How to Greet in Korean

Learning how to say "Hello" is essential in any language, but in Korean, it’s equally important to use the right greeting to avoid offending anyone. The basic greeting is "annyeong haseyo," but there are several variations that should be used depending on whether the situation is casual or formal. Additionally, there are other greeting phrases that may be suitable depending on the context. Here’s a brief list of the different ways to say "Hello" in Korean that you might find helpful. While it may take a few days to learn the Korean alphabet, it is not difficult and it’s one of the easiest ways to learn new words and practice pronunciation. This article uses both the Latin alphabet and the Korean alphabet, Hangul.

Say "anyoung" among friends. This is the most casual way to greet someone with "hello" or "hi". In Hangul, this phrase is written as 안녕 and is pronounced "ahn yong."

• Use this greeting with friends or those younger or of the same age as you. It’s informal, so it should only be used with people you have a close relationship with.
• Avoid using this greeting with people of higher status, such as teachers, supervisors, or elders. Also, don’t use this greeting with strangers.
• This greeting is roughly equivalent to saying “wish you well” or “stay safe.”

Use "anyoung haseyo" in most situations. This greeting is pronounced ahn-yong hah-say-yoh. It’s the most common greeting and can be used for most people, especially those to whom you want to show respect. In Hangul, this phrase is written as 안녕하세요.

• You can use anyoung haseyo with both friends (especially those older than you) and elders. It’s not the most formal greeting, but it’s still considered polite enough to say "hello". This phrase is suitable for most daily greeting situations.
• This greeting is used at all times of day and does not change based on time. There are no separate phrases for "good afternoon", "good evening", or "have a nice day". However, there is a phrase for "good morning", but it’s not used frequently.
• This greeting generally means “wish you health” or “wish you peace.” The only difference between this and "anyoung" is that it is more polite.

Switch to "anyoung hashimnikka" for a higher level of respect. Use this greeting when you want to express the highest level of sincerity or respect. In Hangul, this phrase is 안녕하십니까, pronounced "ahn-yong hahshim-nee-kah."

• Since this is a formal greeting, it’s rarely used between friends or family in everyday situations. It may be appropriate for greeting a distinguished guest or someone of high respect. You can also use this greeting when meeting someone you care about but haven’t seen in a while, to convey more warmth when saying hello.
• The rough pronunciation of anyoung hashimnikka is an-yoh hashim-nee-kah.

Answer the phone with "yeoboseyo". In Hangul, this phrase is written as 여보세요 and pronounced "yo-bo-say-yoh".

• Use this greeting when answering the phone from anyone on the other end of the line.
• This greeting is considered polite, but it’s only used in telephone conversations. People do not use yeoboseyo in face-to-face greetings.

Say "jo-un a-chim" in the morning. This phrase loosely translates to "good morning" and is written as 좋은 아침. It’s pronounced "jong-un ah-chim".

• This is an alternative way to greet someone in the morning, though it’s not the most common morning greeting. "Anyoung haseyo" remains the standard greeting, even in the morning. Jo-un a-chim is simply another option if you want to vary your greeting.

Say "mannaseo bangapseumnida" when meeting someone new. This phrase is written as 만나서 반갑습니다 and pronounced "mahn-nah-soh pahn-ghap-sum-nee-dah".

• This phrase is equivalent to "nice to meet you." A more literal translation would be "I’m happy because I met you."
• This is the most formal and polite way to greet someone, and it’s suitable for meeting someone older than you or in formal, professional contexts.
• You can also say "mannaseo bangawoyo" when meeting someone. This version is still polite but a bit more casual. It’s appropriate when meeting a new classmate, a friend’s friend, or someone your age or younger in a social context.
• In Hangul, the phrase mannaseo bangawoyo is written as 만나서 반가워요 and pronounced mahn-nah-sayoh pahn-ghah-wo-yoh.