Good Morning in Korean: Do Natives Say "Good Morning"?

Korean is one of the languages that doesn't have time-specific greetings like "good morning," "good afternoon," or "good evening." Instead, they have different expressions to use based on the level of formality and the person you are greeting. Here, I explore these expressions and when to use them.

Apparent but awkward expressions

For a casual and informal greeting with friends or kids, you can use:

좋은 아침 (Joeun achim [tʃoɯn achim])

좋은 아침이야. (Joeun achimiya [tʃoɯn achimija])

For adults, the informal yet polite expression is:

좋은 아침이에요. (Joeun achimieyo [tʃoɯn achimiejo])

The formal and polite expression used by Koreans when interacting with strangers, older people, or people in higher positions is:

좋은 아침입니다. (Joeun achimimnida [tʃoɯn achimimnida])

Remember: Though Koreans don't use this kind of greeting in normal daily interactions, it is considered polite to use it when talking to someone at work or in a professional setting.

Real-life expressions

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Again, Koreans do not differentiate greetings based on the time of day but use other expressions to greet people. Here are some standard expressions and when to use them:

For a casual and informal greeting with friends or kids, you can use:

안녕? (Anneyong? [annjʌŋ])

For adults, the informal yet polite expression is:

안녕하세요. (Annyeonghaseyo [annjʌŋɦasejo])

The formal and polite expression used by Koreans when interacting with strangers, older people, or people in higher positions is:

안녕하십니까. (Annyeonghasimnikka [annjʌŋɦaɕimnik͈a])

Remember: These expressions are all-encompassing and can be used throughout the day when meeting someone.

How to say good morning in Korean: Another expression

Korean does have an expression that closely translates to "Good Morning" in English. It is used to greet someone who just woke up:

잘 잤어? (Jal jasseo? [tʃal dʒas͈ʌ])

안녕히 주무셨어요? (Annyeonghi jumusyeosseoyo [annjʌŋɦi dʒumuɕ͈jʌs͈ʌjo])

안녕히 주무셨습니까? (Annyeonghi jumusyeosseumnikka [annjʌŋɦi dʒumuɕ͈jʌs͈ɯmnik͈a])

Remember: This expression is only used in the morning when someone first wakes up. When using the expression "Jal janni?" please be mindful that it is only appropriate when speaking to children in a highly informal setting. If you're young, never use the "-니" form to your elders as it is considered disrespectful.

Different ways to respond to a Korean "good morning" greeting

Depending on the situation and your relationship with the person, there are different ways to respond to "good morning" in Korean.

- You can say "안녕하세요" (annyeonghaseyo), which means "hello" or "good day" politely and formally.

- 좋은 아침입니다 (jo-eun achimimnida) - meaning "good morning" in a formal and polite way

- 안녕 (annyeong) - meaning "hi" or "hello" in a casual way, when you are familiar with the person

- 피곤해요 (pigonhaeyo) 

This expression means ‘I am tired’ and is often used as a response to a ‘good morning’ greeting. This indicates the person had a rough night, it’s ideal for you to instead show empathy and understanding but offer some refreshments.

- 어쨌든 좋은 아침입니다 (eojjaetdeun jo-eun achimimnida) - meaning "anyways, good morning" in a situation where you want to add comment or information to your greeting.

Takeaway

Knowing how to say "good morning" in Korean is an essential part of the Korean language in social and professional settings. Use the appropriate expression based on the social setting, the person you’re meeting, and the occasion to show respect and politeness while engaging in small talk~