Korean Greetings: Annyeonghaseyo, Hello, Goodbye and Thank You

Korean greetings at a glance

Annyeong: the word inside every Korean greeting

Almost every hello and goodbye in Korean contains 안녕 (annyeong), which means "peace" or "well-being". The greetings are literally questions and wishes about the other person's peace:

• 안녕하세요 (annyeonghaseyo): "Are you at peace?" Hello.
• 안녕히 가세요 (annyeonghi gaseyo): "Go in peace." Goodbye to someone leaving.
• 안녕히 계세요 (annyeonghi gyeseyo): "Stay in peace." Goodbye to someone staying.
• 안녕히 주무세요 (annyeonghi jumuseyo): "Sleep in peace." Good night.

Once you see the pattern, the greetings stop being random strings and become one word with different endings.

Pronunciation of annyeong

• 안 (an) is "ahn", with the vowel of "father".
• 녕 (nyeong) is the hard part. The vowel ㅕ (yeo) is like the "yu" in "yuck" or the "yo" in "young" said without rounding the lips. It is not "yong" and not "yang". The final ㅇ is the "ng" of "sing".
• The two together: "ahn-nyuhng". Say it as two beats, with a doubled n in the middle, since the ㄴ of 안 runs into the ㄴ of 녕.

Hello in Korean: three levels of politeness

Korean has speech levels built into its verb endings, and greetings are the first place you feel it.

안녕하세요 (annyeonghaseyo): the one you will use most

This is the standard polite hello. It works with strangers, shop staff, colleagues, teachers, older people and anyone you do not know well. It is used at any time of day; Korean does not split greetings into morning, afternoon and evening the way Japanese or French do.

Pronunciation: ahn-nyuhng-hah-SEH-yo. Five syllables, roughly even, with a slight lift on "seh". The 하 (ha) is a clear "hah"; do not swallow it into "annyong-say-yo".

It is often said with a small bow, and the question-like intonation at the end is normal: it is, after all, a question about your peace.

안녕하십니까 (annyeonghasimnikka): formal

The highest level, used in business presentations, news broadcasts, the military, customer service announcements and when addressing a superior in a formal setting. You will hear it more than you say it. If you work in a Korean company, you may greet senior managers with it in the morning.

Pronunciation: the ㅂ in 십 is pronounced "m" before the ㄴ, so it is "shim-nee-kkah", not "ship-nee-kkah". The double ㄲ is a tense k, said with the throat slightly tightened and no puff of air.

안녕 (annyeong): casual

Just the root word. "Hi" (and "bye") among close friends, to children, and between people of the same age who have agreed to speak casually. Never to a stranger, an elder or a shop assistant. Saying annyeong to the wrong person is the Korean equivalent of "hey, you" to your boss.

The two goodbyes in Korean

This is the detail every learner gets wrong at least once, and Koreans notice.

안녕히 가세요 (annyeonghi gaseyo), "go in peace", is said to the person who is leaving. If you are staying and they are going, say gaseyo.

안녕히 계세요 (annyeonghi gyeseyo), "stay in peace", is said to the person who is staying. If you are leaving and they are staying, say gyeseyo.

So when you leave a shop, you say 안녕히 계세요 to the staff (they stay), and they say 안녕히 가세요 to you (you go). If two people part on the street and both walk off, both say 안녕히 가세요.

A memory trick: ga is the verb "go" (가다), and gye is the verb "stay/be" (계시다). Say the one that describes what the other person is doing.

Casual goodbyes

• 잘 가 (jal ga): "Go well." To a friend who is leaving.
• 잘 있어 (jal isseo): "Stay well." To a friend who is staying.
• 안녕 (annyeong): "Bye." Either situation, casual.
• 내일 봐 (naeil bwa): "See you tomorrow." Casual. Polite: 내일 봬요 (naeil bwaeyo).
• 다음에 봐요 (daeume bwayo): "See you next time."
• 또 만나요 (tto mannayo): "Let's meet again."
• 잘 자 (jal ja): "Sleep well." Casual good night. Polite: 잘 자요 (jal jayo); formal: 안녕히 주무세요 (annyeonghi jumuseyo).

Office goodbyes

• 수고하셨습니다 (sugohasyeotseumnida): "You worked hard." Said to colleagues when the working day ends or after a task, like the Japanese otsukaresama. The lighter 수고하세요 (sugohaseyo), "keep up the good work", is said to someone still working, for example to shop staff as you leave.
• 먼저 가보겠습니다 (meonjeo gabogetseumnida): "I'll be leaving first." Said when you leave the office before others.

