What Does 안녕하세요 (Annyeonghaseyo) Mean in Korean?
10-Second Answer
안녕하세요 (annyeonghaseyo) is the standard polite Korean greeting — "hello." It literally asks "Are you at peace?" (안녕 = peace/well-being), works at any time of day, and pairs naturally with a small bow. The casual version between close friends is just 안녕 (annyeong).
Quick Examples
안녕하세요! 처음 뵙겠습니다.
annyeonghaseyo! cheoeum boepgesseumnida.
Hello! Nice to meet you (for the first time).
안녕하세요, 주문하시겠어요?
annyeonghaseyo, jumunhasigesseoyo?
Hello, would you like to order?
Staff greeting customers.
교수님, 안녕하세요.
gyosunim, annyeonghaseyo.
Hello, professor.
Polite greeting to someone above you — add a bow.
One Greeting, All Day Long
Korean has no everyday good morning / good afternoon / good evening split. 안녕하세요 covers them all — morning meeting, afternoon shop visit, evening class. (좋은 아침 'good morning' exists but is an office-culture borrowing, not the default.)
| Form | Politeness | Use with |
|---|---|---|
| 안녕 (annyeong) | Casual | Close friends, children — also means 'bye' |
| 안녕하세요 (annyeonghaseyo) | Polite — the default | Almost everyone |
| 안녕하십니까 (annyeonghasimnikka) | Formal | Military, news anchors, very formal business |
When unsure, 안녕하세요 is never wrong. Koreans don't expect foreigners to calibrate perfectly — but they always notice the effort of the bow that comes with it: a small nod is enough.
Common Mistakes
Mistake #1 — Using 안녕 with strangers
Bare 안녕 is casual speech (반말). To adults you don't know, it can sound rude — stick with 안녕하세요.
Mistake #2 — Expecting a time-of-day greeting
Don't translate 'good evening' literally. One greeting fits all hours.
Mini Quiz
1. You walk into a shop in Seoul. What do you say?
2. What does 안녕하세요 literally ask?
3. Which greeting works at 9 PM?
Related Knowledge
Learn Next
The casual half of the greeting system — and the only Korean word that means both hi AND bye.
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Start today's study →Last updated: 2026-08-10 · Written and reviewed by a native Korean speaker.