안녕
annyeong[a̠nɲʌ̹ŋ]
The Korean phrase for "hello to a friend" is 안녕 (annyeong).
안녕 is an informal greeting used when meeting a friend or someone of equal social status. It is a simple and commonly used way to say "Hi!"
What does it mean word for word?
The word 안녕 literally means "peace" or "well-being".
Which one should you use?
While 안녕 is used with friends, the form 안녕하세요 is the standard polite version used with strangers, elders or in formal settings.
How do you pronounce it?
annyeong
What mistakes should you avoid?
Avoid using 안녕 with people older than you or in professional settings, as it can be perceived as rude or disrespectful.
When do people say it?
In Korean culture, bowing is a common gesture when greeting someone. Hugs are considered less common and mostly reserved for close friends or family members in Korean culture.
Did you know?
- Close friends may omit the greeting 안녕 entirely and instead ask 밥 먹었니?, which means 'did you eat?', as a way of expressing care.
- In modern texting culture, Koreans often shorten 안녕 to just the first consonant ㅇ to save time.
- In Korean, 안녕 can function as both a 'hello' and a 'goodbye' depending on the context of the meeting or departure.
Examples in context
- 안녕, 잘 지냈어?annyeong, jal jinaesseo?Hello, have you been doing well?
- 안녕, 오랜만이야.annyeong, oraenman-iya.Hello, it's been a long time.
Example conversation
Subin and Jihun meet at a cafe.
- 수빈 Su-bin안녕, 지훈아!Annyeong, Jihun-a!Hi, Jihun!
- 지훈 Ji-hun안녕, 수빈아. 여기 있었구나.Annyeong, Subin-a. Yeogi isseotguna.Hi, Subin. You were here.
- 수빈 Su-bin응, 주문했어?Eung, jumunhaesseo?Yeah, did you order?
- 지훈 Ji-hun아니, 이제 하려고.Ani, ije haryeogo.No, I'm about to now.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry 안녕, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
