welcome in korean
How to Say "Welcome" in Korean (어서 오세요 / 천만에요): Two Different Meanings
어서 오세요
eoseo oseyo
Quick answer
Korean has two meanings of 'welcome': 어서 오세요 (eoseo oseyo) means 'welcome, come on in' and 천만에요 (cheonmaneyo) or 아니에요 (anieyo) means 'you're welcome' after being thanked.
Common forms
| Register | Hangul | Romanization | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| welcoming someone who arrives | 어서 오세요 | eoseo oseyo | Said when someone enters a shop, home, or event — 'welcome, please come in.' |
| you're welcome (after thank you) | 천만에요 | cheonmaneyo | Formal 'you're welcome' — sounds a bit textbook; most Koreans say 아니에요 in real speech. |
| casual you're welcome | 아니에요 | anieyo | Literally 'no, it's nothing' — the most common everyday response to being thanked. |
| very casual (between friends) | 뭘~ | mwol~ | Literally 'what' — used dismissively/modestly like 'don't mention it' or 'no biggie.' |
How it changes by relationship
어서 오세요!
Eoseo oseyo!
greeting a customer or guest: You'll hear this in literally every shop in Korea — it's automatic and welcoming.
아니에요, 뭘~
Anieyo, mwol~
after someone thanks you (casual): No problem, don't worry about it — a warm and natural reply between friends.
천만에요.
Cheonmaneyo.
after someone thanks you (formal): You're welcome — formal, suitable for professional or polite settings.
어서 와!
Eoseo wa!
welcoming someone to your home: Come in! / Welcome! — casual version used when a friend arrives at your door.
Examples
어서 오세요, 뭐 찾으세요?
Eoseo oseyo, mwo chajeuseyo?
Welcome, what are you looking for?
고마워. — 아니에요!
Gomawo. — Anieyo!
Thanks. — No problem!
어서 와, 들어와!
Eoseo wa, deureo wa!
Come in, come on in!
Usage note
천만에요 (you're welcome) sounds formal and slightly old-fashioned in casual conversation — most native Koreans say 아니에요 (anieyo, no no / it's nothing) or just smile and nod. Saying 천만에요 every time someone thanks you in a casual setting can sound stiff.
Mini quiz
What is the primary Korean phrase for "welcome" here?
FAQ
What does 어서 오세요 literally mean?
어서 means 'quickly / hurry' and 오세요 means 'please come' — together it's a warm 'come right in, you're welcome here.'
What's the casual version of 어서 오세요?
어서 와 (eoseo wa) — dropping the formal ending. You'd say this to a friend or younger person arriving at your place.
Is 천만에요 outdated?
It's not wrong, but it's rarely used in everyday speech. 아니에요 or 뭘~ are far more common in casual interactions.