What does it mean word for word?
The root of the greeting comes from the noun 안녕, which means peace or well-being.
Which one should you use?
While 안녕하세요 is a standard polite greeting, 안녕하십니까 is a highly formal version used in business settings, news broadcasts or when addressing people of much higher social status. For very casual settings, 안녕 is used.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
안녕하세요 is a polite form suitable for most everyday social situations. 안녕하십니까 is a formal greeting used to show respect to someone in a significantly higher position or to address a large group of people. Conversely, the shortened form 안녕 is informal and should be used only with close friends or people younger than you.
How does it change in a sentence?
The -yo ending in 안녕하세요 makes the phrase polite.
How do you pronounce it?
annyeonghaseyo?
When do people say it?
When saying 안녕하세요, it is customary to bow slightly to show respect to the listener.
Did you know?
- While 안녕하세요 is a greeting, it is technically a question asking 'Are you at peace?' This reflects a historical culture where health and safety were not guaranteed during times of war or plague.
- It is often considered unnatural to say 안녕하세요 to a family member at home. Instead, Koreans typically use phrases related to eating or ask about one's day, as the formal greeting can feel too distant for close kin.
- In South Korea, the depth and duration of the bow accompanying 안녕하세요 vary strictly by social rank. A slight nod is for equals, while a 45-degree bend is reserved for high-status individuals or formal apologies.
Examples in context
- Annyeonghaseyo! 저는 [Your Name] 입니다.Hello! I am [Your Name].
- 안녕하세요.annyeonghaseyo.Hello.
- 처음 뵙겠습니다, 안녕하세요.cheoeum boepgessseumnida, annyeonghaseyo.Nice to meet you, hello.
- 선생님, 안녕하세요!seonsaengnim, annyeonghaseyo!Hello, teacher!
Example conversation
Ji-eun and Do-hyeon meet in a hallway.
- 지은 Ji-eun도현 씨, 안녕하세요.Dohyeon ssi, annyeonghaseyo.Hello, Do-hyeon.
- 도현 Do-hyeon아, 지은 씨 안녕하세요.A, Jieun ssi annyeonghaseyo.Oh, hello, Ji-eun.
- 지은 Ji-eun잘 지냈어요?jal jinaesseoyo?Have you been well?
- 도현 Do-hyeon네, 잘 지냈어요.ne, jal jinaesseoyo.Yes, I have been well.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry 안녕하세요, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
