Korean greetings and goodbyes
A greeting opens the conversation. Start with six polite expressions you can use every day.
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A rough reading aid, not exact pronunciation. Hyphens separate syllables. Listen first, then try with hints hidden. “eu” is said with unrounded lips; “uh” only approximates ㅓ. Doubled consonants are tense, not extra syllables. Do not add a vowel after a final consonant.
Six phrases you can use today
These are polite everyday expressions for someone you have just met, a shop employee or an older person. You do not have to bow deeply or use a long sentence. A friendly greeting is a useful first step.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Focus on the Korean audio as you learn.
안녕하세요
Sound hintahn-nyuhng-hah-seh-yoh
annyeonghaseyo
Hello.
A polite everyday greeting. It works in the morning, afternoon and evening.
감사합니다
Sound hintgahm-sah-hahm-nee-dah
gamsahamnida
Thank you.
A polite thank-you for help, an answer or a purchase.
죄송합니다
Sound hintjweh-sohng-hahm-nee-dah
joesonghamnida
I’m sorry.
Use this to apologize, for example after bumping into someone.
실례합니다
Sound hintseel-ryeh-hahm-nee-dah
sillyehamnida
Excuse me.
A polite way to get someone’s attention before asking a question or passing by.
안녕히 가세요
Sound hintahn-nyuhng-hee gah-seh-yoh
annyeonghi gaseyo
Goodbye. (To someone leaving.)
가세요 refers to going. Say this to a person who is leaving.
안녕히 계세요
Sound hintahn-nyuhng-hee gyeh-seh-yoh
annyeonghi gyeseyo
Goodbye. (To someone staying.)
계세요 refers to staying. Say this when you leave and the other person stays.
A real-life conversation
안녕하세요.
Hello.
안녕하세요.
Hello.
감사합니다. 안녕히 계세요.
Thank you. Goodbye. (You leave.)
안녕히 가세요.
Goodbye. (The staff member stays.)
Start polite, then follow the relationship
안녕 is a casual hello or goodbye between close friends and in some other familiar relationships. Use 안녕하세요 when meeting someone for the first time. You can learn casual language later, once you know when it fits.
Say it from the meaning
Say each phrase aloud before revealing it. This practice does not change your score.
Choose a goodbye for the person in front of you
A useful greeting lesson should help you choose a phrase, not only recognize one. In Korean, the polite goodbye changes according to whether the other person is staying or leaving. Picture the scene before choosing your line: you are leaving a café while the staff member remains behind the counter.
Look at what the other person is doing
Use 안녕히 계세요 when the other person stays. Use 안녕히 가세요 when the other person leaves. If both of you are leaving, 안녕히 가세요 can work for both people. Your own movement alone does not determine the phrase; keep the person you are addressing in view.
Keep the relationship in mind
안녕하세요 is a useful polite opening with someone you do not know well. 안녕 can be a casual hello or goodbye, but it is not a universal replacement in every relationship. Start with polite forms in these practice scenes and learn casual speech with its social context.
Practice the choice before the pronunciation
Imagine three scenes: leaving a shop, seeing a visitor leave your home, and parting outside a station. Choose the appropriate goodbye first, then say it aloud. Read the Korean slowly, listen to the examples above, and repeat. The reading aid is a bridge to the script, not an exact record of every sound.
Read, understand, and change the example
안녕히 계세요.
ahn-nyuhng-hee gyeh-seh-yoh
Goodbye, when the other person stays.
안녕히 가세요.
ahn-nyuhng-hee gah-seh-yoh
Goodbye, when the other person leaves.
Your turn
You finish paying at a shop and leave. The cashier stays. What do you say? Now reverse the scene: a visitor is leaving your home while you stay.
Say it first, then check the example and explanation
안녕히 계세요. / 안녕히 가세요.
ahn-nyuhng-hee gyeh-seh-yoh / ahn-nyuhng-hee gah-seh-yoh
In the shop you address a person who stays, so 계세요 fits. At home you address a person who leaves, so 가세요 fits. Reversing the scene changes the phrase.
You are ready to move on when you can choose for all three scenes without looking. If the phrases still blur together, draw a small “stay” or “go” cue beside each one and try again tomorrow.
Make yourself heard.
Listen once. Record yourself saying the phrase, then listen back.
감사합니다
Sound hintgahm-sah-hahm-nee-dah
gamsahamnida
Up to 20 seconds. Your recording stays in this page and is never uploaded by HangulHada.
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