Essential Korean Greetings: Say Hello Like a Local
Want to make a friendly, respectful first impression in Korean? These 15 greetings will help you sound polite and natural at shops, in Zoom meetings, and with new friends.
Greetings in Korean carry a lot of respect and “distance.” Start with safe, polite forms and adjust only after the relationship feels closer. Below you’ll find Hangul, romanization (RR), usage notes, mini dialogues, and a simple 10-minute practice routine.
한국어 인사말에는 존중과 거리감이 함께 담겨 있어요. 처음에는 항상 안녕하세요처럼 안전한 존댓말로 시작하고, 친해질수록 조금씩 말투를 조절하는 것이 좋습니다.
📑 Table of Contents (open/close)
🎯 Learning Goals
- Use 15 core greetings with the right politeness level (formal / standard polite / casual).
- Match each greeting to real-life situations (shops, meetings, friends, family).
- Build a short 10-minute daily routine to make these phrases automatic.
🧩 Core Greetings (Top 15 with Usage)
Rule of thumb: When in doubt, use 안녕하세요 (standard polite). Save 안녕 for close friends or younger people, and keep 안녕하십니까 for very formal situations (presentations, interviews, official meetings).
| Hangul | RR | Meaning / Usage |
|---|---|---|
| 안녕하세요 | annyeong-haseyo | Hello (standard polite). Safe choice for most daily situations. |
| 안녕 | annyeong | Hi / Bye (casual). Use with close friends, kids, or younger people. |
| 안녕하십니까 | annyeong-hasimnikka | Hello (very formal). Presentations, interviews, or official meetings. |
| 좋은 아침입니다 | joeun achim-imnida | Good morning (formal). Often in business or church settings. |
| 굿모닝 | gut-moning | “Good morning” (Konglish, casual). Use with friends or coworkers you’re close to. |
| 좋은 밤 되세요 | joeun bam doeseyo | Have a good night (polite). Texts, calls, or saying goodbye in the evening. |
| 잘 자요 | jal jayo | Sleep well (polite). To someone you respect or don’t know well. |
| 잘 자 | jal ja | Sleep well (casual). To close friends, siblings, partners. |
| 반갑습니다 | bangapseumnida | Nice to meet you (formal). Self-introductions in formal settings. |
| 반가워요 | bangawoyo | Nice to meet you (polite). First time meeting someone around your age. |
| 반가워 | bangawo | Nice to meet you (casual). Use after you become close. |
| 오랜만이에요 | oraenmanieyo | Long time no see (polite). When you haven’t seen someone in a while. |
| 어서 오세요 | eoseo oseyo | Welcome. Common in shops and restaurants when a customer comes in. |
| 다녀오세요 | danyeo-oseyo | See you / Come back safely. Said to someone who is going out. |
| 다녀오겠습니다 | danyeo-ogetseumnida | I’ll be back. Said by the person leaving home, office, or classroom. |
💬 Examples / Dialogue / Quiz
Shop entry (standard polite)
🧍♀️ You: 안녕하세요.
🧑💼 Staff: 어서 오세요! 무엇을 도와드릴까요?
Online meeting (formal)
🧍♂️ You: 안녕하십니까. 발표를 시작하겠습니다.
👥 Team: 네, 잘 부탁드립니다.
Text to a friend at night (casual)
💬 You: 오늘도 고생했어. 잘 자!
💬 Friend: 너도~ 좋은 밤 보내!
📝 Quick Quiz (open)
-
Which greeting is safest with a new teacher?
(a) 안녕 (b) 안녕하세요 (c) 반가워
Answer: (b) 안녕하세요 -
Fill in the meaning: “오랜만이에요” means “________.”
Answer: Long time no see. -
You enter a small café. Which pair is more natural?
A: 안녕 / 반가워요 or B: 안녕하세요 / 어서 오세요
Answer: B (안녕하세요 / 어서 오세요)
Mini task: Write one short dialogue (2–3 lines) using 오늘의 인사말 and say it out loud twice.
👩🏫 Teacher’s Tips
- Default to polite: Start with 안녕하세요; only move to 안녕 when the other person uses casual Korean first.
- Mirror the setting: Shops → 어서 오세요 / Daily life → 안녕하세요 / Formal events → 안녕하십니까.
- Body language matters: A small bow or nod makes the same greeting feel much more natural and respectful.
❌ Common Mistakes
- Using 안녕 with strangers, teachers, or elderly people. Quick fix: If you’re not sure, say 안녕하세요.
- Saying 굿모닝 in a job interview or formal meeting. Quick fix: Use 좋은 아침입니다 or just 안녕하십니까.
- Mixing levels in one conversation (e.g., 안녕 + 하십니까). Quick fix: Choose one level per situation and stay there.
🌏 Did You Know?
How deep you bow in Korea shows your level of respect. On holidays like Seollal, people often do a full 90-degree bow to parents or grandparents. For everyday greetings, a small nod with 안녕하세요 is usually enough.
명절·제사처럼 격식 있는 자리에서는 허리를 깊게 숙여 인사하고, 일상에서는 가볍게 고개만 숙여도 충분해요. 인사의 깊이로 존중을 표현한다고 생각하면 이해하기 쉬워요.
📝 Practice Plan (10 Minutes a Day)
- Pick 5 greetings and repeat each of them 3–5 times aloud (focus on rhythm, not speed).
- Record a 30-second voice memo greeting “teacher / friend / shop staff” and listen back once.
- Role-play three scenes: shop, online class, first meeting. Change your greeting level on purpose.
- Shadow one short drama or YouTube clip that includes 안녕하세요 / 안녕하십니까 and copy the intonation.
- Write 3 short text messages (Kakao style) using today’s greetings and read them aloud.
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Keep your momentum: read one more post and try two sentences out loud right away.
🎓 italki Lesson
Want to rehearse these greetings in realistic situations (airport, restaurant, first meeting)? Book a 1:1 italki session and we’ll practice until the greetings feel natural, not memorized.
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