What does it mean word for word?
The word 안녕 literally means peace or well-being.
Which one should you use?
While 안녕 serves as both a greeting and a farewell, other forms are used for specific contexts. For example, 여보세요 is a phone-specific greeting used when answering the phone and 안녕히 계세요 is used to say goodbye in a formal setting when the other person is staying or you are leaving them.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
안녕 is informal and should only be used with friends, people younger than you or those you are very close to. In formal situations, 안녕하세요? is a common way to say hello.
How do you pronounce it?
annyeong
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often mistakenly use the casual 안녕 with teachers or bosses, which can be perceived as rude. In those cases, use the polite form instead.
When do people say it?
Koreans often bow slightly when greeting someone as a sign of respect.
Did you know?
- Because 안녕 literally asks for one's 'peace', saying it to a superior is like asking them to 'be at peace' in a way that feels patronizingly casual or overly intimate.
- The word 안녕 is a Sino-Korean term formed by combining two different characters that both signify 'peace', effectively creating a double wish for tranquility.
- When answering the phone, Koreans use 여보세요, which is entirely different from 안녕. It comes from a verb meaning 'to look at' or 'to see', essentially asking 'Are you there?'
Examples in context
- 안녕, 잘 지냈어?annyeong, jal jinaesseo?Hello, have you been well?
- 나 이제 갈게, 안녕!na ije galge, annyeong!I'm leaving now, bye!
- 안녕, 내일 만나자.annyeong, naeil mannaja.Hi, let's meet tomorrow.
Example conversation
Subin and Hyunwoo meet and then part ways at a park.
- 수빈 Su-bin현우야, 안녕!Hyeonwu-ya, annyeong!Hi, Hyunwoo!
- 현우 Hyeon-woo어, 수빈아 안녕!Eo, Subin-a annyeong!Oh, hi Subin!
- 수빈 Su-bin나 약속 있어서 가봐야 해.Na yaksok isseo gaba-ya hae.I have an appointment, so I have to go.
- 현우 Hyeon-woo그래, 안녕!Geurae, annyeong!Okay, bye!
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry 안녕, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 안녕, CC BY-SA 4.0.
