🚫 Stop Saying “Annyeong” at Work — The Korean Greeting Playbook (Bows & Titles Inside)
.jpg "Stop Saying “Annyeong” at Work — The Korean Greeting Playbook (Bows & Titles Inside)")
🚫 Stop Saying “Annyeong” at Work — The Korean Greeting Playbook (Bows & Titles Inside)
In 10 minutes you’ll know which hello to use, how deep to bow, and what title keeps you safe at work.
▸ Open Contents (3-Step • At-a-Glance • Vocab • Expressions • Dialogue • Quiz • Tips • GEO • Reality Check • FAQ)
3-Step Quick Start use this today
first-time/senior → annyeonghasimnikka
daily polite → annyeonghaseyo
close friends → annyeong
nod / ~15° / ~30°
job title or name+nim (don’t mix)
At a Glance Decision Matrix
Key Vocabulary 9 must-know
Build faster with TOPIK 500 Words and Korean Proverbs.
Useful Expressions safe anywhere
- 처음 뵙겠습니다 — cheoeum boepgetseumnida — “It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
- 안녕하세요. 저는 [이름]입니다 — annyeonghaseyo. jeoneun [ireum]imnida — “Hello, I’m [name].”
- 잘 부탁드립니다 — jal butak-deurimnida — “I look forward to working with you.”
- 먼저 실례하겠습니다 — meonjeo sillye-hagetseumnida — “Excuse me for leaving first.”
- 오늘도 수고 많으셨습니다 — oneuldo sugo maneusyeotseumnida — “Thanks for your hard work today.”
🙋 Practice Dialogue first day in office
A: 안녕하십니까? 저는 새로 들어온 브라이언입니다. — annyeonghasimnikka? jeoneun saero deureo-on beuraieon-imnida. — Hello, I’m Brian, the new hire.
B: 반갑습니다, 브라이언님. 저는 김과장입니다. 잘 부탁드립니다. — bangapseumnida, beuraieon-nim. jeoneun gim-gwajang-imnida. jal butak-deurimnida. — Nice to meet you. I’m Manager Kim.
A: 네, 잘 부탁드립니다. — ne, jal butak-deurimnida. — Thank you, I look forward to it.
B: 회의실로 모시겠습니다. — hoeuisillo mosigetseumnida. — I’ll take you to the meeting room.
📝 Quick Check Quiz 5 Q
- Greeting a professor (first time) → (a) 안녕 (b) 안녕하세요 (c) 안녕하십니까
- Best closing after first meeting → (a) 고마워 (b) 잘 부탁드립니다 (c) 또 봐요
- Honorific suffix → (a) 씨 (b) 님 (c) 군
- Translate: “Excuse me for leaving first.” → [write KR]
- T/F: “수고하세요” is correct when staff are still working as you leave.
Show answers
1) c · 2) b · 3) b · 4) 먼저 실례하겠습니다 / 먼저 가보겠습니다 · 5) True
👩🏫 Teacher’s Tips — practice like a real lesson
1) Don’t open with “annyeong” unless you’re sure it’s casual.
Start with annyeonghaseyo in unknown or mixed settings. If the other person lowers the level, mirror it later.
처음 만나는 자리나 격이 모호한 상황에서는 annyeonghaseyo가 안전합니다. 상대가 먼저 말을 낮추면 그때 맞춰 주세요.
2) Bow + eye contact rhythm matters.
Eye contact → bow → eye contact. Keep shoulders relaxed; ~15° is enough in daily life.
눈맞춤 → 목례 → 눈맞춤. 어깨에 힘을 빼고 일상에서는 약 15°면 충분합니다.
3) Titles beat name+ssi in offices.
Use job titles or name+nim with seniors/clients. Don’t mix ssi+nim.
직장에서는 직함 또는 이름+님이 안정적입니다. 씨와 님을 섞지 마세요.
4) Drill: 60-second greeting upgrade.
Say: “Annyeonghasimnikka. Jeoneun [name]imnida. Jal butak-deurimnida.” Record and check pace + bow timing.
“안녕하십니까. 저는 [이름]입니다. 잘 부탁드립니다.”를 소리 내어 말하고 녹음해 속도와 목례 타이밍을 점검하세요.
5) Common error repair.
If you said annyeong by mistake, recover with a quick annyeonghaseyo + light bow.
실수로 “안녕”을 말했다면, 바로 “안녕하세요”와 가벼운 목례로 복구하세요.
🌍 GEO Culture Notes for global learners
- US/Europe: direct “Hi” → can read too casual in KR workplaces → default to 안녕하세요.
- Singapore/Hong Kong: English greeting is fine; add 안녕하세요 once for warmth + respect.
- Turkey/Middle East: pair thanks/apology with a 15–30° bow to signal respect clearly.
📊 Reality Check — Why this matters
- Language proficiency shapes first impressions: In Seoul’s 2022 Survey of Foreign Residents, 40.5% cited Korean proficiency as a reason tied to discrimination or difficulties. Source
- Learners often make formality errors: Research by the National Institute of Korean Language reports notable error rates (~20%) with particles/endings and speech levels. Source
- Honorifics are cognitively demanding: Studies highlight the complexity of social hierarchy encoding in Korean. Source · Source
👋 Practice with me: 10-minute greeting role-play + instant feedback. Trial on italki → teacher/7916559
Bonus this week: printable Greeting Cheatsheet (EN/KR/Rom.).
It’s Your Turn: write one greeting sentence in comments—free correction within 24h.
❓ FAQ
When is “annyeong” natural?
Use with close friends/peers only. Avoid in workplaces or formal settings.
친한 친구나 동년배에게만 자연스럽습니다. 직장이나 공식 자리에서는 피하세요.
What’s the difference between annyeonghaseyo and annyeonghasimnikka?
Annyeonghasimnikka is more formal; it’s safe for interviews, presentations, and first meetings with seniors.
안녕하십니까가 더 격식 있는 표현이며, 면접·발표·상사와의 첫 만남에 안전합니다.
Should I use nim or ssi after names?
Use only one. Nim is more honorific; ssi is neutral.
하나만 사용하세요. 님이 더 공손하고, 씨는 중립적입니다.
How deep should I bow?
Daily greetings ~15°, formal thanks/apology ~30°; add eye contact before and after.
일상 인사는 약 15°, 격식 있는 감사·사과는 약 30°이며, 전후에 눈맞춤을 더하세요.
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