How to say "नमस्ते" in Korean

In Korean culture, greetings are deeply tied to respect, hierarchy, and social context. Unlike casual Western greetings, Korean greetings often reflect the speaker’s relationship to the listener—age, status, or familiarity. The phrase 안녕하세요 is the most versatile and universally appropriate greeting, but its usage varies depending on the situation. Always pair it with a slight bow (especially to elders or strangers) to show politeness.

1. Formal situations (strangers, elders, or people in higher positions) Use 안녕하세요 to greet someone politely, especially if you’re meeting for the first time or addressing someone older or senior. It’s the safest choice for most professional and unfamiliar settings.

   • 안녕하세요, 선생님! "Hello, teacher!"
   • 안녕하세요, 사장님! "Hello, boss!"

2. Casual but polite situations (friends, colleagues of similar age) While 안녕하세요 is formal, it’s still acceptable among peers if you want to maintain politeness. However, younger or close friends might switch to a more casual greeting later in the conversation.

   • 안녕하세요, 민수야! "Hi, Minsu!"
   • 안녕하세요, 요즘 어떻게 지내요? "Hello, how have you been lately?"

3. Answering a greeting (polite response) If someone greets you with 안녕하세요, the expected response is the same phrase, often with a nod or bow. Adding a smile or slight bow reinforces politeness.

   • 안녕하세요! 네, 잘 지냈어요. "Hello! Yes, I’ve been doing well."

4. When entering a shop or restaurant In service settings, 안녕하세요 is commonly used by staff to greet customers. As a customer, you can reply with the same phrase or a simple nod.

   • 점원: 안녕하세요, 손님! "Hello, welcome!"
   • 손님: 안녕하세요! "Hello!"

👉 Start with 안녕하세요 for all situations—it’s the safest and most widely understood greeting. Once you’re comfortable, you can learn 안녕 for casual settings, but always default to the formal version until invited to be informal.