Meeting someone for the first time

The first-meeting exchange is short and formulaic, which makes it easy.

만나서 반갑습니다 (mannaseo bangapseumnida): "Glad to meet you." Polite and safe everywhere. The slightly softer 반가워요 (bangawoyo) is fine among peers.

처음 뵙겠습니다 (cheoeum boepgetseumnida): "It's the first time I'm seeing you," a formal set phrase said at the very start of a formal introduction, usually before your name.

잘 부탁드립니다 (jal butakdeurimnida): "Please take good care of me / I look forward to working with you." Like the Japanese yoroshiku onegaishimasu, it closes a self-introduction and is said when joining a team or starting a relationship.

A full polite introduction:

안녕하세요. 처음 뵙겠습니다. 저는 김민수입니다. 만나서 반갑습니다. 잘 부탁드립니다. Annyeonghaseyo. Cheoeum boepgetseumnida. Jeoneun Kim Minsu imnida. Mannaseo bangapseumnida. Jal butakdeurimnida. "Hello. It's a pleasure to meet you for the first time. I'm Kim Minsu. Glad to meet you. Please take good care of me."

Bow after the name and again after the last phrase.

Have you eaten? The Korean how are you

Korean does not have a daily "how are you" in the English sense. 잘 지내세요? (jal jinaeseyo?), "are you doing well?", exists and is used, but mostly with people you have not seen for a while, and the answer is 네, 잘 지내요 (ne, jal jinaeyo), "yes, I'm doing well".

What Koreans actually ask, especially older people and among friends, is:

밥 먹었어요? (bap meogeosseoyo?): "Have you eaten?" Casual: 밥 먹었어? (bap meogeosseo?)

This is a greeting, not a lunch invitation. It comes from a time when having eaten was the measure of being alright, and it still carries warmth. The answer is 네, 먹었어요 (ne, meogeosseoyo), "yes, I ate", or 아직이요 (ajigiyo), "not yet". Nobody expects details.

Other everyday check-ins:

• 오랜만이에요 (oraenmanieyo): "Long time no see." Casual: 오랜만이야 (oraenmaniya).
• 요즘 어때요? (yojeum eottaeyo?): "How are things lately?"
• 별일 없어요? (byeoril eopseoyo?): "Nothing new?" / "Everything okay?" The reply: 네, 별일 없어요, "no, nothing new".
• 좋은 아침이에요 (joeun achimieyo): "Good morning." Exists, but is more of a translated phrase; most people just say annyeonghaseyo in the morning.

Thank you, sorry and excuse me

감사합니다 (gamsahamnida): the standard polite thank you. Pronounced gahm-sah-hahm-NEE-dah; the ㅂ before ㄴ becomes "m". Use it with everyone.

고맙습니다 (gomapseumnida): also thank you, using a native Korean word instead of the Sino-Korean gamsa. Equally polite, slightly warmer. Casual: 고마워 (gomawo); polite-casual: 고마워요 (gomawoyo).

죄송합니다 (joesonghamnida): "I'm sorry", the polite apology for real mistakes and for imposing on someone. Pronounced chweh-song-hahm-NEE-dah.

미안합니다 (mianhamnida) / 미안해요 (mianhaeyo) / 미안해 (mianhae): sorry, from polite to casual, a little less heavy than joesonghamnida. Between friends, mianhae is the normal one.

실례합니다 (sillyehamnida): "Excuse me" to get past someone, interrupt, or begin a question to a stranger. 잠시만요 (jamsimanyo), "just a moment", is what you say to squeeze through a crowd or ask someone to wait.

괜찮아요 (gwaenchanayo): "It's okay / no problem / I'm fine." The reply to an apology, and the answer to "are you okay?".

아니에요 (anieyo): "Not at all." The modest reply to thank you, like "don't mention it".

Meal, phone and shop greetings

잘 먹겠습니다 (jal meokgetseumnida): "I will eat well." Said before eating, especially when someone else has cooked or is paying. 잘 먹었습니다 (jal meogeotseumnida): "I ate well." Said after, as thanks. These two are used at almost every meal.

여보세요 (yeoboseyo): hello on the phone, said by the person answering and often by the caller. Not used in person.

어서 오세요 (eoseo oseyo): "Welcome," shouted by staff when you enter any shop, café or restaurant. You do not need to reply; a nod is fine.

