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Saying ‘hello’ in Korean should be quite simple as there is one expression that directly translates to the English word ‘hello’. However, as with any expression in Korean, we have to be careful of whether we use the formal or informal language depending on the person we’re speaking to. Moreover, Korean adults often don’t use the word ‘hello’ to greet each other, and they choose to say ‘hello’ using other expressions\u2026 Confused? Well, by the end of this article, you definitely won’t be.<\/p>\n
In this article, we’ll first explain the most common way of saying ‘hello’ \u2013 both the formal and the informal version \u2013 and then we’ll guide you through some other expressions Koreans use to greet each other.<\/p>\n
The Korean equivalent of ‘hello’ is ‘\uc548\ub155’.<\/p>\n
\uc548\ub155 literally means ‘to be comfortable’, though this meaning of \uc548\ub155 is very formal and Korean language also has other words to describe something as being ‘comfortable’. However, when \uc548\ub155 is used as a phrase ‘\uc548\ub155\ud558\ub2e4’ to mean ‘hello’, it is used to wish someone to ‘feel comfortable’. In modern Korean, people don’t think of its meaning as wishing someone to feel comfortable and most Koreans just know \uc548\ub155 as a form of greeting.<\/p>\n
\uc548\ub155 is a casual form of ‘hello’, so there are certain rules to follow on how to use ‘\uc548\ub155’.<\/p>\n
If you didn’t know already, Korean language has specific rules on how language is used, particularly between people of different age and rank in society and in organizations. There are specific formal, polite and informal forms of every expression \u2013 and \uc548\ub155 is no different.<\/p>\n
The main reason why adults, particularly men in their 40’s and over, don’t use \uc548\ub155 is because \uc548\ub155 is primarily used by children, and in a conservative society as Korea, it would be inappropriate for a male adult to use an expression that is used mainly by children.<\/p>\n
Interestingly, \uc548\ub155 means ‘hello’, but also ‘goodbye’. So Koreans will say \uc548\ub155 when they meet, but also \uc548\ub155 as they go their separate ways. So, don’t be surprised when a Korean person uses \uc548\ub155 not only when you meet them, but also when you’re saying goodbye to each other.<\/p>\n
The formal ‘hello’ in Korean is ‘\uc548\ub155\ud558\uc138\uc694’.<\/p>\n
\uc548\ub155\ud558\uc138\uc694 is the formal version of \uc548\ub155, and this is what Korean adults will say when they meet each other for the first time, or when adults are saying hello to those they are not familiar with. Also, Korean adults will say \uc548\ub155\ud558\uc138\uc694 in settings when they need to be polite, even if they’re greeting people they know quite well. A prime example of this is at the workplace. Adults will generally use formal and polite language when they’re at work, where use of informal language may be considered impolite, and often times quite rude.<\/p>\n
Also, when adults talk to other adults who are older, or are of higher in rank at workplace, they will say \uc548\ub155\ud558\uc138\uc694.<\/p>\n
Lastly, when children say ‘hello’ to adults, they have to say ‘\uc548\ub155\ud558\uc138\uc694’ \u2013 this is an absolute must. A child saying just \uc548\ub155 to an adult is considered very rude.<\/p>\n
The answer is no. While \uc548\ub155 means ‘hello ‘and ‘goodbye’, \uc548\ub155\ud558\uc138\uc694 only means ‘hello’. The polite form of goodbye is \uc548\ub155\ud788 \uacc4\uc138\uc694.<\/p>\n
\uacc4\uc138\uc694 means ‘please stay’, so together with \uc548\ub155\ud788, it roughly translates to ‘please stay comfortable’. The rules of usage are similar to \uc548\ub155\ud558\uc138\uc694. It’s used among adults who have just met for the first time, or who aren’t familiar with each other, and it’s also used at places where use of formal language is important.<\/p>\n
The final form of ‘hello’ in Korean is the super formal form, which is only used by certain people<\/p>\n
\uc548\ub155\ud558\uc2ed\ub2c8\uae4c is so formal that even if you’re meeting your boyfriend, or girlfriend’s parents for the first time, you wouldn’t use it \u2013 it would make everyone feel really awkward if you did. Korean people rarely (if at all) use this to each other. The only place where you might hear people say this is if a business wants to show utmost respect to its customers. You won’t hear staff from every restaurant and shop use this, but some shops and restaurants will train their staff to use this phrase to greet their customers as it displays a great deal of respect to the customers.<\/p>\n
Therefore, it’s important to note that while you’re unlikely to ever use it, you will certainly hear Korean staff use this phrase to you (next time you’re on a flight on a Korean airline, listen carefully to how flight attendants greet you).<\/p>\n
Informal ‘hello’ is \uc548\ub155.<\/strong><\/p>\n Formal ‘hello’ is \uc548\ub155\ud558\uc138\uc694.<\/strong><\/p>\n Super formal ‘hello’ is \uc548\ub155\ud558\uc2ed\ub2c8\uae4c.<\/strong><\/p>\n So we’ve covered most ways Korean people greet each other, but what about Korean adult males? They don’t use any of the three mentioned above, so what do they say when they’re saying hello to their friends?<\/p>\n There are two ways to say hello in Korean ‘\uc548\ub155’ and ‘\uc548\ub155\ud558\uc138\uc694’, and the problem lies in the fact that there are only two forms of ‘hello’ in Korean \u2013 one is casual and the other is formal. While it is okay for women of all ages to say \uc548\ub155 to each other, it isn’t so for Korean men.<\/p>\n Korea is a rather conservative society, and this is very much reflected in the way they use language. As such, it would be very awkward for male adults to share the same language used by children to greet each other.<\/p>\n Well, there is no one answer to this question, but Korean male adults may use a range of expressions to greet each other. Here a few expressions Korean men may say instead of ‘hello’.<\/p>\n \ubc18\uac11\ub2e4 means ‘it’s good to see you’ and this is perhaps the most common way for Korean adult males to greet their friends. \ubc18\uac11\ub2e4 also has a formal form ‘\ubc18\uac11\uc2b5\ub2c8\ub2e4’ (ban-gap-seum-ni-da), but since this is formal, it is often used when people meet each other for the very first time and it means ‘it’s nice to meet you’.<\/p>\n This phrase roughly translates to ‘have you been well?’, and this is one of the most common ways in which Korean male adults greet their friends. There is also a similar phrase ‘\uc798 \uc788\uc5c8\uc5b4?’ (jal i-sseo-sseo), and this phrase means the same as ‘\uc798 \uc9c0\ub0c8\uc5b4?’.<\/p>\n\n
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‘Hello’ among adult friends in Korea<\/h2>\n
Then how do Korean male adults say ‘hello’ to their friends?<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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