👋 Basic Korean Greetings You Must Know
Start Every Conversation the Korean Way 🇰🇷
Whether you’re traveling to Korea or just beginning your language journey, learning how to greet someone in Korean is essential. Korean greetings reflect culture, respect, and politeness — so get these right, and you'll leave a great first impression!
🌞 Saying Hello in Korean
| Korean | Romanization | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 안녕하세요 | annyeonghaseyo | Hello (polite) |
| 안녕 | annyeong | Hi / Hello (casual) |
| 안녕하십니까 | annyeonghasimnikka | Hello (formal, used in news or business) |
💡 Use 안녕하세요 in almost all situations unless you're speaking with a close friend (then you can say 안녕).
🌜 Saying Goodbye in Korean
| Korean | Romanization | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 안녕히 가세요 | annyeonghi gaseyo | Goodbye (to someone leaving) |
| 안녕히 계세요 | annyeonghi gyeseyo | Goodbye (to someone staying) |
| 잘 가요 | jal gayo | Bye (casual, to someone leaving) |
| 잘 있어요 | jal isseoyo | Bye (casual, to someone staying) |
🎯 Korean has different phrases depending on who’s going or staying. This shows respect and thoughtfulness.
👋 Other Common Greeting Phrases
| Korean | Romanization | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 만나서 반가워요 | mannaseo bangawoyo | Nice to meet you |
| 오랜만이에요 | oraenmanieyo | Long time no see |
| 좋은 아침이에요 | joeun achimieyo | Good morning |
| 잘 지냈어요? | jal jinaesseoyo? | How have you been? |
📝 Use 만나서 반가워요 when meeting someone for the first time and 잘 지냈어요? when seeing someone again after a while.
🗣️ Practice Time!
Try greeting someone with these combinations:
-
“Hello! Nice to meet you.”
👉 안녕하세요! 만나서 반가워요.
👉 annyeonghaseyo! mannaseo bangawoyo. -
“Bye! See you next time.”
👉 안녕히 가세요! 다음에 또 봐요.
👉 annyeonghi gaseyo! daeume tto bwayo.
📌 Tip: Greetings Reflect Politeness
Korean greetings are not just about the words.
-
A bow while saying 안녕하세요 is expected in most settings.
-
Adjust formality based on age or relationship.
-
Always smile 😊
👩🏫 Want to Practice with a Real Tutor?
Join my Korean class on italki!
We’ll practice greetings, small talk, and how to sound natural in Korean from Day 1.
👉 Book a class with me
💬 Have a question about greetings?
Leave a comment below! I’m happy to help you improve your Korean step by step. 😊
See you next time with another real-life Korean phrase set!
