안녕하세요
annyeonghaseyo?[a̠nɲʌ̹ŋɦa̠sʰe̞jo]
The Korean phrase for hello politely is 안녕하세요 (annyeonghaseyo?).
안녕하세요 is a common formal greeting that can mean 'Hello' or 'How are you?'
Which one should you use?
The standard polite way to say hello is 안녕하세요, but you should only use the shortened 안녕 when speaking with close friends or people younger than you. For highly professional settings, such as news broadcasts or the military, use the more formal version 안녕하십니까.
When do people say it?
When saying 안녕하세요, it is culturally appropriate to accompany the phrase with a slight bow to show respect.
Did you know?
- While 안녕하세요 is a greeting, it is rarely used to start a phone call. Koreans typically use 여보세요 when answering the phone instead.
- If you say 안녕하세요 while making direct, prolonged eye contact with an elder, it might actually be perceived as aggressive or disrespectful. A slight downward gaze or a bow is traditionally expected.
- The word 'hello' in Korean literally translates to 'Are you at peace?' or 'Are you well?' It is an inquiry into your state of well-being rather than a mere social salutation.
Examples in context
- 안녕하세요.annyeonghaseyo.Hello.
- 선생님, 안녕하세요.seonsaengnim, annyeonghaseyo.Hello, teacher.
- 처음 뵙겠습니다. 안녕하세요.cheoeum boepgetseumnida. annyeonghaseyo.Nice to meet you. Hello.
Example conversation
Jihoon meets Seoyeon at a cafe.
- 지훈 Ji-hun서연 씨, 안녕하세요.Seoyeon ssi, annyeonghaseyo.Hello, Seoyeon.
- 서연 Seo-yeon지훈 씨, 안녕하세요!Jihoon ssi, annyeonghaseyo!Hello, Jihoon!
- 지훈 Ji-hun잘 지냈어요?jal jinaesseoyo?How have you been?
- 서연 Seo-yeon네, 잘 지냈어요.ne, jal jinaesseoyo.Yes, I've been well.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry 안녕하세요, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
