How to say “Hello” in Korean

How to Introduce Yourself in Korean

To introduce yourself in Korean, say "안녕하세요, 저는 [name]입니다" (Annyeonghaseyo, jeoneun [name]-imnida), which means "Hello, I am [name]." This is the standard polite self-introduction used in almost all situations.

Korean Formal vs Informal Speech

Formal Korean speech (존댓말, jondaenmal) uses polite endings like -요 (-yo) and -습니다 (-seumnida) and is used with strangers, elders, and superiors. Informal speech (반말, banmal) drops these endings and is only used with close friends, younger people, or children.

Basic Korean Greetings

The most essential Korean greeting is "안녕하세요" (annyeonghaseyo), which means "hello" and works in almost every situation. For casual settings with close friends, use "안녕" (annyeong), and for very formal situations, use "안녕하십니까" (annyeonghasimnikka).

Korean Alphabet Basics

The Korean alphabet, called 한글 (Hangul), has 14 basic consonants and 10 basic vowels that combine into syllable blocks. It was scientifically designed in 1443 by King Sejong the Great and can be learned in just a few hours, making it one of the most logical writing systems in the world.