Korean Greetings People Actually Use

Polite, and it works any time of day with anyone you don't know well: staff, neighbors, coworkers and elders.

You hear it from news anchors, in speeches, in the military and in some company greetings. In everyday talk it sounds stiff.

Casual speech (banmal) for close friends, younger people and kids, and it also means bye.

Borrowed from English and common among young friends, especially in texts.

Casual, for a friend you haven't seen in a while. The polite form is 오랜만이에요 (oraenmanieyo).

For a friend after time apart, not every day.

A friendly check-in between friends and family, and a common way to open a text. It shows care and isn't always an invitation.

A common way to open a text to a friend.

How friends and family greet someone who just arrived, often with 어 (eo, oh) in front.

Polite, with the honorific -si-, for an elder, a teacher or anyone you haven't seen in a while.

A polite catch-up question after a gap, often started with 요즘 (yojeum, these days).

The usual polite answer.

An honest, polite so-so.

A polite check-in with coworkers, elders and neighbors around lunchtime. 식사하셨어요? (siksahasyeosseoyo?) asks about any meal.

Usually right after 안녕하세요, at a formal first meeting such as a business meeting or meeting a partner's parents.

A standard line in a self-introduction, often as 만나서 반갑습니다 (mannaseo bangapseumnida).

Friendlier than 반갑습니다, for a new acquaintance at a casual event.

The usual way to close a self-introduction at work or school, often with 앞으로 (apeuro, from now on) in front.

Said at the end of a workday, a meeting or a project.

Said to staff or coworkers who keep working when you leave, such as a shop clerk. Many people find it rude to say to a senior.

Said when you leave the office before your seniors.

Used to answer or start a call. In person it is a sharp 'hello? hey!' to get attention, and it can sound rude.

Polite. Say it when the other person is the one leaving.

Polite. Say it when you leave and the other person stays, as when you leave someone's home or office.

Literally go well. Friends often add 조심히 들어가 (josimhi deureoga), get home safe.

Literally go in. It often ends a polite phone call. When you part in person, people say 조심히 들어가세요 (josimhi deureogaseyo).

Casual, for friends you will see again but have no plan with yet.

Polite, for coworkers and classmates, and spelled 봬요 rather than 뵈요.

Honorific, said to parents, grandparents and hosts before they go to bed.

For friends, a partner or someone younger, and to end a late text chat.

Literally, receive lots of luck in the new year. People say it around January 1 and again at Seollal, the Lunar New Year.