Korean Honorifics: Polite and Casual Phrases
The Korean honorifics people use most are 감사합니다 (gamsahamnida, thank you, formal), 안녕하세요 (annyeonghaseyo, hello, polite) and the title 선생님 (seonsaengnim, teacher). Below are 32 phrases grouped in the order of a conversation, from working out who you are talking to through to goodbye. Many appear at two or three levels side by side.
Korean Polite and Casual Speech
Teaches everyday Korean messages at the formal, polite and casual speech levels, with a note on who each level is for. Covers greetings, titles, thanks, apologies, refusals and how to agree to speak casually.
32 cards with audio. Read them all free on the deck page.
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Work out who you are talking to
| Korean | Pronunciation | Meaning | Listen |
|---|---|---|---|
| 실례지만 혹시 나이가 어떻게 되세요? | sillyejiman hoksi naiga eotteoke doeseyo | Excuse me, but may I ask how old you are? 혹시 (by any chance) softens the question. Age helps decide which speech level to use, so it is a normal question in Korea when asked this way. Some people ask the birth year instead: 몇 년생이세요? (myeon nyeonsaengiseyo). | |
| 동갑이네요 | donggabineyo | We're the same age. Polite. People who find they are the same age often move to casual speech soon after. Usage varies: some count by birth year, some by school year. |
Greet
| Korean | Pronunciation | Meaning | Listen |
|---|---|---|---|
| 안녕하세요 | annyeonghaseyo | Hello. Polite (-yo ending). The safe default with strangers, staff, elders and new acquaintances, at any time of day. | |
| 안녕 | annyeong | Hi, or bye. Casual (banmal). Warm and normal with close friends, younger people and children. With a stranger or an elder it sounds too familiar. | |
| 처음 뵙겠습니다 | cheoeum boepgetseumnida | Nice to meet you (literally: I see you for the first time). Formal (-seumnida ending). Say it at a first meeting at work, or when you meet a partner's parents. | |
| 잘 부탁드립니다 | jal butakdeurimnida | I look forward to working with you (literally: please treat me well). Formal. The usual way to close a self-introduction at work or at a first meeting. English has no exact match. | |
| 잘 지내셨어요? | jal jinaesyeosseoyo | Have you been well? Polite, with the honorific -si-. Say it to an elder, a teacher or anyone you speak politely to after time apart. | |
| 잘 지냈어? | jal jinaesseo | How have you been? Casual. Say it to a close friend or someone younger. Between friends it sounds warm, not rude. |
Address them by title
| Korean | Pronunciation | Meaning | Listen |
|---|---|---|---|
| 선생님 | seonsaengnim | Teacher. Also the polite way to address a doctor and many instructors. In Korea people usually address seniors by title, not by first name. At work, use the job title plus -nim, such as timjangnim (team leader). | |
| 언니 | eonni | Older sister. A woman says it to her older sister and to a close older female friend, instead of her name. A man says nuna to an older woman. A woman says oppa to an older man. | |
| 형 | hyeong | Older brother. A man says it to his older brother and to a close older male friend, instead of his name. A man says nuna to an older woman. |
Ask or request
| Korean | Pronunciation | Meaning | Listen |
|---|---|---|---|
| 저기요 | jeogiyo | Excuse me. The normal, polite way to get a server's or staff member's attention in a restaurant or shop. It is not rude. | |
| 물 좀 주세요 | mul jom juseyo | Some water, please. Noun plus jom juseyo is the everyday polite request in shops and restaurants. | |
| 지금 통화 괜찮으세요? | jigeum tonghwa gwaenchaneuseyo | Is now a good time to talk? Polite and respectful. A courteous way to open a phone call to a client, a senior or someone you do not know well, right after yeoboseyo (hello). | |
| 네 | ne | Yes. Polite; use it with anyone you speak -yo to. Ye is a more formal variant. Staff also say ne to mean they heard you. | |
