hello in korean
How to Say "Hello" in Korean (안녕하세요 / 안녕): Casual to Formal
안녕하세요
annyeonghaseyo
Quick answer
Say 안녕하세요 (annyeonghaseyo) in most situations and 안녕 (annyeong) only with close friends — both mean hello in Korean.
Common forms
| Register | Hangul | Romanization | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| casual | 안녕 | annyeong | Close friends and younger people only — also doubles as 'bye' in casual settings. Using it with strangers, elders, or in professional contexts sounds rude or childish. |
| polite (standard) | 안녕하세요 | annyeonghaseyo | The all-purpose safe greeting for almost everyone — strangers, coworkers, shopkeepers, acquaintances. Used at any time of day, morning through evening. |
| formal | 안녕하십니까 | annyeonghashimnikka | Very formal — news broadcasts, military settings, formal business introductions, and respectful speeches. Rare in everyday conversation but unmistakably authoritative when used. |
| on the phone | 여보세요 | yeoboseyo | Used exclusively when answering or calling someone on the phone — never used as a face-to-face greeting. Saying this in person sounds awkward to Koreans. |
How it changes by relationship
안녕!
Annyeong!
to a close friend: Light, breezy, and warm — the everyday casual hi between friends. Can sound like 'yo' or 'hey' in English informality.
안녕하세요!
Annyeonghaseyo!
to a teacher, boss, or elder: Always the polite form with seniors, authority figures, and anyone you want to show respect to. Even a slight bow often accompanies this greeting in person.
안녕하세요~
Annyeonghaseyo~
to a stranger in a shop: The default shop greeting — staff will almost always greet you with this, and a polite customer returns it.
여보세요?
Yeoboseyo?
answering the phone: Always used when picking up the phone, no matter who is calling. Often followed by 누구세요? (who is this?) if you don't recognize the number.
Examples
안녕하세요, 처음 뵙겠습니다!
Annyeonghaseyo, cheoeum boepgetsseumnida!
Hello, nice to meet you for the first time!
안녕! 오랜만이야!
Annyeong! Oraenmaniya!
Hey! Long time no see!
여보세요? 누구세요?
Yeoboseyo? Nuguseyo?
Hello? Who is this?
Usage note
안녕하세요 is used morning, noon, and evening — there is no equivalent of 'good afternoon' or 'good evening' that Koreans switch to. This surprises many English speakers, but 안녕하세요 covers all daytime and evening greetings with no awkwardness. The more important distinction is between 안녕 (close-only) and 안녕하세요 (almost universal). In written Korean — texts, emails, social media — 안녕하세요 is still standard for a polite opener, while 안녕 or 안녕~ works casually between friends.
Mini quiz
What is the primary Korean phrase for "hello" here?
FAQ
What's the difference between 안녕 and 안녕하세요?
안녕 is casual — used with close friends or younger people only. 안녕하세요 is the polite standard safe for virtually anyone. See annyeong-vs-annyeonghaseyo for a full comparison.
How do you say hello in Korean formally?
안녕하십니까 (annyeonghashimnikka) is the formal version — used in news broadcasts, official speeches, and formal business settings. 안녕하세요 is sufficient for most polite situations.
Can I say 안녕하세요 to everyone?
Yes — 안녕하세요 is the all-purpose polite greeting, appropriate any time of day with almost anyone. It's the safest and most versatile choice.
Is 여보세요 just for phones?
Yes — 여보세요 is strictly a phone greeting. Using it face-to-face sounds strange and out of context.
How do you greet someone you haven't seen in a while?
오랜만이에요 (oraenmanieyo, long time no see) politely, or 오랜만이야 (oraenmaniya) casually. Often paired with 안녕하세요 — 안녕하세요, 오랜만이에요!
How do K-drama characters greet each other?
Close friends use 안녕 or just each other's names. Juniors greet seniors with 안녕하세요 plus a slight bow. When meeting formally for the first time, 안녕하세요, 처음 뵙겠습니다 (nice to meet you) is the standard full greeting.