Learning the simplest ways to say hello is useful in any language. However, for a conservative culture like that of Korea, it is even more important to greet other people appropriately, so as not to offend them. The most commonly used word for "hello" in Korean between two adults who do not know each other is 안녕하세요 (an-nyeong-ha-se-yo). You can use some more informal terms when talking to friends and family, while you can use other types of greetings based on the context you are in and the time of day.
Steps
Method 1 of 2: Demonstrate Education and Respect
Step 1. Use 안녕하세요 (an-nyeong-ha-se-yo) when meeting someone for the first time
If you are an adult and talk to someone you don't know, 안녕하세요 (an-nyeong-ha-se-yo) is the best choice for saying "hello". This greeting is considered quite formal and shows respect for the person you are addressing.
- You should also use this greeting in all situations where it is important to maintain a certain formality, for example at work, even with people with whom you have a friendly relationship.
- Children also use this greeting when addressing adults.
Advise:
The syllable 요 (yo) at the end of the greeting indicates that it is a formal term. Whenever you see 요 (yo), you will know that the word or phrase is considered polite and is generally acceptable among adults to signal due respect.
Step 2. Use 안녕 (an-nyeong) when talking to children
안녕 (an-nyeong) is a shortened and more informal version of the classical greeting 안녕하세요 (an-nyeong-ha-se-yo). This expression is most commonly used among children and members of the same family. However, adults rarely use it except to target children.
안녕 (an-nyeong) is also used between friends. Among adults over the age of 30, you will usually only hear this expression among women. Men use it very rarely, except when talking to children. In Korean society, it is usually considered inappropriate for an adult man to use expressions adopted by children
Advise:
안녕 (an-nyeong) is used as both "hello" and "goodbye". Conversely, 안녕하세요 (an-nyeong-ha-se-yo) is used only as "hello".
Step 3. Try other informal greetings if you are a grown man
Koreans would never greet their friends with 안녕 (an-nyeong) because it is a phrase used by women and children. However, there are many other phrases that adult men can use to greet their friends less formally than 안녕하세요 (an-nyeong-ha-se-yo), without giving up good manners. These expressions include:
- 반갑다! (ban-gap-da): This phrase means "good to see you" and is the most common informal greeting used between male and adult friends. You will also hear this from teenagers and children.
- 잘 지냈어? (jal ji-ne-sseo?): this phrase, similar to "how are you?", asks "were you okay?". This is also a very common expression among adult male friends and is also used by teenagers and children.
- 오랜만 이야 (o-ren-ma-ni-ya): "We haven't seen each other in a long time", used between adult male friends who haven't seen each other for a long time. Even children and adolescents use it in the same context.
- 얼굴 보니까 좋다 (ul-gul bo-ni-gga jo-ta): "It's nice to see your face", a conversational and informal greeting used exclusively between adult friends.
Step 4. Pay attention to 안녕하십니까 (an-nyeong-ha-shim-ni-ka) in a professional environment
안녕하십니까 (an-nyeong-ha-shim-ni-ka) is an extremely formal way of saying "hello" in Korean and is typically only used by a business owner who wants to show reverence for their customers. He conveys a lot of respect and deference.
- While you won't be greeted like this in every shop or restaurant you walk into when in Korea, you will likely hear this expression in more luxurious places. Airliners staff will also greet you like this on Korean airlines.
- They might greet you like this while you are in Korea, but you will rarely have the opportunity to use this phrase if you don't work in contact with customers. Using this expression in other situations would only make the person you met uncomfortable.
Step 5. Accompany the formal greetings with a bow
When you meet a person and use a formal greeting, bend your head and waist at an angle of approximately 45 degrees, looking down. If you have chosen a formal greeting with a person you know, only bend at 15 ° or 30 °.
- The depth of the bow varies by person and by context. You should always reserve deeper bows for those in a position of authority or for those older than you.
- Never look the other person in the eye while bowing. This gesture is considered rude.
Method 2 of 2: Use other types of greetings
Step 1. Answer the phone with 여 보세요 (yeo-bo-se-yo)
여 보세요 (yeo-bo-se-yo) is a way of saying "hello", but it is only used to answer the phone. In person or in any other context, it would be considered inappropriate or even rude.
Since the sentence ends with 요 (yo), it is considered polite and is appropriate no matter who is on the other side of the line
Step 2. Switch to 좋은 아침 (jo-eun a-chim) early in the morning
Contrary to what happens in Italian and other languages, in Korean there are no ways to say hello that depend on the time of day. However, in the early morning you can use 좋은 아침 (jo-eun a-chim), which literally means "good morning".
People will understand you if you use this greeting, but it is not a common expression. It is best used with people you know relatively well, especially when one of them has greeted you like this
Step 3. Greet with 만나서 반갑 습니다 (man-na-se-o ban-gap-seum-ni-da) when you are introduced to someone you don't know
만나서 반갑 습니다 (man-na-se-o ban-gap-seum-ni-da) roughly means "nice to meet you". If you meet someone in a formal or professional setting, this is the term to use.
- Don't forget bowing while you say hello, if you haven't already.
- This phrase is also appropriate when you meet someone who seems older than you or is in a position of authority.
Step 4. Try 만나서 반가워요 (man-na-se-o ban-ga-wo-yo) if you meet someone your age or younger
만나서 반가워요 (man-na-se-o ban-ga-wo-yo) is the more informal version of 만나서 반갑 습니다 (man-na-se-o ban-gap-seum-ni-da) and always means "pleasure to meet you". This expression is appropriate when you are introduced to someone your age or younger than you.
Remember to pay attention to the context as well as the age of the person you greet. If you meet a peer in a formal or professional setting, you should usually use 만나서 반갑 습니다 (man-na-se-o ban-gap-seum-ni-da) anyway. 만나서 반가워요 (man-na-se-o ban-ga-wo-yo) is appropriate in informal social settings, for example when you are introduced to a friend of a friend
Cultural Council:
if you are not sure which level of formality to use, always choose the higher one. Nobody will scold you if you express yourself too politely or formally, while you may offend the other person by being too informal.
