Meaning
안녕하세요
annyeonghaseyo
Hello / Good morning / Good afternoon / Good evening
Real Feeling
What Koreans really mean
This is the most standard and universally accepted greeting in Korea. It's polite enough for strangers, colleagues, and elders, but also perfectly fine for friends and acquaintances. It conveys respect and is a safe all-purpose greeting for almost any social situation, avoiding over-familiarity while still being warm.
💬 Used in real life
• Said when walking into a store and greeting the cashier.
• Used when entering a classroom and greeting the teacher or classmates.
How It's Used
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Similar Expressions
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Grammar Breakdown
Part by part — learn the structure, not just the meaning
안녕하annyeongha-verb stem
verb stem
The stem of the adjective '안녕하다' (annyeonghada), meaning 'to be peaceful' or 'to be well'.
-세요-seyosentence-final ending (honorific, polite)
sentence-final ending (honorific, polite)
A combination of the honorific suffix '-시-' (si) and the polite declarative/interrogative ending '-어요' (eoyo). It indicates respect towards the listener and makes the statement polite.
Tags
Korean expressions carry layers of meaning that direct translation misses. The real meaning lives in the emotion, context, and cultural moment.
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