Learn Korean Greetings: Essential Phrases & Cultural Guide
Korean greeting culture is built on a foundation of respect: respect for age, for social position, for relationships, and for the effort someone has put into their day. Every greeting carries information about how you see your relationship with the other person. Using the wrong speech level isn't just a grammar mistake; it's a social signal that Koreans read instantly. This might sound intimidating, but the system is logical, and Koreans deeply appreciate foreigners who make the effort to learn it. Even imperfect attempts at proper Korean greetings earn real warmth and encouragement.
Hangul: The World's Most Logical Alphabet
Korean uses Hangul (한글), an alphabet invented in 1443 by King Sejong the Great specifically to be easy to learn. Unlike Chinese characters or Japanese kanji, Hangul is a true alphabet with just 14 basic consonants and 10 basic vowels that combine into syllable blocks. Each block is read left to right, top to bottom. For example, 한 is ㅎ (h) + ㅏ (a) + ㄴ (n) = 'han.' You can learn to read Hangul in a few hours; it really is that logical. Both Hangul and romanized pronunciation are included here, but learning to read Hangul will dramatically accelerate your Korean.
Korean pronunciation has some sounds that don't exist in English. The distinction between aspirated consonants (ㅋ, ㅌ, ㅍ, with a puff of air) and tense consonants (ㄲ, ㄸ, ㅃ, tight and sharp) is crucial but takes practice. The vowels ㅓ (eo, like 'uh') and ㅡ (eu, no English equivalent, smile position with an 'oo' sound) trip up most beginners. The phonetics in this guide use standard Revised Romanization, with stressed syllables in capitals.
Korean Speech Levels: The Heart of the Language
Korean has multiple speech levels that change verb endings based on your relationship with the listener. For greetings, you need three: 'formal polite' (합쇼체, used in business, presentations, news, and with elders you want to show maximum respect to), 'standard polite' (해요체, the everyday default, polite and safe in nearly all situations), and 'casual' (반말, used only with close friends your age or younger, and with children). The standard polite level ending in '-요' is your best friend and works in about 90% of situations.
The casual level, called '반말' (banmal, literally 'half speech'), deserves special caution. Using 반말 with someone older than you, someone you've just met, or someone of higher social status is seriously offensive, not just a faux pas but a potential insult. Koreans are forgiving of foreigners' mistakes, but using casual speech inappropriately is one mistake that registers. The safest approach: always use the standard polite '-요' level until someone explicitly invites you to speak casually, which usually happens when a Korean friend says '말 놓아' (mal noa, meaning 'drop the formality') or '반말 해' (banmal hae, meaning 'use casual speech').
Essential Greetings
Korean doesn't have direct equivalents of 'good morning,' 'good afternoon,' or 'good evening' as standard greetings. Instead, one versatile phrase covers all times of day. This makes Korean greetings simpler in some ways, but the speech level you choose adds complexity that time-based greetings don't have.
Pro tip: Korean doesn't use time-of-day greetings the way European languages do, but you will hear '좋은 아침이에요' (joeun achimieyo, 'good morning') occasionally, especially in workplaces influenced by Western culture. It's understood but not traditional. The standard '안녕하세요' at any hour is always the right choice.
Age Matters: The First Question
In Korea, one of the first things people establish when meeting someone new is relative age. Don't be surprised when a Korean asks '몇 살이에요?' (how old are you?) or '몇 년생이에요?' (what year were you born?) early in conversation. It's not rude; it's important social information. Your relative age determines the speech level you'll use with each other, what titles you'll use, and even who pours drinks first. Koreans orient themselves socially through age, and knowing where you stand allows the relationship to proceed comfortably.
Even a one-year difference matters. The older person is '형' (hyeong, older brother for males), '누나' (nuna, older sister for males), '오빠' (oppa, older brother for females), or '언니' (eonni, older sister for females), and the younger person uses these titles instead of names. The older person can use casual speech; the younger person should use polite speech until told otherwise. Same-age friends ('동갑,' donggap) can quickly agree to use casual speech. This age-based system extends to workplaces with '선배' (seonbae, senior) and '후배' (hubae, junior). Knowing this hierarchy is fundamental to Korean greetings.
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Casual Greetings Among Friends
Among close friends of the same age, Korean becomes playful, abbreviated, and expressive. The rigid formality melts away, and you'll hear slang, borrowed English words, and the affectionate directness that characterizes Korean friendships. These phrases are strictly for people you're on 반말 terms with: friends your age, younger siblings, and children.
Responding to Greetings
Korean responses to greetings tend to be modest and positive. Koreans generally don't go into lengthy answers about how they're doing—a brief, upbeat response is standard. Reciprocating the question is polite but not as rigidly expected as in some European cultures. The response should match the formality level of the question.
Introductions & Meeting People
Korean introductions are relatively formal, even in casual settings. When meeting someone new, Koreans typically bow, state their name, and may exchange business cards (in professional settings, with both hands and a bow). Self-introductions often include your affiliation—company, university, or how you know the mutual connection. Koreans introduce themselves surname first: '김민수입니다' (I'm Kim Minsu), where 김 (Kim) is the family name.
Saying Goodbye
Korean has a distinctive feature in its goodbyes: two different phrases depending on whether you're the one leaving or the one staying. This distinction reflects Korean's attention to the specific social dynamics of every interaction. Getting this right is a subtle but appreciated mark of Korean fluency.
Essential Politeness Phrases
Korean politeness is built into the language itself through speech levels and honorifics, but these standalone phrases are still essential. They're the verbal equivalent of bowing—expressions of gratitude, apology, and social grace that Koreans use constantly and notice when foreigners use correctly.
