안녕하세요
annyeonghaseyo?[a̠nɲʌ̹ŋɦa̠sʰe̞jo]
The phrase for "hello to someone older than you" in Korean is 안녕하세요 (annyeonghaseyo?).
안녕하세요 is the standard and most widely used way to say hello in Korean. It is a polite greeting used when speaking to someone older or in a higher social position.
Which one should you use?
While 안녕하세요 is used for elders, the shortened form 안녕 is strictly informal and should only be used with close friends or people younger than you.
How do you pronounce it?
annyeonghaseyo?
Did you know?
- The phrase 안녕하세요 can be used to greet someone as a way of asking if they have survived a recent period of danger or instability. Historically, it served as a way to check if a person had safely made it through a difficult night.
- When saying 안녕하세요, it is customary to accompany the words with a bow. The depth of the bow typically increases based on the age and social status of the person you are greeting.
- In many situations, if you are greeting a much older person or someone of very high status, you might use the even more formal version, 안녕하십니까. This shifts the tone from 'polite' to 'highly respectful' and is common in news broadcasts or military settings.
Examples in context
- 안녕하세요, 선생님.annyeonghaseyo, seonsaengnim.Hello, teacher.
- 할머니, 안녕하세요.halmeoni, annyeonghaseyo.Hello, grandmother.
- 사장님, 안녕하세요.sajangnim, annyeonghaseyo.Hello, boss.
Example conversation
Jihoon greets Jieun, his older colleague, at the office.
- 지훈 Ji-hun지은 씨, 안녕하세요.Jieun ssi, annyeonghaseyo.Hello, Ms. Jieun.
- 지은 Ji-eun네, 지훈 씨 안녕하세요.Ne, Jihun ssi annyeonghaseyo.Yes, hello, Jihoon.
- 지훈 Ji-hun오늘 날씨가 정말 좋네요.Oneul nalssiga jeongmal jonneyo.The weather is really nice today.
- 지은 Ji-eun맞아요, 정말 화창해요.Majayo, jeongmal hwachanghaeyo.That's true, it's very sunny.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry 안녕하세요, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
