What does it mean word for word?
The word 안녕 literally translates to "peace" or "well-being".
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
안녕 is an informal greeting suitable for use with friends, peers or people younger than you. For a more playful tone between close friends or in online messages, you might see the abbreviation 안뇽. For formal contexts, different forms are required depending on the social hierarchy and whether you or the other person is staying or leaving.
How do you pronounce it?
annyeong
When do people say it?
In more formal settings, such as when using the phrase 안녕하세요, it is customary to bow slightly as a sign of respect. For very formal situations involving someone of significantly higher social status or much older, the phrase 안녕하십니까 (How are you?) is used. If you are in a formal situation and are the one leaving while the other person stays, you should use 안녕히 계세요 (Stay with peace).
Did you know?
- The word 안녕 is composed of two different characters that both mean 'peace', making the greeting essentially a wish for 'peaceful peace'.
- Korean has separate 'goodbye' phrases for the person leaving and the person staying. If you are the one staying, you must use 안녕히 가세요, which tells the other person to 'go in peace'.
- While 안녕 means 'peace', it is considered a 'banmal' or low-form expression. Using it with a stranger or a social superior can be perceived as a direct insult or a sign of aggression.
Examples in context
- 안녕, 친구야.annyeong, chinguya.Hello, friend.
- 나 이제 갈게, 안녕.na ije galge, annyeong.I'm leaving now, goodbye.
Example conversation
Two friends meet briefly in a school hallway.
- 서연 Seo-yeon안녕, 도현아!annyeong, dohyeon-a!Hi, Dohyeon!
- 도현 Do-hyeon안녕, 서연아. 수업 있어?annyeong, seoyeon-a. sueop isseo?Hi, Seoyeon. Do you have class?
- 서연 Seo-yeon응, 나 가야 해. 안녕!eung, na gaya hae. annyeong!Yes, I have to go. Bye!
- 도현 Do-hyeon그래, 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.