Bowing: Korea's Physical Greeting
Bowing is the primary physical greeting in Korea, and the depth of your bow communicates respect. A casual greeting between peers involves a slight head nod (about 15 degrees). A standard polite greeting—to someone older, a teacher, or a business contact—calls for a 30-degree bow from the waist. A deep bow (45 degrees or more) is reserved for formal occasions: meeting someone very important, deep gratitude, sincere apologies, or traditional ceremonies like 세배 (sebae, the deep New Year's bow to elders).
Handshakes exist in Korean business culture but follow specific etiquette. When shaking hands with someone older or of higher status, support your right hand with your left hand (touching your right forearm or wrist) as a sign of respect. This two-handed gesture shows deference and is standard in Korean professional settings. Among peers, a regular handshake is fine. Hugging is reserved for very close friends and family—it's not a standard greeting in Korea. Bowing is the default, and learning to bow naturally is one of the most visible signs of cultural respect.
Nunchi: Korea's Social Sixth Sense
Understanding Korean greetings fully requires knowing '눈치' (nunchi)—a concept roughly translated as 'social awareness' or 'reading the room.' Nunchi is the ability to gauge the atmosphere, read unspoken social cues, and adjust your behavior accordingly. In greeting contexts, nunchi means noticing who's the eldest in a group (and greeting them first), sensing whether a situation calls for formal or informal speech, recognizing when someone is busy and keeping your greeting brief, and knowing when to bow deeper versus a simple nod.
Good nunchi in greetings means: greeting the most senior person first, matching your formality to the setting, not being too loud or too quiet for the context, and being aware of how others are greeting so you can follow suit. Bad nunchi—'눈치 없다' (nunchi eopda)—is one of the sharpest social criticisms in Korean. It means you're oblivious to social dynamics. Developing nunchi takes time, but simply being aware of it and observing how Koreans interact will accelerate your understanding enormously.
Workplace & Business Greetings
Korean workplace culture is hierarchical, and greetings reflect this clearly. When you arrive at work, you greet your seniors ('선배') and superiors with a proper '안녕하세요' or the more formal '안녕하십니까' and a bow. Juniors greet seniors first—waiting for a senior to greet you first would be awkward. When a senior or manager enters the room, it's customary to acknowledge them. Business cards are exchanged with both hands and a slight bow, and you should read the card respectfully before putting it away—never write on it or toss it casually.
The phrase '수고하셨습니다' (you've worked hard) is central to workplace greeting culture. It's said when leaving the office, at the end of a meeting, or to acknowledge someone's effort. Among peers, the casual '수고' (sugo) or '수고했어' (sugohesseo) works. At Korean restaurants, the staff may greet you with '어서 오세요!' (eoseo oseyo—please come in quickly!), a warm welcome that literally means 'come in fast.' You'll hear this at every restaurant, café, and shop in Korea.
Dining & Drinking Greetings
Food and drink are central to Korean social life, and there are specific greeting-like phrases tied to meals. Before eating, Koreans say '잘 먹겠습니다' (jal meokgesseumnida—I will eat well), a phrase that expresses gratitude to whoever prepared or is paying for the meal. After eating: '잘 먹었습니다' (jal meogeosseumnida—I ate well). These aren't optional pleasantries—they're expected expressions of gratitude.
When drinking alcohol—a significant part of Korean social and business culture—there are strict etiquette rules. Pour drinks for others, never for yourself. When drinking with someone older, turn your head slightly away and cover your glass with your hand as a sign of respect. Receive a drink with both hands from an elder. The toast '건배!' (geonbae—cheers!, literally 'dry glass') opens the drinking. These rituals might seem like a lot, but they're the social glue of Korean relationships, and participating properly shows deep respect.
Regional Variations
Standard Korean (표준어, pyojuneo) is based on the Seoul dialect, and this is what's taught in textbooks and used in media. However, Korea has distinct regional dialects ('사투리,' saturi) that affect pronunciation, vocabulary, and even greeting expressions. The Busan/Gyeongsang dialect in the southeast is perhaps the most famous—it sounds more direct and melodic, with different intonation patterns. The Jeolla dialect in the southwest has its own character, often described as warmer and more sing-song.
In Busan, you might hear greetings with different intonation and occasional vocabulary differences, and the overall communication style is considered more direct than Seoul's. Jeju Island has a dialect so distinct it's sometimes classified as a separate language. For learners, standard Seoul Korean is the right starting point—it's understood everywhere and is the basis of Korean education and media. Regional dialects are fascinating to learn about but not necessary for effective communication. Koreans will appreciate you speaking standard Korean far more than attempting regional speech.
Mastering Korean Greetings
Start with the single most important phrase: '안녕하세요' (annyeonghaseyo). This polite hello works in every situation and is the foundation of Korean greeting culture. Add '감사합니다' (gamsahamnida—thank you), '죄송합니다' (joesonghamnida—I'm sorry), and the two goodbyes: '안녕히 가세요' (to someone leaving) and '안녕히 계세요' (to someone staying). With these five phrases, a slight bow, and genuine respect, you can navigate Korean social life with confidence.
As you grow more comfortable, learn to read the social context: who's older, what's the setting, what speech level matches the situation. Practice your bow until it feels natural. Learn Hangul—it takes hours, not months, and opens up the entire language. Koreans are among the most encouraging language hosts in the world; using even basic Korean greetings will earn you genuine smiles, enthusiastic corrections, and the kind of warm reception that makes you want to learn more. The formality system that seems complex at first is actually Korean culture's way of ensuring everyone feels properly respected—and once you internalize it, you'll find Korean social interaction remarkably harmonious and deeply satisfying.