What does it mean word for word?
The greeting 안녕하세요 literally translates to "are you at peace?" or "are you well?" The inquiry 잘 지내세요? is composed of 잘 (well), 지내다 (to pass time or live) and the polite ending -세요. Together, it means "are you spending time well?"
Which one should you use?
Different forms are used depending on the level of respect and intimacy required. 안녕하십니까? is the most formal greeting, used for extremely formal occasions or when addressing someone of much higher social status. 안녕하세요? is a standard formal greeting. 어떻게 지내십니까? uses the respectful -십니까 ending to ask how someone is doing. 어떻게 지내세요? is a polite inquiry about well-being. For casual settings, 안녕 is a greeting used among friends and peers and 어떻게 지내? or 안녕, 잘 지내? are informal ways to ask how someone is doing.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The level of formality varies significantly. 안녕하십니까? is the highest formal register. 안녕하세요? and 안녕하세요, 잘 지내세요? are polite and suitable for strangers or people of higher social standing. 안녕 and 어떻게 지내? are informal and should be used with close friends or people younger than you.
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase 안녕하세요 uses the polite honorific ending -세요, which makes it appropriate for speaking to strangers or superiors. The respectful form -십니까 can also be used in the question 어떻게 지내십니까? to increase the level of respect.
How do you pronounce it?
annyeonghaseyo, jal jinaeseyo?
Did you know?
- A common alternative to asking 'how are you' is asking 밥 먹었어?, which means 'did you eat?' This serves as a greeting that expresses care for the other person's well-being.
- While 안녕하세요 is used as a greeting, the root word 안녕 refers to a state of being without disaster or chaos. In historical contexts, asking this was a genuine inquiry into whether someone had survived a period of instability.
- In Korea, the greeting 안녕하세요 is almost always accompanied by a bow. The depth and duration of the bow change depending on the social status of the person you are addressing.
Examples in context
- 안녕하세요? 어떻게 지내세요?Hello, how are you?
- 안녕하십니까? 잘 지내셨습니까?Hello, how have you been?
- 안녕! 어떻게 지내?Hi, how have you been?
- 안녕하세요, 잘 지내세요? 요즘 바쁘세요?annyeonghaseyo, jal jinaeseyo? yojeum bappeuseyo?Hello, how are you? Are you busy lately?
- 안녕하세요, 잘 지내세요? 오랜만이에요.annyeonghaseyo, jal jinaeseyo? oraenmanieyo.Hello, how are you? It has been a long time.
Example conversation
Minjun and Subin meet at a cafe.
- 지은 Ji-eun수빈 씨, 안녕하세요, 잘 지내세요?subin ssi, annyeonghaseyo, jal jinaeseyo?Subin, hello, how are you?
- 현우 Hyeon-woo네, 잘 지내요. 민준 씨는요?ne, jal jinaeyo. minjun ssi-neun-yo?Yes, I'm doing well. How about you, Minjun?
- 지은 Ji-eun저도 잘 지내고 있어요.jeodo jal jinaego isseoyo.I am doing well too.
- 현우 Hyeon-woo다행이네요.dahaeng-ineyo.That's a relief.