안녕히 가세요 (annyeonghi gaseyo) from staff as you leave, and you reply 안녕히 계세요 (annyeonghi gyeseyo) or 수고하세요 (sugohaseyo).

들어오세요 (deureooseyo): "Come in." 앉으세요 (anjeuseyo): "Please sit."

The bow and the two-handed rules

Korean greetings come with body language, and it is graded like the speech levels.

• A nod or slight bow (about 15 degrees) with annyeonghaseyo to colleagues, shop staff and acquaintances.
• A fuller bow (30 to 45 degrees) for first meetings, for elders, for thanking someone properly and for apologies.
• The handshake is common in business, but with Korean details: the junior person supports their right forearm or elbow with their left hand, or offers two hands, and bows slightly at the same time. A one-handed, eye-level, back-slapping handshake reads as arrogant.
• Give and receive with two hands, or with the right hand supported by the left, when handing anything, a business card, a drink, money, to someone older or senior. This is part of the greeting culture and is noticed immediately.
• Business cards are exchanged with two hands and a bow, read carefully, and never written on or pocketed in front of the giver.

Speech levels: choosing the right ending

The pattern in the tables is consistent, and once you see it you can convert any phrase.

The polite -yo level is your default. Formal -mnida is for when you want to be safe in a serious setting. Casual is for people who have explicitly agreed to it, usually by saying 말 놓으세요 (mal noeuseyo), "you can speak casually to me", or 우리 반말할까요? (uri banmal halkkayo?), "shall we drop the formalities?".

Age drives this more than in any other language on this page. Even a one-year difference can decide who speaks up and who speaks down, which is why Koreans often ask your age early. It is not rudeness; they are working out which greeting to use.

Common mistakes with Korean greetings

• Mixing up gaseyo and gyeseyo. Say gaseyo to the person going, gyeseyo to the person staying.
• Saying annyeong to strangers or elders. It is casual only. Default to annyeonghaseyo.
• Pronouncing 녕 as "yong". The vowel is "yuh", closer to "young" without rounded lips.
• Saying "ship-ni-da" for 습니다. The ㅂ assimilates to "m": seum-ni-da. Same in 감사합니다: gamsa-ham-ni-da.
• Answering "bap meogeosseoyo?" with your lunch plans. It is "how are you". Say "ne, meogeosseoyo".
• One-handed handshakes and one-handed giving to seniors. Use two hands, or support your right hand with your left.
• Using 좋은 아침 as your morning hello. It is understood but sounds translated. Annyeonghaseyo covers mornings.
• Skipping the bow. Even a small nod with annyeonghaseyo changes how you are received.
• Saying yeoboseyo in person. Phone only.

A day of Korean greetings

9:00, arriving at the office: 안녕하세요. (Nod.) Older manager: 안녕하십니까. (Deeper bow.) 9:05, a colleague: 밥 먹었어요? Reply: 네, 먹었어요. 11:00, a new client: 안녕하세요, 처음 뵙겠습니다. 이수진입니다. 만나서 반갑습니다. (Two-handed card exchange, bow.) 12:30, lunch, boss is paying: 잘 먹겠습니다! ... 잘 먹었습니다. 15:00, café: Staff: 어서 오세요! You: (nod) 아이스 아메리카노 하나 주세요. 감사합니다. Leaving: 수고하세요. 18:00, leaving the office first: 먼저 가보겠습니다. 수고하셨습니다. Colleagues: 안녕히 가세요. 19:30, meeting a friend: 안녕! 오랜만이야! 잘 지냈어? 22:00, parting, friend goes home, you stay: 잘 가! Friend: 잘 있어! 23:00, to your host family: 안녕히 주무세요.

Practise them out loud

The vowels in annyeonghaseyo, the m in gamsahamnida and the choice between gaseyo and gyeseyo are all things your mouth has to learn, not your eyes.

1. Say the main table aloud three times, keeping every syllable even and the ㅕ vowel unrounded.
2. Run the "day of Korean greetings" script standing, with the bows and the two-handed gestures.
3. Drill the two goodbyes with a rule: point at the person leaving and say gaseyo; point at the person staying and say gyeseyo. Do it twenty times.
4. Then say them to something that talks back. SPAIKING's AI speaking partner will play the shopkeeper, the manager and the friend, ask you "bap meogeosseoyo?", and correct the "ship-ni-da" and the "yong" the moment they slip out. By the time a Korean speaker says annyeonghaseyo to you, the reply will already be automatic.