👋 Basic Korean Greetings You Must Know
👋 Basic Korean Greetings You Must Know: Speak naturally from day one
Start right: learn 10 high-impact greetings you’ll use every day—in class, cafés, and first meetings.
You’ll see when to use casual vs. polite vs. formal, plus a mini dialogue and a quick quiz.
처음에는 안녕하세요가 기본! 상황에 따라 안녕하십니까(격식) 또는 안녕(친한 사이)을 쓰면 돼요.
📑 Table of Contents
🎯 Learning Goals
- Choose the right greeting by situation (casual / polite / formal).
- Pronounce clearly with simple romanization (RR).
- Use add-ons like “Nice to meet you,” “Long time no see,” and “Take care.”
🧩 Core Tips
Use polite as default. Upgrade to formal for ceremonies/elders; switch to casual only with close friends/similar age.
기본은 ‘안녕하세요’. 격식이 필요하면 ‘안녕하십니까’, 친한 사이는 ‘안녕’이 자연스러워요.
🗣️ Essential Phrases (Top 10)
| Korean | RR | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 안녕하세요. | annyeonghaseyo | Hello (polite) |
| 안녕하십니까? | annyeonghasimnikka | Hello (formal / honorific) |
| 안녕! | annyeong | Hi / Bye (casual, friends) |
| 처음 뵙겠습니다. | cheoeum boepgetsseumnida | Nice to meet you (formal) |
| 반가워요. | bangawoyo | Nice to meet you (polite) |
| 오랜만이에요. | oraenman-ieyo | Long time no see |
| 잘 지냈어요? | jal jinaesseoyo | How have you been? |
| 안녕히 계세요. | annyeonghi gyeseyo | Goodbye (you leave) |
| 안녕히 가세요. | annyeonghi gaseyo | Goodbye (they leave) |
| 건강하세요. | geonganghaseyo | Take care / Stay healthy |
Tip: If you’re unsure, choose 안녕하세요. It’s safe for most daily situations.
💬 Dialogue & Quick Quiz
Scene: First meeting at a language meetup.
🧍♀️ A: 안녕하세요. 처음 뵙겠습니다.
🧑🦱 B: 안녕하세요. 반가워요. 어디에서 오셨어요?
🧍♀️ A: 저는 미국에서 왔어요.
EN: A greets formally; B responds politely and continues small talk.
📝 Quick Quiz (open)
- Translate: “오랜만이에요.” → ________.
- Fill in (you leave first): “안녕히 ___세요.”
Answers: Long time no see.; 계
❌ Common Mistakes
- Using ‘안녕!’ with strangers/elders → Fix: say 안녕하세요 / 안녕하십니까.
- Mixing goodbye forms → Fix: You leave: 안녕히 계세요 · They leave: 안녕히 가세요.
- Over-bowing or no greeting gesture → Fix: Small nod + smile works well.
❓ FAQ
“안녕하세요” vs. “안녕하십니까” — which should I use?
Use 안녕하세요 as the polite default. For formal speeches, official counters, or elders, use 안녕하십니까. 일상은 ‘안녕하세요’, 격식 상황은 ‘안녕하십니까’가 안전해요.
Do I need to bow every time?
A slight nod is fine with friends; a small bow shows respect for elders/staff. 친한 사이는 끄덕, 윗사람/직원에겐 가볍게 인사해요.
🌏 Did You Know?
- Korean greetings often pair with a short bow. See etiquette tips on VisitKorea.
- Honorifics shape tone far beyond greetings—browse cultural notes at KOREA.net.
Watch and mirror how locals greet in your setting.
🎓 italki Lesson
Want live practice & instant feedback? Book a 1:1 session and role-play first meetings today.
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