Korean Dictionary
How to say "Good evening" in Korean
“Good evening” in Korean is 좋은 저녁이에요 (pronounced "Joeun jeonyeogieyo").
좋은 저녁이에요
Joeun jeonyeogieyo
Usage & Context
An evening greeting similar to 'good evening'. While 안녕하세요 works at any time of day, this phrase specifically marks the evening. More commonly seen in written greetings or formal contexts. The use of time-specific greetings is growing among younger Koreans.
Example Sentence
좋은 저녁이에요! 오늘 하루 어땠어요?
Good evening! How was your day?
How to use 좋은 저녁이에요 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Good evening” is 좋은 저녁이에요, romanized as Joeun jeonyeogieyo.
Usage tip
Check the politeness level before using this word. Korean greetings often change depending on age, relationship, and setting.
Common mistake
Do not rely only on the English meaning. Read the Korean example sentence and notice the particles, word order, and politeness level around 좋은 저녁이에요.
What learners usually mean by “Good evening in Korean”
English has a separate evening greeting, but Korean often keeps using the general polite hello.
Real usage
안녕하세요 is the most natural evening greeting in many situations. 좋은 저녁이에요 is understandable but less common as a standalone greeting.
Avoid this mistake
Do not overuse 좋은 저녁이에요 just because English says good evening. It can sound translated in ordinary Korean.
Better pattern
Use 안녕하세요 for a safe evening hello, 좋은 저녁 보내세요 for 'have a good evening,' and 편안한 밤 되세요 for a more polished closing.
restaurant greeting
안녕하세요, 예약하셨나요?
Good evening, do you have a reservation?
polite closing
좋은 저녁 보내세요.
Have a good evening.
Pronunciation Guide
좋은 (Joh-eun): "Joh" like "jo" in "Joe" but with a soft 'h' sound that often disappears. "Eun" like "eun" in "eunuch" but with a flatter 'eu' sound. 저녁이에요 (Jeo-nyeok-ee-eh-yo): "Jeo" like "juh" in "jug". "Nyeok" like "nyuk" but with a clear 'eo' vowel (like 'aw' in 'raw'). "Ee" like "ee" in "see". "Eh" like "eh" in "bed". "Yo" like "yo-yo".
Formal & Casual Forms
Formal (존댓말)
좋은 저녁입니다
Joeun jeonyeogimnida
A more formal and deferential way to say 'Good evening,' often used in official announcements or very formal settings.
Casual (반말)
좋은 저녁이야
Joeun jeonyeogiya
Used among close friends or to someone younger.
More Example Sentences
A student greeting a professor in the evening.
좋은 저녁이에요, 교수님. 오늘 강의 잘 들었습니다.
Good evening, Professor. I listened well to today's lecture.
A host or presenter greeting an audience in the evening.
좋은 저녁이에요, 여러분! 오늘 밤도 즐거운 시간 보내세요.
Good evening, everyone! Have a good time tonight too.
A polite evening farewell to a colleague.
퇴근길에 만난 동료에게: 좋은 저녁이에요! 내일 봐요.
To a colleague met on the way home: Good evening! See you tomorrow.
Cultural Context
While '안녕하세요' (annyeonghaseyo) is the universal Korean greeting for any time of day, '좋은 저녁이에요' is a more specific, time-bound greeting. It's not as common in everyday spoken Korean as '안녕하세요,' but its usage is growing, especially in written communication, online communities, or when a more specific, warm evening greeting is desired. It can feel a bit more intentional and personal than the standard '안녕하세요' when used in the evening. It's often paired with a follow-up question about the person's day or evening plans.
Editorial note
We check greetings like 좋은 저녁이에요 for politeness and timing, since Korean greetings change with relationship, age, and setting.
Reviewed by Min-jung Park, Korean Language Teacher. Updated May 31, 2026. See our editorial standards.
Common Phrases
좋은 저녁이에요, 잘 지내셨어요?
Good evening, have you been well?
좋은 저녁이에요, 편안한 밤 되세요.
Good evening, have a comfortable night.
좋은 저녁이에요, 오늘 하루 어땠어요?
Good evening, how was your day today?
Related Expressions
안녕하세요
Annyeonghaseyo
Hello (universal greeting)
좋은 아침이에요
Joeun achimieyo
Good morning (less common than '안녕하세요')
안녕히 주무세요
Annyeonghi jumuseyo
Good night (sleep well)
저녁 식사 하셨어요?
Jeonyeok siksa hasyeosseoyo?
Have you had dinner? (common evening greeting/question)
More Greetings Words
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