만나서 반가웠어요
mannaseo bangaweosseoyo
In Korean, "it was nice to meet you" is expressed as 만나서 반가웠어요 (mannaseo bangaweosseoyo).
This phrase is a polite way to say goodbye after meeting someone for the first time.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of 만나서 (meeting and then) and 반가웠어요 (was glad/pleasant).
Which one should you use?
While 만나서 반가웠어요 (past tense) is used when parting ways, 만나서 반가워요 (present tense) is used during the initial greeting when you first meet.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
For professional settings or when speaking to much older individuals, use the formal version 만나서 반가웠습니다. In casual or informal situations, you can use 만나서 반가웠어 with people of the same age or younger. To emphasize sincerity in a casual way, you can also use 정말 반가웠어.
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase uses the past tense suffix –었– to indicate that the pleasure of the meeting is being reflected upon as the encounter concludes.
How do you pronounce it?
mannaseo bangaweosseoyo
Did you know?
- In many Korean social settings, the phrase is often accompanied by a slight bow, where the depth and duration of the bow must match the formality of the version of the phrase you chose.
- In Korean, the adjective 반갑다 (to be glad/pleased) is used to describe the feeling of meeting someone, rather than the person being 'nice' or 'good'.
- In a business context, you might hear this phrase paired with the exchange of business cards, where the card is given and received with both hands to maintain the politeness of the encounter.
Examples in context
- 만나서 반갑습니다. 제 이름은 [Your Name]입니다.It's nice to meet you. My name is [Your Name].
- 만나서 반가웠어. 함께 재미있는 시간 보내자!It was nice to meet you. Let's spend some fun time together!
- 오늘 만나서 반가웠어요.oneul mannaseo bangaweosseoyo.It was nice to meet you today.
- 정말 만나서 반가웠어요.jeongmal mannaseo bangaweosseoyo.It was really nice to meet you.
Example conversation
Hyunwoo and Subin are leaving a networking event.
- 현우 Hyeon-woo수빈 씨, 오늘 만나서 반가웠어요.Subin ssi, oneul mannaseo bangaweosseoyo.Subin, it was nice to meet you today.
- 수빈 Su-bin저도 만나서 반가웠어요, 현우 씨.jeodo mannaseo bangaweosseoyo, Hyunwoo ssi.It was nice to meet you too, Hyunwoo.
- 현우 Hyeon-woo조심해서 들어가세요.josimhaeseo deureogaseyo.Please get home safely.
- 수빈 Su-bin네, 안녕히 가세요.ne, annyeonghi gaseyo.Yes, goodbye.
