Hello in Korean: 안녕하세요 and 7 Other Ways to Greet

The Day I Said 안녕하세요 to My Boss and He Laughed

My first week at a Korean company in 2015, I said 안녕하세요 to my director in the elevator. He smiled politely. Later, a colleague whispered: "For the director, use 안녕하십니까. Or even just a silent bow."

That's when I understood: in Korea, "hello" isn't a word, it's a system.

The 8 Ways to Say Hello in Korean

1. 안녕하세요 (annyeonghaseyo) — Standard Polite

The Swiss army knife. Good for strangers, shopkeepers, same-age acquaintances.

2. 안녕하십니까 (annyeonghasimnikka) — Very Formal

Used at work with superiors, speeches, news broadcasts, military.

💡 From Seoul: At big Korean companies (Samsung, LG), employees say 안녕하십니까 to superiors in the morning. Not 안녕하세요.

3. 안녕 (annyeong) — Casual

Between same-age friends, among young people.

4. The Silent Bow (목례)

Sometimes Koreans say nothing at all — just a slight head nod. Common in office hallways with high-ranking people.

5. 어디 가세요? (eodi gaseyo?) — "Where Are You Going?"

A greeting disguised as a question. When a Korean neighbor asks this, they don't actually want to know. Just say "네, 좀 나가요" (yes, going out a bit).

6. 밥 먹었어요? (bap meogeosseoyo?) — "Have You Eaten?"

Another disguised greeting. Nobody's actually asking about your meal.

7. 여보세요 (yeoboseyo) — Phone greeting

Universal telephone greeting.

No Morning/Afternoon/Evening Distinction

Korean doesn't differentiate greetings by time of day. 안녕하세요 works anytime. However:

• 수고하셨습니다 — Said when leaving the office: "You've worked hard"

Mistakes to Avoid

1. Using 안녕 with older people: it's casual speech, therefore rude
2. Forgetting the bow: verbal greetings come with a slight bow
3. Ignoring hierarchy: use 안녕하십니까 with superiors at work

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