안녕하세요
annyeonghaseyo[a̠nɲʌ̹ŋɦa̠sʰe̞jo]
The English phrase "hi (formal)" is translated into Korean as 안녕하세요 (annyeonghaseyo).
안녕하세요 is a polite greeting used to say hello to someone in a formal or respectful way.
Which one should you use?
While 안녕하세요 is the polite version, the related form 안녕 is used only with close friends or people younger than you.
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase ends in -세요, which is a polite sentence ending used to show respect to the listener.
How do you pronounce it?
annyeonghaseyo
When do people say it?
When saying 안녕하세요 to someone older or in a higher position, it is customary to bow slightly while speaking.
Did you know?
- The phrase 안녕하세요 literally translates to 'Are you at peace?' or 'Are you doing well?' It is less a greeting of recognition and more a genuine inquiry into the listener's state of well-being.
- Using 안녕하세요 with a very close friend or a younger sibling can actually sound sarcastic or cold.
- If you are greeting someone in a very formal setting, such as a business meeting or on television, you might use the even more formal 안녕하십니까 instead of 안녕하세요.
Examples in context
- 안녕하세요, 김 선생님.Hello, Teacher Kim.
- 안녕하세요.annyeonghaseyo.Hello.
- 선생님, 안녕하세요.seonsaengnim, annyeonghaseyo.Hello, teacher.
- 처음 뵙겠습니다, 안녕하세요.cheoeum boepgetseumnida, annyeonghaseyo.Nice to meet you, hello.
Example conversation
Dohyun meets Minji, a coworker, in the office hallway.
- 도현 Do-hyeon민지 씨, 안녕하세요.Minji ssi, annyeonghaseyo.Hello, Minji.
- 민지 Min-ji도현 씨, 안녕하세요.Dohyun ssi, annyeonghaseyo.Hello, Dohyun.
- 도현 Do-hyeon오늘 날씨가 좋네요.oneul nalssiga jonneyo.The weather is nice today.
- 민지 Min-ji네, 정말 좋네요.ne, jeongmal jonneyo.Yes, it really is.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry 안녕하세요, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
