EkGuru › Languages › Korean › Course › Korean Greetings and Introductions

Korean Greetings and Introductions

Written by: authorship not independently recorded. Maintained by Prakash. Reviewed by: not recorded. Updated: legacy editorial date unknown. Editorial policy and corrections.

Draft: not yet reviewed by a native speaker. Existing availability and indexing are preserved by owner instruction; that is not an editorial approval. Suggest a correction.

🔊 Tap any speaker button to hear the words on this page spoken. Too fast or slow? Use the speed button at the bottom-right of the page.

Say 안녕하세요 properly, introduce yourself, bow and exchange with two hands — with 입니다 from the first lesson.

안녕하세요 — are you at peace?

안녕하세요 (annyeonghaseyo) literally asks "are you at peace?" — it serves morning, noon and night. The casual 안녕 (annyeong) is for friends and juniors ONLY; using it to a stranger insults. On the phone: 여보세요 (yeoboseyo). Leaving: 안녕히 가세요 (go in peace — said by the stayer) vs 안녕히 계세요 (stay in peace — said by the leaver). Mix them and natives laugh kindly.

Introducing yourself

The template: 안녕하세요. 저는 라비입니다. 인도에서 왔습니다. 만나서 반갑습니다. (I am Ravi. I came from India. Pleased to meet you.) 저는…입니다 (jeoneun…imnida) is the humble-polite "I am" — 저 humbles the self, 입니다 elevates the sentence. Family name first: 김민준 is Mr Kim. Asking names: 성함이 어떻게 되세요? (honorific — what is your name?).

Bowing and two hands

Greet with a short bow from the waist — nodding alone reads as curt. Give and receive EVERYTHING (cards, money, gifts) with two hands, or the right hand supported by the left. Business cards are received, studied aloud, and placed on the table — never written on or pocketed mid-meeting. Pouring drinks: two hands for elders, always; receive with two hands and turn aside to sip.

Thanks, sorry and goodbye

감사합니다 (gamsahamnida) is full thanks; 고마워요 is its warm younger sibling. Sorry: 죄송합니다 (formal) / 미안해요 (soft). Excuse me: 저기요 / 실례합니다. Goodbye splits by who leaves: stayer says 안녕히 가세요, leaver says 안녕히 계세요. At night add 안녕히 주무세요 (sleep in peace).

Korean course Practice Quiz Review