Korean greetings are necessary etiquette to everyday Korea. While they have the same elements with other greetings in the world, they are not mere repetitions but somewhat have another layer of meanings. There is no translation for just one Korean greeting which means we should know how they are used in different situations and towards different people.
Today I want to let you know about greetings in Korean language. You know, "Hello" is not enough in Korean because Korean people are kind and thoughtful. There are many ways of greeting in Korean language that have special meanings between Koreans. And you should learn them before you visit Korea.
No. | English Phrase | Korean Phrase | Romanisation |
|---|---|---|---|
1. | (Lit) Are you at peace?/How are you doing? | 안녕하세요? | Annyeong haseyo |
2. | It's nice to meet you. | 만나서 반갑습니다. | Mannaseo bangapseupnida |
3. | I'm glad, (to meet you) too. | 저도 반갑습니다 | Jeodo bangapseupnida |
4 | (Lit) I'm seeing you (for the) first time/How do you do? | 처음 뵙겠습니다. | Cheom bueupkess seupnida |
5 | (Lit) I think I've seen you somewhere/You look familiar. | 어디서 뵌 것 같아요. | Eodiseo bun geot gatta yo |
6 | I've been wanting to meet you. | 만나 뵙고 싶었습니다. | Manna buepko sipeossseupnida |
7 | I've been wanting to meet you for a long time. | 오래전부터 만나 뵙고 싶었습니다. | Oraejeonbuteo manna buepko sipeossseupnida. |
8 | I look forward to your kind cooperation/ I look forward to working with you. | 잘 부탁드립니다. | Chal butakdeuribnida |
9 | I've heard many great sayings about you. | 좋은 말씀 많이 들었습니다. | Chuheun marsseum manhi deureossseubnida |
10 | (Lit) You are more cool in person!/You look better in person. | 실물이 더 멋지네요! | Silmuli deo meojinaeyo |
11 | I'm flattered. | 과찬입니다 | Gwachanibnida |
12 | It's an honor to meet you. | 만나서 영광입니다. | Mannaseo yeonggwangibnida |
13 | It's my honor to meet you . Pleasure is all mine. | 저야말로요. | Jeoyamalroyo. |
14 | We've finally met! | 드디어 만났군요! | Deudieo mannagunyo. |
15 | Thank you for contacting me. | 연락 주셔서 감사합니다. | Yeonrak jusyeoseo Gamsahabnida |
16 | Aren't you Mr. Kim Cheol-su by any chance? | 혹시 김철수 씨 아니세요? | Holsi Kim Cheol su ssi aniseyo ? |
17 | (Lit) How long has this been? | 이게 얼마 만 이죠? | Ige eolma man ijyo? |
18 | Who in the world is this? | 이게 도대체 누구예요? | Ige dodaeche nuguyeyo? |
19 | Do you remember me? | 저 기억하세요? | Jeo gieokhaseyo ? |
20 | I've changed a lot. right? | 많이 변했죠? | Manhi byeonhaejyo ? |
21 | Not at all! It's the same as before! | 전혀요. 예전 그대로 네요! | Jeonhyeoyo. Yejeon geudaero neyo ! |
22 | Did you sleep well ? | 안녕히 주무셨어요? | Annyeong-hi jumusyeosseoyo ? |
23 | Have you had a meal? | 식사 하셨어요? | Sik-sa hasyeosseoyo ? |
24 | Did you eat breakfast / lunch / dinner? | 아침 / 점심 / 저녁 먹었어요? | Achim/ Jeomsim / Jeonyeok/ meogeosseoyo ? |
25 | I ate just now. | 저는 방금 먹었어요. | Jeon-eun bang-eum meok-eoss-eoyo. |
26 | (Your) parents are healthy (= doing well), too? | 부모님도 건강 하시죠? | Bumonim-do geon-gang hasi-jyo ? |
27 | Thanks to you. | 덕분에요. | Deok-buneyo. |
28 | (Lit) How's (your) health? = How are you feeling? | 건강은 어때요? | Geon-gang-eun eottaeyo ? |
29 | I'm too tired. | 너무 피곤 해요. | Neomu pigon haeyo. |
30 | Are you very busy? | 많이 바쁘세요 ? | Manhi bappeuseyo ? |
31 | There is a lot of homework / work. | 숙제가 / 업무가 많아요. | Sukjega/ eobmuga manhayo. |
32 | Don't work too hard. | 무리하지 마세요. | Murihaji maseyo. |
33 | You're right. I will. | 맞아요. 그럴게요 | Majayo. Geureolgeyo. |
34 | (Lit) Stay peacefully/ Take care/ Good-bye. | 안녕히 계세요. | Annyeonghi gyeseyo. |
35 | (Lit) Leave peacefully/ Take care. / Good-bye. | 안녕히 가세요. | Annyeong-hi ga-se-yo. |
36 | Meet (= see) you again next time. | 다음에 또 만나요. | Daeume tto mannayo. |
37 | I'll text (you). | 문자 할게요. | Munja halgeyo. |
38 | It was fun today. | 오늘 즐거웠습니다. | Oneul jeulgeowo-seub-nida |
39 | Stay well until then./Take care until then. | 그때까지 잘 지내세요. | Geutae-kkaji jal jinae-seyo. |
40 | Stay healthy! | 건강히 지내세요! | Geong-gang-hab-nida |
41 | Let's keep in touch ! | 연락합시다! | Yeo-rak-hab-nida |
42 | Please look after me | 잘 부탁드립니다 | Jal butag deurimnida |
These phrases are to be used while talking to an elderly person or strangers who are not close associates.
