Greetings (인사) are essential expressions for daily interactions in Korean. Learning proper greetings helps you make good first impressions and show respect.
Basic Greetings
안녕하세요 - Hello (Formal/Polite)
Most common greeting:
- 안녕하세요: Hello / Good morning / Good afternoon / Good evening
- Literal meaning: "Are you at peace?"
- Used: Any time of day, formal and polite situations
Response: 안녕하세요
안녕 - Hi/Bye (Casual)
Informal greeting:
- 안녕: Hi / Hello / Bye
- Used: With friends, younger people, family
- Note: Can mean both hello and goodbye
Response: 안녕
안녕하십니까 - Hello (Very Formal)
Highest formality level:
- 안녕하십니까: Hello (very formal)
- Used: Business settings, news broadcasts, formal speeches
- Response: 안녕하십니까
Time-Based Greetings
Morning Greetings
좋은 아침이에요:
- Literal: Good morning
- Less common than 안녕하세요
- Used: Casual settings, borrowed from English
잘 잤어요?:
- Did you sleep well?
- Common morning greeting among family/close friends
- Response: 네, 잘 잤어요 (Yes, I slept well)
Evening Greetings
안녕히 주무세요:
- Sleep well / Good night (polite)
- Used when saying goodnight
잘 자요:
- Sleep well (casual)
- Used with friends and family
잘 자:
- Sleep well (very casual)
- Used with close friends
Situational Greetings
First Time Meeting
처음 뵙겠습니다:
- Nice to meet you (formal)
- Literal: "I am seeing you for the first time"
- Used: First meetings, formal situations
만나서 반갑습니다:
- Nice to meet you (formal)
- Literal: "Happy to meet you"
만나서 반가워요:
- Nice to meet you (polite)
반가워:
- Nice to meet you (casual)
Long Time No See
오랜만이에요:
- Long time no see (polite)
- Used: When seeing someone after a while
오랜만이야:
- Long time no see (casual)
오래간만입니다:
- Long time no see (formal)
얼마만이에요?:
- How long has it been?
After Meals
잘 먹었습니다:
- Thank you for the meal (after eating, formal)
- Literal: "I ate well"
잘 먹었어요:
- Thank you for the meal (polite)
잘 먹었어:
- Thank you for the meal (casual)
Work-Related Greetings
Arriving at Work
출근하셨어요?:
- Did you come to work?
- Common greeting to coworkers
수고하세요:
- Work hard / Keep up the good work
- Used throughout the day
Leaving Work
수고하셨습니다:
- Good work / Thank you for your hard work (formal)
- Said when leaving or to those leaving
수고하셨어요:
- Good work (polite)
먼저 가겠습니다:
- I'll leave first / I'm heading out
- Said when leaving before others
먼저 갈게요:
- I'll go first (polite)
Polite Inquiry Greetings
How Are You?
어떻게 지내세요?:
- How are you? (formal/polite)
어떻게 지내?:
- How are you? (casual)
잘 지내셨어요?:
- Have you been well? (polite)
잘 지냈어?:
- Have you been well? (casual)
Common responses:
- 네, 잘 지내요 (Yes, I'm doing well)
- 그냥 그래요 (Just okay / So-so)
- 바쁘게 지내요 (I'm busy)
Asking About Health
건강하세요?:
- Are you healthy? / How's your health?
요즘 어때요?:
- How are things these days?
Phone Greetings
Answering the Phone
여보세요:
- Hello (on the phone)
- Only used when answering phone calls
- Response: 여보세요
누구세요?:
- Who is this?
누구십니까?:
- Who is this? (formal)
Bowing Culture
Types of Bows
목례 (Neck bow):
- Slight nod, 15 degrees
- Used: Casual greetings, hallways, elevators
보통례 (Regular bow):
- 30 degrees
- Used: Standard polite greeting
정중례 (Deep bow):
- 45 degrees
- Used: Very formal occasions, elders, superiors
큰절 (Full bow):
- Complete bow to the ground
- Used: Traditional holidays, ancestors, weddings
When to Bow
Always bow when:
- Meeting someone for the first time
- Greeting elders
- Greeting superiors at work
- Apologizing
- Showing deep gratitude
Regional Variations
Gyeongsang Dialect
안녕하시나:
- Hello (Busan/Gyeongsang region)
Jeju Dialect
혼저옵서예:
- Welcome (Jeju Island)
Formal vs. Informal Usage
Use Formal Greetings With:
- Strangers
- Older people
- Teachers
- Bosses
- Customers
- In-laws
Use Informal Greetings With:
- Close friends (same age or younger)
- Younger siblings
- Children
- Very close family members
Combining Greetings
Adding Honorifics
선생님, 안녕하세요:
- Hello, teacher
- Use titles before greeting
사장님, 안녕하십니까:
- Hello, president/boss
Multiple People
여러분, 안녕하세요:
- Hello, everyone
모두들, 안녕:
- Hi, everyone (casual)
Common Mistakes
❌ Incorrect: 안녕하세요 to close friends of same age
Too formal for friends
✅ Correct: 안녕 or just nod
Appropriate for friends
❌ Incorrect: 안녕 to elderly strangers
Too casual, disrespectful
✅ Correct: 안녕하세요 or 안녕하십니까
Shows proper respect
Cultural Notes
Eye Contact
During greetings:
- Brief eye contact with equals
- Less eye contact with superiors (shows respect)
- Never stare
Handshakes
Korean handshake etiquette:
- Use right hand
- Support right arm with left hand (shows respect)
- Slight bow while shaking hands
- Not as common as bowing
Age Hierarchy
Age determines formality:
- Even one year difference matters
- Always ask age politely: 몇 살이세요?
- Older person can suggest casual speech
Summary Table
| Expression | Formality | Situation | Translation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 안녕하십니까 | Very High | Business, broadcasts | Hello (very formal) |
| 안녕하세요 | High | General polite use | Hello |
| 안녕 | Low | Friends, family | Hi/Bye |
| 처음 뵙겠습니다 | Very High | First meeting (formal) | Nice to meet you |
| 만나서 반가워요 | Medium | First meeting (polite) | Nice to meet you |
| 오랜만이에요 | Medium | Haven't seen in a while | Long time no see |
| 잘 지내세요? | Medium | Asking how someone is | How are you? |
| 여보세요 | Medium | Answering phone | Hello (phone only) |
| 수고하세요 | Medium | To someone working | Keep up good work |
| 안녕히 주무세요 | Medium | Saying goodnight | Sleep well |