How to Say "Hello in Call" in Korean

여보세요

yeoboseyo[jʌ̹bo̞sʰe̞jo]

여보세요 (yeoboseyo) is the Korean way to say hello in call.

여보세요 is used exclusively when answering or initiating a phone call. It is not used as a standard greeting when meeting someone in person.

What does it mean word for word?

The phrase 여보세요 is derived from a way to get someone's attention, roughly translating to 'hey, look here' or 'excuse me'.

While 여보세요 is used for phone calls, 안녕하세요 is the standard greeting for face-to-face interactions.

yeoboseyo

Depending on the tone, 여보세요 can be used to express annoyance or disbelief, similar to saying 'Excuse me?' or 'What on earth are you saying?' during a heated argument on the phone.
If a phone call is interrupted by bad reception or silence, Koreans will repeat 여보세요 multiple times with a rising intonation to check if the other person is still there.
In a formal business setting, many Koreans avoid using 여보세요 and instead answer the phone with their company name or 'ye, yeogis-imnida' (yes, it is here).

여보세요, 누구세요?
yeoboseyo, nuguseyo?
Hello, who is this?
여보세요, 잘 들려요?
yeoboseyo, jal deullyeoyo?
Hello, can you hear me well?
갑자기 전화해서 여보세요 했어요.
gapjagi jeonhwahaeseo yeoboseyo haesseoyo.
I called suddenly and said hello.

Minjun calls Minji to ask a question.

민지 Min-ji

여보세요, 민준 씨예요?
yeoboseyo, minjun ssi-yeyo?
Hello, is this Minjun?
민준 Min-jun

네, 민지 씨, 제 목소리 들려요?
ne, minji ssi, je moksori deullyeoyo?
Yes, Minji, can you hear my voice?
민지 Min-ji

네, 아주 잘 들려요.
ne, aju jal deullyeoyo.
Yes, I can hear you very well.
민준 Min-jun

다행이네요, 물어볼 게 있어요.
dahaeng-ineyo, mureobol ge isseoyo.
That's a relief, I have something to ask.

Sources

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