How to Say Hi in Korean: The Hierarchy of Formality You Need to Know

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You may have heard 안녕 in Korean TV shows, songs, or from your friends. Nevertheless, did you know that saying it to someone you meet for the first time would be rude?

The Korean language has strict levels of politeness based on status and age, which makes it a hierarchical language. I've got you covered in this list of Korean greetings.

Most common Korean greeting phrases

1. 안녕하세요 (polite)

네~ 안녕하세요 is the common response to 안녕하세요. (Image)

It is the more common greeting for hello. You can use 안녕하세요 at all times of the day.

2. 안녕하십니까? (formal)

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This greeting is the very formal version of “안녕하세요”. It's preferred in the news or speeches in Korea and when you want to demonstrate a high form of respect to someone you meet for the first time.

3. 잘부탁드립니다 (formal)

Meaning “please look after me,” this polite Korean greeting is usually said with a bow. For example, when dropping off your kid at daycare, you would say 잘부탁드립니다 to ask them to look after your child.

4. 잘 잤어요? (casual)/안녕히 주무셨어요 (formal)

Being "did you sleep well?” in English, the phrase 잘 잤어요? is made up of the verb 자다 (“to sleep”) and the word 잘 (“well”). Its formal version is 안녕히 주무셨어요? Usually, you would use 안녕히 주무셨어요? with someone who is much older than you or you don’t know well.

You can respond 응, 넌 (or 응 넌 어때?). (Image)

5. 안녕 (casual)

This greeting word means “Hi” / “Hello” and is most commonly used among friends, family members, and kids. Still, 안녕 is more popular among adult women than adult men who would rarely use it (considered improper for them to use an expression used by children) unless talking to a child. 

Please note that 안녕 means both "hi" and "goodbye." Yet, you only use 안녕하세요 to mean "hello." When saying goodbye to someone, you would say “안녕히 가세요" (formal) - "잘가" (informal) (as they're going away from you) or “안녕히 계세요" (formal) - "잘있어" (informal) (as you're going away from them).

6. 안요 (casual)

You can use it to mean “hello” or “hi.” 안요 is a shortened form of 안녕하세요.

7. 여보세요 (polite)

It means “hello” when you're answering the phone. Koreans use it when they're not sure who they're talking to.

8. 좋은 아침이다 (casual)/좋은아침이에요 (informal polite)/좋은 아침입니다 (very formal)

The Korean greeting phrases mean “Good morning.”
- 좋은 아침이야/좋은 아침이다: Informal and casual ways to say to friends younger or around your age
- 좋은 아침이에요: Informal and polite way to say to anyone, including strangers, friends, and someone younger or older
- 좋은 아침입니다: It's a formal honorific

9. 오랜만이에요 (polite)

Should you have not seen someone in a while, say 오랜만이에요 to greet them. You may adjust it to 오랜만에 as an informal expression for close friends or 오랜만입니다 to get more formal (for instance, to your boss).

You can say 네, 오랜만이에요, 만난지 한 1년 된 것 같아요 to reply to this greeting. (Image)

10. 만나서 반갑습이에요 (casual)/만나서 반갑습니다 (formal)

You can use 만나서 반갑습니다 ("nice to meet you") to greet someone you meet for the first time. In more casual settings, 만나서 반갑습이에요 ("it's nice to meet you") may work. Else, just say 반갑습니다 ("nice to meet ya").

11. 무슨 일이야? (casual)

Meaning “what’s up?”, this slangy greeting should be used with your friends (i.e., inside your social circle). The purpose is to greet them or ask what they’re doing.

12. 요즘 어때? (casual)/어떻게 지내세요? (polite)

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어떻게 지내세요? means “how are you?” It's a direct way to get a real answer out of someone. Meanwhile, as 요즘 어때? is a more casual way of saying "how're you?" or "how's it going?", it's often used with friends.

13. 밥 먹었어/ 밥 먹었어요? (casual)

They mean "did you eat?" in Korean greeting. Use it with those you know well already.

14. 야! (casual)

Meaning “yo!”, it's in conversations with close friends who are the same age as you. You can also use it to exclaim “hey!” or “wow!”

15. 얼굴 보니까 좋다 (casual)

This Korean greeting means “it’s good to see your face.” It is a great way to say hello to young adults.

16. 하이 (casual and cute)

Use this expression when you're super close to the person you're talking with. It suits text messaging contexts as well. Besides, like LOL short for 'Laugh Out Loud',ㅎㅇ (ha-i) is short for 하이 and is used while texting with your very close friends.

17. 왔어요? (casual but polite)/)왔습니까? (formal)

This means "Oh you've come?"

18. 헤이 이쁜이 (casual, informal)

헤이 이쁜이, 헤이 아가씨, or 헤이 섹시[ 쎅씨 are how to say hi sexy in Korean. But most Koreans don't want to use these words.

How do you say “hello, how are you?” in Korean?

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안녕하세요, 잘 지냈어요? is the standard way. For a more formal greeting, you can use 안녕하십니까?, 잘 지내셨어요?

Greetings are beyond words

When saying hello, based on where you are (e.g., saying hello to elders or when introduced to someone formally for the first time), you may bow to or shake hands with those you're greeting. Don't forget to close your eyes as you bow, which might otherwise be considered rude.

 
You can attach 님 to that person’s title to get more formal - for instance, 선생님 for “teacher.” And when you're closer to them, you can say their first name with 씨.

How do you know which Korean greetings you should use?

Again, based on how well you know that person, their age, and social status (boss, teacher, etc.), some greetings will be more appropriate compared to others. For example, with family and friends, 안녕 and 밥 먹었어요? are preferred. However, in more formal situations, such as school, work, or when greeting strangers, you may say 안녕하세요.

 
The rule of thumb is:
- Use the formal form in formal situations
- Use the polite form with anyone
- Use the casual form with close friends.