These phrases can simultaneously be used while talking to someone younger or the same age as you. You simply need to drop the honorific form 요 and 습니다.
Following are the list of informal ways of greeting.
No. | English Phrase | Korean Phrase | Romanisation |
|---|---|---|---|
43 | (Lit ) Are you at peace? = How are you doing? | 안녕 | Annyeong |
44 | It's nice to meet you. | 만나서 반가워 | Mannaseo bangawo |
45 | I'm glad, (to meet you) too. | 저도 반가워 | Jeodo bangawo |
46 | (Lit) I'm seeing you (for the) first time. | 처음 봐 | Cheo-eum bwa |
47 | (Lit) I think I've seen you somewhere./ You look familiar | 어디서 본 것 같아/어디서 본 적 있는 것 같아 | Eodiseo bwin geot gatta/ Eeodiseo bonjeok issneun geot gatta |
48 | I look forward to ( something ) | 잘 부탁해 | Chal butakhae |
49 | I've heard many great sayings about you. | 좋은 말 많이 들었어. | Joheun mal manhi deureosseo |
50 | We've finally met! | 드디어 만났구나 | Deudieo manna-guna |
51 | Thank you for contacting me. | 연락 주셔서 감사해 | Yeolrak jusyeoseo kamsahae. |
52 | Aren't you Kim Cheol-su by any chance? | 혹시 김철수 아니야 ? | Hokshi kim chol su aniya ? |
53 | How long has it been ? | 이게 얼마 만이지? | Ige eolma maniji ? |
54 | Who in the world is this? | 이게 도대체 누구야 ? | Ige dodaeche nuguya ? |
55 | Do you remember me? | 나 기억해? | Na gieokhae |
56 | I've changed a lot right? | 많이 변했지? | Manhi byenhaessjin? |
57 | Not at all ! It's the same as before ! | 아니, 예전 그대로야. | Ani, yejeon keudaeroya. |
58 | Did you sleep well ? | 잘 잤어 ? | Chal chasseo ? |
59 | I slept well, too. | 나도 잘 잤어 | Jeodo chal chasseo. |
60 | Have you had a meal? | 밥 먹었어 ? | Bhap meokeosseo ? |
61 | Did you eat breakfast / lunch / dinner? | 아침 / 점심 / 저녁 먹었어? | Achim/jeomsim/jeonyeok meogeosseo ? |
62 | I ate just now. | 방금 먹었어. | Banggeum meogeosseo. |
63 | Thanks to you. | 덕분에. | Dokbune. |
64 | I'm too tired. | 너무 피곤해. | Neomu pigonhae |
65 | Are you very busy? | 많이 바빠? | Manhi bappa ? |
66 | I'm up to my neck with homework / work. | 숙제가 / 업무가 많아. | Sukjega/eobmuga manha |
67 | Don't work too hard. | 무리하지 마라 | murihaji mara |
68 | You're right. I will. | 맞아. 그럴게. | Maja. Geureolge. |
69 | Goodbye | 안녕 | An-nyeong |
70 | Let meet again next time. | 다음에 또 만나자 . | Daeume tto mannaja |
71 | I'll text (you). | 문자 할게 | Munja halge |
72 | Stay healthy ! | 잘 지네 ! | Jal jine |
73 | Let's keep in touch ! | 연락해 ! | Yeol-rak hae |
74 | Hey | 야 | Ya! |
75 | Please look after me | 잘 부탁해 | Jal butak hae |
You are in Korea and you don’t know any Korean phrases? That can be a problem. There are some essential words and sentences to learn before your trip.
If you are a foreign traveler to Korea, it might be hard to understand how to order some food at a restaurant. These will help you to learn how to eat at a restaurant, and also where you can go for different purposes.
Sounds Korean language is difficult to speak. Nothing is perfect but I would have to say that Korean is one of the most difficult languages to learn than any other language in the world.
If you have any doubts or suggestions. Comment down below.
Thank you !
