Greetings

❃ Greetings

안녕하세요 [ annyong haseyo ]: Hello.
안녕 [ annyong ]: Hi.
안녕히 가세요. [ annyeonghi gaseyo ]: Goodbye.
안녕히 계세요. [ annyeonghi gyeseyo ]: Goodbye.
여보세요. [ Yeoboseyo. ]: Hello (on phone).
안녕히 주무셨어요? [ Annyeonghi jumusyeosseoyo? ]: Did you sleep well? (Good morning)
좋은 아침이에요. [ Joeun achimieyo. ]: Good morning.
식사하셨어요? [ Siksahasyeosseoyo? ]: Have you eaten? (Greeting)
오랜만이에요. [ Oraenmanieyo. ]: Long time no see.
잘 지내셨어요? [ Jal jinaesyeosseoyo? ]: How have you been?
네, 잘 지내요. [ Ne, jal jinaeyo. ]: Yes, I've been well.
만나서 반가워요. [ Mannaseo bangawoyo. ]: Nice to meet you.
처음 뵙겠습니다. [ Cheoeum boepgetseumnida. ]: How do you do? (First time meeting)
나중에 봬요. [ Najunge bwaeyo. ]: See you later.
내일 만나요. [ Naeil mannayo. ]: See you tomorrow.
좋은 하루 보내세요. [ Joeun haru bonaeseyo. ]: Have a good day.
주말 잘 보내세요. [ Jumal jal bonaeseyo. ]: Have a good weekend.
안녕히 주무세요. [ Annyeonghi jumuseyo. ]: Good night.
잘 자. [ Jal ja. ]: Sleep well (informal).
조심해서 가세요. [ Josimhaeseo gaseyo. ]: Get home safely.
어서 오세요. [ Eoseo oseyo. ]: Welcome.

Cultural notes

In South Korea, greetings transcend a simple daily habit; they act as a profound reflection of the nation's deeply rooted Confucian values, where age and social hierarchy dictate almost every interaction. Unlike the English language, which categorizes greetings by the time of day—such as "Good morning," "Good afternoon," or "Good evening"—Koreans predominantly rely on a single, universal greeting: 안녕하세요 (Annyeonghaseyo). Translating literally to "Are you at peace?" or "Are you well?", this phrase belongs to 존댓말 (Jondaetmal), the polite and formal register of the Korean language. You are expected to use this with anyone older than you, colleagues, or strangers. Once a close relationship is established with someone of the exact same age, you might transition to 반말 (Banmal), the informal register, simply saying 안녕 (Annyeong). Furthermore, physical boundaries are respected differently. Western habits like hugging, kissing on the cheek, or initiating a firm handshake are generally avoided. The standard gesture of respect is the bow (인사 - Insa). The depth and duration of your bow should directly correlate with the seniority or status of the person you are greeting. Another uniquely Korean greeting you will undoubtedly encounter is 식사하셨어요? (Siksahasyeosseoyo?), which translates to "Have you eaten?". Emerging from a historical period when food was scarce during and after the Korean War, asking about someone's meal became a genuine expression of care and affection. Today, it functions exactly like asking "How are you?" in the West. You don't need to list what you ate; a simple "Yes" (네 - Ne) is the perfect response. Understanding these layers of greetings shows immense respect for Korean etiquette.

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