How to say "Hello" in Korean: 안녕하세요 [an-nyeong-ha-se-yo]

If you’ve started learning Korean, you’ve probably heard the word "안녕하세요" (annyeonghaseyo).

It’s one of the first and most important phrases you’ll learn.

But did you know?

It doesn’t just mean “Hello” — it actually has more meaning packed inside!

Literally, 안녕하세요 comes from the root word 안녕 (annyeong), which means "being well", "doing well"

The full phrase is like asking:

“Are you doing well?”
"How are you?"

So yes — it includes the meaning of “How are you?”

It’s a polite and respectful way to greet someone and wish them well.

Is annyeonghaseyo a little hard to say?

Try this funny trick:
👉 "Onion haseyo!"
(Say it out loud — sounds similar, right?)

Of course, it’s not the real phrase, but it’s a fun way to remember the sound! 😄

Koreans use "안녕하세요" to say hello politely, but here’s something cultural you might not know:

When Koreans say something like "How are you?" (어떻게 지내세요?), it’s not used casually or daily.

Instead, it’s mostly used:

So in most everyday situations, "안녕하세요" is already enough.

It covers both "Hello" and the warm feeling of "How are you?"

👇👇👇👇👇See it in the video👇👇👇👇👇

K-Lingo