Free Korean Learning Resource
Korean Greetings Cheat Sheet
A practical one-page guide to Korean greetings, thanks, welcome phrases, and goodbyes. Built for learners who need the safe phrase first.
Quick rules
When in doubt, use 안녕하세요 and -요 endings.
Korean greetings depend more on relationship than time of day.
안녕 is casual; 안녕하세요 is the beginner-safe default.
어서 오세요 means welcome in, not you're welcome.
For thanks, 아니에요 often sounds more natural than textbook 천만에요.
Goodbye changes depending on who leaves and who stays.
Phrase table
| English | Korean | Romanization | Use it when | Avoid |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hello | 안녕하세요 | annyeonghaseyo | Safe default with strangers, elders, teachers, coworkers, and shop staff. | Do not shorten it to 안녕 until the relationship is casual. |
| Hi / Bye | 안녕 | annyeong | Close friends, younger people, casual texting. | Too casual for first meetings, work, customers, and older people. |
| Thank you | 감사합니다 | gamsahamnida | Formal and safe. Use it in stores, work, class, and public settings. | With close friends it can sound distant, but it is never rude. |
| You're welcome | 아니에요 | anieyo | Natural everyday reply to thanks: not at all, it was nothing. | Do not assume 천만에요 is always the most natural reply. |
| Welcome in | 어서 오세요 | eoseo oseyo | When someone enters a shop, restaurant, home, class, or reception area. | Not a reply to thank you. It means welcome in, not you're welcome. |
| Goodbye, please go well | 안녕히 가세요 | annyeonghi gaseyo | Say this to the person leaving. | Do not use it when you are the one leaving someone behind. |
| Goodbye, please stay well | 안녕히 계세요 | annyeonghi gyeseyo | Say this when you are leaving and the other person is staying. | Do not use it to someone who is leaving with you. |
| Good morning | 좋은 아침이에요 | joeun achimieyo | Friendly morning greeting with people you know. | In formal situations, 안녕하세요 often sounds more natural. |
