ΅λλ€cheoeum boepgetseumnidaFormal | How do you do (first meeting) | The formal opener when meeting someone for the first time, usually followed by your name. |
| λ°κ°μ΅λλ€bangapseumnidaFormal | Glad to meet you (formal) | Business cards, first day at work, meeting parents. Often paired with a small bow. |
| λ§λμ λ°κ°μμmannaseo bangawoyoPolite | Nice to meet you (polite) | Friendly first meetings β language exchange, classmates, new neighbours. |
| μ μ΄λ¦μ ___μ λλ€je ireumeun ___ imnidaFormal | My name is ___ | Put your name in the blank. μ λλ€ (imnida) is the formal βisβ; in polite speech say μ λ ___μ΄μμ / μμ. |
Thank you
| Korean | Meaning | When to use it |
|---|---|---|
| κ°μ¬ν©λλ€gamsahamnidaFormal | Thank you (formal) | Safe everywhere: shops, offices, strangers. If in doubt, use this one. |
| κ³ λ§μμgomawoyoPolite | Thank you (polite, warmer) | Slightly softer and more personal than κ°μ¬ν©λλ€ β colleagues you know, a friendly neighbour. |
| κ³ λ§μgomawoCasual | Thanks (casual) | Friends only. |
Sorry and excuse me
| Korean | Meaning | When to use it |
|---|---|---|
| μ£μ‘ν©λλ€joesonghamnidaFormal | I am sorry (formal) | Real apologies and anything involving a customer or a senior. Also used to get attention politely: βexcuse me, sorryβ. |
| λ―Έμν΄μmianhaeyoPolite | Sorry (polite) | Small everyday apologies to people around your level β bumping into someone, being a few minutes late. |
| λ―Έμν΄mianhaeCasual | Sorry (casual) | Friends only. |
| μ€λ‘ν©λλ€sillyehamnidaPolite | Excuse me | Before interrupting, passing through, or entering a room. Not an apology β a way to ask for attention. |
Everyday phrases
| Korean | Meaning | When to use it |
|---|---|---|
| μ μ§λμ΄μ?jal jinaesseoyo?Polite | Have you been well? | Said to someone you have not seen for a while. Koreans do not ask βhow are you?β at every meeting β μλ νμΈμ already covers it. |
| μ€λλ§μ΄μμoraenmanieyoPolite | Long time no see | Meeting a friend or colleague after weeks or months. Often followed by μ μ§λμ΄μ? |
| λ°₯ λ¨Ήμμ΄μ?bap meogeosseoyo?Polite | Have you eaten? | A friendly greeting, not a lunch invitation. The expected answer is λ€, λ¨Ήμμ΄μ (yes, I have) even if you have not. |
| μλ ν 주무μΈμannyeonghi jumuseyoPolite | Good night (polite) | To family members or hosts before bed β literally βsleep peacefullyβ. |
| μ μjal jaCasual | Good night (casual) | Friends and family your age or younger. |
| μκ³ νμ ¨μ΅λλ€sugohasyeotseumnidaFormal | Thank you for your hard work | Said when leaving the office or finishing a task together. There is no exact English equivalent β it is the standard end-of-work goodbye. |
| λ€nePolite | Yes | Also used as βI see / go onβ while listening. μ (ye) is the more formal spelling. |
| μλμaniyoPolite | No | Polite no. Answering a negative question works the opposite way from English β λ€ agrees with the question. |
| μν΄ λ³΅ λ§μ΄ λ°μΌμΈμsaehae bok mani badeuseyoPolite | Happy New Year | Literally βreceive many New Year blessingsβ. Used around both 1 January and Lunar New Year (μ€λ ). |
Bowing, hands and other things words do not show
- A greeting comes with a small bow β 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 -μ 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 β μλ νμΈμ covers the whole day. μ’μ μμΉ¨ (good morning) exists but is rare outside workplaces.
- What is the difference between annyeonghaseyo and annyeong?
- Politeness. μλ νμΈμ has the polite -μ ending and suits strangers and seniors; μλ 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 μλ ν κ°μΈμ to the person going away and μλ ν κ³μΈμ to the person staying. Between friends, μ κ° or just μλ .
- 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. μλ νμΈμ already means βare you at peace?β. For someone you have not seen in a while, μ μ§λμ΄μ? or μ€λλ§μ΄μμ is natural.
Practice with native audio and quizzes on WeBring Korean β free.
Romanization follows the official Revised Romanization of Korean. Content reviewed on 2026-09-12.