Korean greetings
These are the polite forms, safe to use with anyone you do not know well.
Which one do I say?
- Meeting someone, any time of day안녕하세요annyeonghaseyo · Hello
- Leaving, while the other person stays안녕히 계세요annyeonghi gyeseyo · Goodbye (to someone who is staying)
- The other person is leaving, you stay안녕히 가세요annyeonghi gaseyo · Goodbye (to someone who is leaving)
- Thanking someone감사합니다gamsahamnida · Thank you
- Apologising죄송합니다joesonghamnida · I’m sorry
- Meeting someone for the first time만나서 반갑습니다mannaseo bangapseumnida · Nice to meet you
There are two goodbyes because Korean asks who is going. 안녕히 가세요 is “go in peace” and 안녕히 계세요 is “stay in peace”.