The most common and useful greeting in Korean is 안녕하세요. It’s a polite way to say “hello” and works in almost any situation, whether you're meeting someone for the first time, greeting a shopkeeper, or talking to someone older than you.

You might have noticed the first part of the word, 안녕. This word on its own is a more casual way to say hello.

You would use 안녕 with close friends, family, or people younger than you. It's the Korean equivalent of a casual “hi” or “hey.” Using it with a stranger or an elder would be considered impolite.

Unlike English greetings that change with the time of day, 안녕하세요 works from morning until night. There aren't separate phrases for “good morning” or “good evening.”

The word itself comes from a deeper meaning. Let's break it down.

So when you say 안녕하세요, you are essentially asking, “Are you at peace?” or wishing someone well-being. It’s a thoughtful and respectful way to greet someone.

Saying goodbye in Korean depends on who is leaving and who is staying. This is a key difference from English.

If you are staying and the other person is leaving, you say 안녕히 가세요. The verb 가다 (gada) means “to go.” So you are literally saying, “Go in peace.”

If you are the one leaving, you say 안녕히 계세요. The verb 계시다 (gyesida) is a formal way of saying “to stay” or “to be.” In this case, you are saying, “Stay in peace.”

And what if both of you are leaving at the same time, like after a meal at a restaurant? In that case, you can both say 안녕히 가세요 to each other.

Just like with “hello,” there’s a casual way to say goodbye to friends. You can simply say 잘 가, which means “go well.”

This is a friendly and common farewell among close friends, regardless of who is staying or leaving.

With these basics, you're ready to start and end simple conversations in Korean.