| 아니요 | aniyo | No. Polite. In speech it is often shortened to anyo. | |
| 응 | eung | Yeah. Casual yes, for close friends and younger people. The casual no is ani. |
Thank or apologize
| Korean | Pronunciation | Meaning | Listen |
|---|---|---|---|
| 감사합니다 | gamsahamnida | Thank you. Formal (-seumnida ending). The safe choice with strangers, staff, elders and at work. | |
| 고마워요 | gomawoyo | Thank you. Polite (-yo ending), a little warmer than gamsahamnida. Common with coworkers and acquaintances. With an elder or your boss, gamsahamnida is the safer choice. | |
| 고마워 | gomawo | Thanks. Casual. Say it to close friends, partners, siblings and younger people. In those relationships it sounds warm, not rude. | |
| 죄송합니다 | joesonghamnida | I'm sorry. Formal and respectful. Use it with elders, customers, your boss and strangers, or for a bigger mistake. | |
| 미안해요 | mianhaeyo | I'm sorry. Polite (-yo ending). Fine with peers and acquaintances. To someone senior, joesonghaeyo or joesonghamnida shows more respect. | |
| 미안해 | mianhae | Sorry. Casual. Say it to close friends, partners and younger people. | |
| 반말해서 죄송해요 | banmalhaeseo joesonghaeyo | Sorry for speaking casually. Polite. Say it if you slip into casual speech (banmal) with someone you should speak politely to. | |
| 잘 먹겠습니다 | jal meokgetseumnida | Thank you for the meal, said before eating. Formal. Say it when an elder or a host cooked or is paying. Between friends the casual form is jal meogeulge. | |
| 잘 먹었습니다 | jal meogeotseumnida | Thank you for the meal, said after eating. Formal. Say it to the host or to whoever paid when you finish. |
Refuse
| Korean | Pronunciation | Meaning | Listen |
|---|---|---|---|
| 괜찮습니다 | gwaenchanseumnida | No, thank you, or I'm fine. Formal. A polite way to refuse an offer of food, a drink or help. The polite -yo form is gwaenchanayo. |
Agree to switch to casual speech
| Korean | Pronunciation | Meaning | Listen |
|---|---|---|---|
| 말 편하게 해도 될까요? | mal pyeonhage haedo doelkkayo | May I speak casually with you? (literally: may I speak comfortably?) Polite. Ask it with someone your age or younger. With someone older, it is usually the older person who offers first. | |
| 그래, 편하게 해 | geurae, pyeonhage hae | Sure, speak casually with me. What an older friend or a peer says to accept, or to invite you to drop the -yo. The reply is casual itself: no -yo at the end is how you recognize casual speech. | |
| 우리 말 놓자 | uri mal nocha | Let's speak casually with each other (literally: let's put down our words). Casual. Say it to a friend your age or younger to offer casual speech. Some people keep -yo even when close; that is a choice, not coldness. |
Say goodbye
| Korean | Pronunciation | Meaning | Listen |
|---|---|---|---|
| 안녕히 가세요 | annyeonghi gaseyo | Goodbye (literally: go in peace). Polite. Say it to the person who is leaving while you stay. Staff say it to you as you leave a shop. | |
| 안녕히 계세요 | annyeonghi gyeseyo | Goodbye (literally: stay in peace). Polite. Say it when you are the one leaving, to the person who stays. |
Frequently asked questions
What are the Korean speech levels?
Everyday Korean uses three. Formal speech ends in -seumnida and fits work, service and first meetings. Polite speech ends in -yo and is the safe default with most adults. Casual speech, called banmal, drops the -yo and is for close friends and younger people.
Is casual Korean rude?
Not between people who have agreed to it. Friends, siblings and partners use banmal, and it sounds warm. It sounds rude when you use it with a stranger or an elder who has not invited it. Formal speech with a close friend can sound distant.
How do I know which level to use?
Start with polite -yo speech with any adult you do not know. Move to casual only when the other person offers or agrees. Age, job rank and how well you know each other usually decide the level.
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