Vocabulary

15 Essential Korean Greetings Every Beginner Should Know

6 min read·January 22, 2026

Why Greetings Matter in Korean Culture

In Korean culture, greetings are far more than polite formalities. They signal respect, establish social hierarchy, and set the tone for every interaction. Korean has multiple speech levels, meaning the way you say hello changes depending on who you are speaking to. Using the wrong level can come across as rude or awkwardly formal. This guide covers the 15 greetings you will use most often, organized from the most universal to more specialized situations.

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Korean has seven speech levels, but in daily life, three matter most: formal polite (합쇼체), standard polite (해요체), and casual (반말). As a beginner, always default to standard polite (ending in -요) until you are explicitly invited to speak casually.

The Big Three: Greetings You Will Use Every Day

안녕하세요

annyeonghaseyo

Hello (standard polite)

💡The most versatile greeting. Works for any time of day, any situation, and anyone you are not extremely close with.

감사합니다

gamsahamnida

Thank you (formal)

💡The standard way to say thank you. Safe in all situations. For casual situations, use 고마워요 (gomawoyo).

죄송합니다

joesonghamnida

I am sorry (formal)

💡A sincere apology. For lighter situations like bumping into someone, 실례합니다 (sillyehamnida, "excuse me") also works.

Meeting and Parting

만나서 반갑습니다

mannaseo bangapseumnida

Nice to meet you (formal)

💡Used when meeting someone for the first time. A slightly softer version is 반가워요 (bangawoyo).

안녕히 가세요

annyeonghi gaseyo

Goodbye (said to someone leaving)

💡Literally "go in peace." Use this when you are staying and the other person is leaving.

안녕히 계세요

annyeonghi gyeseyo

Goodbye (said to someone staying)

💡Literally "stay in peace." Use this when you are the one leaving.

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The two goodbyes confuse many beginners. The trick: 가세요 contains 가 (to go) -- say it to the person going. 계세요 contains 계 (to stay) -- say it to the person staying. If both people are leaving, both say 안녕히 가세요.

Meal-Related Greetings

Food plays a central role in Korean culture, and there are dedicated phrases for before and after meals. Using these shows cultural awareness and will impress any Korean speaker you dine with.

잘 먹겠습니다

jal meokgesseumnida

I will eat well (said before eating)

💡Expresses gratitude to the person who prepared or is paying for the meal. Similar to "bon appetit" but directed at the host.

잘 먹었습니다

jal meogeosseumnida

I ate well (said after eating)

💡Thanks the cook or host after the meal. A sign of good manners.

Daily Life Expressions

실례합니다

sillyehamnida

Excuse me (polite)

💡Use when passing through a crowd, entering a room, or getting someone's attention politely.

잠시만요

jamsimanyo

Just a moment, please

💡Useful when you need someone to wait. Literally means "just a brief moment."

괜찮아요

gwaenchanayo

It is okay / I am fine

💡Incredibly versatile. Use to say "no thanks," "I am alright," or "it is not a problem."

수고하셨습니다

sugohasyeosseumnida

You worked hard / Good work

💡Said to colleagues or service workers to acknowledge their effort. Very common in Korean workplaces.

Casual Greetings (With Close Friends)

Once you have a close relationship with someone your age or younger, you can switch to casual speech (반말, banmal). Never use these with strangers, elders, or in professional settings.

안녕

annyeong

Hi / Bye (casual)

💡The casual form of both 안녕하세요 and the goodbye phrases. Used with close friends.

고마워

gomawo

Thanks (casual)

💡Casual version of 감사합니다. Only use with close friends or people younger than you.

미안해

mianhae

Sorry (casual)

💡Casual version of 죄송합니다. For friends and close acquaintances only.

Formality Levels at a Glance

The table below summarizes the three most common formality levels for the key greetings. When in doubt, use the middle column (standard polite).

Meaning	Casual (반말)	Standard Polite (해요체)	Formal (합쇼체)
Hello	안녕	안녕하세요	안녕하십니까
Thank you	고마워	고마워요	감사합니다
Sorry	미안해	미안해요	죄송합니다
Nice to meet you	반가워	반가워요	만나서 반갑습니다
Goodbye (to one leaving)	잘 가	잘 가요	안녕히 가세요
Goodbye (to one staying)	잘 있어	잘 있어요	안녕히 계세요
It is okay	괜찮아	괜찮아요	괜찮습니다

Pronunciation Tips for Common Mistakes

안녕하세요: The ㅎ in 녕하 connects smoothly -- it sounds like "an-nyeong-ha-se-yo," not "an-nyeong ha se yo" with pauses.
감사합니다: The ㅂ before ㄴ becomes an "m" sound -- pronounced "gam-sa-ham-ni-da," not "gam-sa-hab-ni-da."
괜찮아요: This word has a silent ㅎ -- it is pronounced "gwen-cha-na-yo," not "gwen-chan-ha-yo."
죄송합니다: The ㅚ vowel sounds close to "we" -- pronounced "jwe-song-ham-ni-da."
Practice the double ㄴ in 안녕 -- hold the "n" sound slightly longer than in English.

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The best way to nail Korean pronunciation is to listen and repeat. HangeulMate includes native-speaker audio for every phrase so you can hear exactly how each greeting sounds in natural conversation.

When to Use What: Quick Situations Guide

Situation	What to Say	Why
Entering a shop	안녕하세요	Standard polite greeting -- works everywhere
Receiving your order	감사합니다	Thank the server formally
Bumping into someone	죄송합니다 or 실례합니다	Apologize or excuse yourself politely
Meeting a friend's parent	안녕하세요, 만나서 반갑습니다	Polite hello + nice to meet you
Leaving a restaurant	잘 먹었습니다	Thank the staff for the meal
Texting your best friend	안녕! or ㅎㅇ	Casual -- ㅎㅇ is internet slang for 하이 (hi)
End of a work day	수고하셨습니다	Acknowledge your colleagues' hard work

Start Using These Today

These 15 greetings cover the vast majority of social situations you will encounter as a Korean learner. Start with the big three (안녕하세요, 감사합니다, 죄송합니다) and add more as you grow comfortable. Korean speakers genuinely appreciate foreigners who make the effort to greet them properly -- even imperfect pronunciation will earn you warm smiles and encouragement.

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Want to practice these greetings in context? HangeulMate's dialogue system lets you role-play real conversations like ordering at a cafe, introducing yourself, and saying goodbye -- all with audio, multiple-choice responses, and instant feedback.