Nice to Meet You in Korean: 만나서 반갑습니다

"Nice to meet you" in Korean is 만나서 반갑습니다 (mannaseo bangapseumnida). Pronounce it "man-na-seo bang-gap-seum-ni-da." This is the standard first-meeting phrase.

만나서 반갑습니다: Your Passport to a Great First Impression in Korea

In South Korea, the first impression isn't just important — it's absolutely decisive. Koreans even have an expression for it: 첫인상 (cheodinssang) — "first impression." And trust me, after 12 years in Seoul, I've had plenty of time to perfect (and especially to botch) this first impression many times over.

When I landed in Korea in 2014, I shook my future boss's hand with a firm French grip, looking him straight in the eye. He nearly fell off his chair. In Korea, first meetings work very differently.

Here's everything you need to know to nail your 첫인상.

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만나서 반갑습니다 (mannaseo bangapseumnida) — "Nice to Meet You"

This is THE standard phrase for "nice to meet you." Let's break it down:

• 만나서 (mannaseo) = "meeting you" (from the verb 만나다 — to meet)
• 반갑습니다 (bangapseumnida) = "I'm glad/pleased" (from the verb 반갑다 — to be glad to meet)

Literally: "Meeting you, I am pleased."

The Three Politeness Levels

My advice: When in doubt, always use the most polite form. Being too polite will never cause you problems in Korea. Being too casual, on the other hand...

I systematically use 만나서 반갑습니다 when meeting someone for the first time, even if the person looks my age. Better to start formal and relax the atmosphere afterward.

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The Perfect Introduction Sequence

In Korea, introducing yourself follows a nearly ritualized protocol. Here's the ideal sequence:

Step 1: The Greeting (인사 — insa)

You start with a bow (절 — jeol). The angle depends on context:

• 15° — Casual nod between colleagues
• 30° — Standard bow, most situations
• 45° — Very respectful (hierarchical superior, elderly person)
• 90° — Extremely formal (deep apologies, ceremonies)

When I started working in Korea, I never knew which angle to use. My colleague 준영 (Junyeong) gave me this advice: "Watch how others greet the person, and do the same." Wise words.

Step 2: The Introduction Phrase

— 안녕하세요. (annyeonghaseyo.) — Hello. — 만나서 반갑습니다. (mannaseo bangapseumnida.) — Nice to meet you. — 저는 [이름]입니다. (jeoneun [ireum]imnida.) — I am [name].

Step 3: Self-Introduction (자기소개 — jagisogae)

In Korea, you typically give more information than just your name. Here's a template:

— 안녕하세요. 저는 니콜라입니다. (annyeonghaseyo. jeoneun Nikolraimnida.) — Hello. I'm Nicolas. — 프랑스에서 왔습니다. (peurangseueseo watseumnida.) — I come from France. — 서울에서 살고 있습니다. (seouleseo salgo itseumnida.) — I live in Seoul. — 만나서 반갑습니다. 잘 부탁드립니다. (mannaseo bangapseumnida. jal butakdeurimnida.) — Nice to meet you. I look forward to working with you.

잘 부탁드립니다 (jal butakdeurimnida) is the perfect finishing touch. It's a formula meaning "please take care of me" or "I look forward to your kind consideration." It sounds odd translated literally, but in Korean, it's the pinnacle of politeness at a first meeting.

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Business Card Exchange (명함 교환 — myeongham gyohwan)

In professional settings, exchanging business cards is an art in Korea. Here are the rules:

How to Give Your Card

1. Always with two hands — Never one-handed. It's a sign of respect.
2. Text facing the recipient — They should be able to read your card without flipping it.
3. With a bow — Bow slightly while presenting.
4. Accompanied by: 제 명함입니다 (je myeonghamimnida) — "Here's my card."

How to Receive a Card

1. Always with two hands — Same rule.
2. Read it immediately — Don't shove it in your pocket! That's considered rude.
3. Comment on it — "Oh, you work at Samsung? Impressive."
4. Place it on the table — If you're in a meeting, place cards in front of you in the order people are seated.

My first week at a Korean company, I took my director's card with one hand and slipped it in my back pocket. I didn't know yet that I'd just committed a cultural crime. The silence that followed still haunts me.

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The Handshake (악수 — aksu)

Handshakes exist in Korea, but they have their own rules:

With a Superior or Elder

• Right hand to shake
• Left hand supporting your right forearm or elbow
• Gaze slightly lowered (no intense fixed eye contact)
• Pressure light — no French bone-crushing grip

Between Peers

• Normal handshake, but always accompanied by a bow.
• A smile is welcome.

Things to Avoid

— NEVER shake hands one-handed with someone older. — Don't squeeze too hard — it's perceived as aggressive. — Don't maintain intense eye contact — in Korea, a too-direct gaze can be seen as a challenge.

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Useful Phrases for First Meetings

Introducing Yourself

— 저는 [이름]이라고 합니다. (jeoneun [ireum]irago hamnida.) — My name is [name]. (formal) — [직업]을/를 하고 있습니다. ([jigeop]eul/reul hago itseumnida.) — I work as [job]. — [나라]에서 왔습니다. ([nara]eseo watseumnida.) — I come from [country].

Asking for Information

— 성함이 어떻게 되세요? (seongami eotteoke doeseyo?) — What's your name? (very polite) — 이름이 뭐예요? (ireumi mwoyeyo?) — What's your name? (more direct) — 어디에서 오셨어요? (eodieseo osyeosseoyo?) — Where are you from? — 무슨 일 하세요? (museun il haseyo?) — What do you do for a living?

The Age Question

— 나이가 어떻게 되세요? (naiga eotteoke doeseyo?) — How old are you? (polite) — 몇 살이에요? (myeot sarieyo?) — How old are you? (standard)

Important note: Asking someone's age at a first meeting is completely normal in Korea. It's not rude — it's actually necessary to know which politeness level to use. In Korean, the way you speak changes dramatically depending on your conversation partner's age.

The first time a stranger asked my age at a bar, I thought he was being rude. In fact, he just wanted to know if he should call me 형 (hyeong — older brother) or if I should call him 형.

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The 형/누나/오빠/언니 System

After determining age, Koreans use familial titles between friends:

If you're the same age, you're 동갑 (donggap — same age), and you can speak in 반말 (banmal — casual speech) after mutual agreement.

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The Classic Foreigner Mistake

The biggest mistake foreigners make? Being too casual too quickly. In Western cultures, we can switch to first names and informal speech fairly fast. In Korea, the switch from formal to informal is an event that must be proposed (usually by the older person):

— 말 편하게 하세요. (mal pyeonhage haseyo.) — Feel free to speak casually to me. — 우리 반말 할까요? (uri banmal halkkayo?) — Shall we switch to casual speech?

Until this invitation has been made, stay in 존댓말 (jondaenmal — respectful speech). Always.

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Summary: The First Meeting Checklist

1. ✅ Bow (30° standard)
2. ✅ Say 안녕하세요
3. ✅ Say 만나서 반갑습니다
4. ✅ Give your name and some context
5. ✅ End with 잘 부탁드립니다
6. ✅ Exchange business cards with two hands
7. ✅ Ask about age (it's normal!)
8. ✅ Use the right politeness level
9. ❌ Don't switch to casual speech immediately
10. ❌ Don't shake hands too firmly

Further reading: after 만나서 반갑습니다, keep the conversation going with the exact formula to introduce yourself in Korean and how to say "I'm French" and talk about your country.

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