Korean Greetings for Every Situation

Tap an expression to see its meaning and example.

  1. 처음 λ΅™κ² μŠ΅λ‹ˆλ‹€ (cheoeum boepgetseumnida) - "Nice to meet you" (first meeting)

    Pronounced roughly CHUH-eum bwep-ket-sseum-ni-da. A polite phrase used the first time you meet someone, usually paired with a self-introduction. Example: "처음 λ΅™κ² μŠ΅λ‹ˆλ‹€, κΉ€λ―Όμˆ˜μž…λ‹ˆλ‹€" -- "Nice to meet you, I'm Kim Min-su."

  2. 잘 λΆ€νƒλ“œλ¦½λ‹ˆλ‹€ (jal butakdeurimnida) - "I look forward to working with you"

    Pronounced jal boo-tak-deu-rim-ni-da. Said when asking for someone's goodwill or cooperation going forward, very common when starting a new job, project, or relationship. Example: "이번 ν”„λ‘œμ νŠΈλ₯Ό ν•¨κ»˜ν•˜κ²Œ λμŠ΅λ‹ˆλ‹€. 잘 λΆ€νƒλ“œλ¦½λ‹ˆλ‹€" -- "I'll be working with you on this project. I look forward to it."

  3. μˆ˜κ³ ν•˜μ…¨μŠ΅λ‹ˆλ‹€ (sugohasyeosseumnida) - "Thank you for your hard work"

    Pronounced soo-go-ha-syeot-sseum-ni-da. Acknowledges the effort someone put into a task, often said at the end of a workday. Example: "였늘 ν•˜λ£¨λ„ μˆ˜κ³ ν•˜μ…¨μŠ΅λ‹ˆλ‹€" -- "Thanks for your hard work today." Some consider it a bit awkward to say to someone senior to you, so it is often reserved for peers and those junior to you.

  4. λ‹€λ…€μ˜€κ² μŠ΅λ‹ˆλ‹€ / λ‹€λ…€μ˜€μ„Έμš” (danyeoogetseumnida / danyeooseyo) - "I'm off" / "Have a good trip"

    Pronounced da-nyuh-oh-get-sseum-ni-da and da-nyuh-oh-seyo. A greeting pair exchanged between someone leaving and someone seeing them off. Example: "학ꡐ λ‹€λ…€μ˜€κ² μŠ΅λ‹ˆλ‹€!" -- "I'm off to school!" "그래, 잘 닀녀와" -- "Okay, have a good day."

  5. 잘 λ¨Ήκ² μŠ΅λ‹ˆλ‹€ / 잘 λ¨Ήμ—ˆμŠ΅λ‹ˆλ‹€ (jal meokgetseumnida / jal meogeotseumnida) - "Thanks for the meal" (before/after eating)

    Pronounced jal muhk-get-sseum-ni-da before eating and jal muh-guht-sseum-ni-da after eating. Expresses gratitude around a meal. Example: "잘 λ¨Ήκ² μŠ΅λ‹ˆλ‹€!" before eating, and "잘 λ¨Ήμ—ˆμŠ΅λ‹ˆλ‹€, 정말 λ§›μžˆμ—ˆμ–΄μš”" -- "That was delicious, thank you" -- afterward.

  6. μ‹μ‚¬ν•˜μ…¨μ–΄μš”? (siksahasyeosseoyo?) - "Have you eaten?"

    Pronounced sik-sa-ha-syuht-ssuh-yo. Widely used as a casual way of asking how someone is doing, more than a literal question about whether they have eaten. Example: "μ˜€λžœλ§Œμ΄μ—μš”, μ‹μ‚¬ν•˜μ…¨μ–΄μš”?" -- "Long time no see -- have you eaten?"

  7. μ˜€λžœλ§Œμ΄μ—μš” (oraenmanieyo) - "Long time no see"

    Pronounced oh-rehn-mahn-ee-eh-yo. Said to express happiness at seeing someone after a while apart. Example: "정말 μ˜€λžœλ§Œμ΄μ—μš”! κ·Έλ™μ•ˆ 잘 μ§€λ‚΄μ…¨μ–΄μš”?" -- "It's really been a while! How have you been?"

  8. μ‘°μ‹¬νžˆ λ“€μ–΄κ°€μ„Έμš” (josimhi deureogaseyo) - "Get home safe"

    Pronounced jo-shim-hee deu-ruh-ga-seyo. Said when parting ways, wishing the other person a safe trip home. Example: "였늘 μ¦κ±°μ› μ–΄μš”, μ‘°μ‹¬νžˆ λ“€μ–΄κ°€μ„Έμš”" -- "I had a great time today -- get home safe."

Korean greetings change with the situation

Korean often has a specific set phrase for a specific moment -- meeting, parting, eating, or leaving the house -- rather than one all-purpose greeting. Even a common phrase like "annyeonghaseyo" (μ•ˆλ…•ν•˜μ„Έμš”) can feel more or less natural depending on whether you are meeting someone for the first time or seeing them again after a while, so learning these situational phrases makes conversations feel much more natural.

Formality level matters as much as the words themselves

Beyond which phrase to use, Korean greetings also shift in politeness level depending on who you are speaking to -- someone older, a stranger, or a close friend. As a general rule, sticking with the more formal "-seumnida/-seyo" style forms shown here is a safe choice with anyone you do not know well or anyone older than you.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it okay to say μˆ˜κ³ ν•˜μ…¨μŠ΅λ‹ˆλ‹€ (sugohasyeosseumnida) to someone senior to me?

It is natural to say to coworkers or people junior to you, but some consider it slightly awkward directed at someone senior, so it is generally safer to use a different greeting in that situation.

Is μ‹μ‚¬ν•˜μ…¨μ–΄μš”? (Have you eaten?) actually asking whether I have eaten?

Not usually -- it is mostly used as a set, friendly way of asking how someone is doing, similar to "how are you," rather than a literal question about your last meal.