welcome in korean
How to Say "Welcome" in Korean (어서 오세요 / 천만에요): Two Different Meanings
어서 오세요
eoseo oseyo
Quick answer
Korean has two 'welcome': 어서 오세요 (eoseo oseyo) for welcoming someone who arrives, and 아니에요 (anieyo) or 천만에요 (cheonmaneyo) for '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.' Heard in literally every Korean shop and restaurant the moment you step through the door. |
| you're welcome (after thank you) | 천만에요 | cheonmaneyo | Formal 'you're welcome' — correct but sounds textbook and somewhat old-fashioned in everyday speech. Works well in formal writing or professional email exchanges. |
| casual you're welcome | 아니에요 | anieyo | Literally 'no, it's nothing' — the most common everyday response to being thanked. Humble and natural, this is what most Koreans actually say rather than 천만에요. |
| very casual (between friends) | 뭘~ | mwol~ | Literally 'what' — a dismissive, modest wave-off. The Korean equivalent of 'don't mention it' or 'it was nothing.' The tilde (~) in writing conveys the drawn-out, relaxed pronunciation. |
How it changes by relationship
어서 오세요!
Eoseo oseyo!
greeting a customer or guest: You'll hear this in virtually every shop, cafe, and restaurant in Korea — it's near-automatic. Staff are trained to say it warmly and loudly, which can surprise first-time visitors.
아니에요, 뭘~
Anieyo, mwol~
after someone thanks you (casual): No problem, don't worry about it — combining 아니에요 with 뭘 is extra casual and modest. Shows you didn't see the favor as a big deal.
천만에요.
Cheonmaneyo.
after someone thanks you (formal): You're welcome — formal, suitable for professional or polite settings like customer service or when thanked by someone significantly older.
어서 와!
Eoseo wa!
welcoming someone to your home: Come in! / Welcome! — the casual version used when a friend arrives at your door. Dropping 오세요 → 와 shifts the register from polite to intimate.
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
The most important thing to know: 어서 오세요 (welcome, come in) and 'you're welcome' (response to thanks) are completely different phrases in Korean — don't mix them up. When someone thanks you, 천만에요 is textbook-correct but native speakers overwhelmingly use 아니에요 in casual settings. Using 천만에요 every time can make you sound formal or like a customer-service script. The most natural response hierarchy is: 아니에요 (casual), 천만에요 (formal), 뭘~ (very casual/dismissive).
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.' It's less about urgency and more about enthusiastic invitation.
What's the casual version of 어서 오세요?
어서 와 (eoseo wa) — dropping the formal -세요 and using the plain 와 (come). You'd say this to a friend or younger person arriving at your home.
Is 천만에요 outdated?
Not exactly outdated, but rarely used in everyday casual speech. It's natural in formal contexts, business, or when replying to an elder's thanks. In daily life, 아니에요 or 뭘 is far more common.
How do I say 'you're welcome' after doing someone a big favor?
아니에요, 별거 아니에요 (it's nothing, really) keeps it humble and warm. If you want to be generous about it: 도움이 됐으면 좋겠어요 (I hope it was helpful) sounds genuine and thoughtful.
What should I say when I walk into a Korean shop?
Nothing — the staff say 어서 오세요 to you. You can simply nod or smile. If you want to ask for help, 저기요 (jeogiyo, excuse me) to get their attention is the natural opener.
Can 어서 오세요 be used at someone's home?
Yes — 어서 오세요 is appropriate when a host wants to be polite. For a very casual home arrival, 어서 와 (come in) or just 왔어? (you're here?) are more relaxed alternatives.