Listen to the native speakers greeting each other, and then go ahead and practice saying each phrase aloud. Once you’re feeling confident with different ways to say hello in Korean you’ll learn some different ways to say goodbye in Korean as well.
Resources for further reading:
Greetings in Korean
It’s important to get the basics right, and the Korean people you meet will really appreciate your efforts. You know you’re saying it correctly if they keep talking, expecting you to keep up! Koreans, in general, are friendly and may expect the same approach from you. So be prepared to be greeted and greet them in return.
As in many other languages, in Korean, what you say and do to greet people depends on the time of the day, the occasion and the person you’re greeting. Just saying 안녕 (Annyeong) "Hello" is impolite. When you’re meeting someone for the first time, stretch out your right hand, and slightly bow. While this is being done, say 안녕하세요 (Annyeonghaseyo) "Hello" which literally means “Are you at peace?” Shaking and bowing at the same time is a custom but make sure to just clasp hands briefly.
안녕하세요 (Annyeonghaseyo) "Hello" is the most common greeting for someone you meet face to face. It can be used at any time of day and to anyone.
Practice Your Pronunciation With Rocket Record
After the first meeting, the next time you meet the same person, you probably don’t have to shake their hand again, unless that person is senior in position or age, or it’s been a while since you last saw them.
You can also say 안녕 (Annyeong) "Hello" but it is only strictly used between close friends and to younger people, as it is informal. Do not use it if you’re speaking to an older person.
That’s it for this lesson. Using different greetings will make you sound more fluent in Korean, and it will win you the respect of local people. Try to remember as many as you can!
If you liked this lesson on how to say hello in Korean, you might also like to know how to say where are you from in Korean, or some other basic Korean salutations to get the ice broken!
안녕히 가세요! (Annyeonghi gaseyo!) "Goodbye!"
Sujung Lee: Rocket Korean