Greetings & Basic Expressions

Greetings are the first thing you learn in Korean, and they matter in almost every situation, whether you're meeting someone for the first time or seeing them every day.

Basic Greetings

Korean	Romanization	English
감사합니다	gamsahamnida	Thank you
죄송합니다	joesonghamnida	I'm sorry
네	ne	Yes
아니요	aniyo	No

"Annyeonghaseyo" is a polite greeting you can use morning, noon, or night. Unlike English, the greeting doesn't change with the time of day, which makes it easy to remember.

When Saying Goodbye

When parting, the greeting depends on who is leaving and who is staying: say "annyeonghi gaseyo" to the person leaving, and "annyeonghi gyeseyo" to the person staying.

Casual vs. Polite

With friends or younger people, use the short casual form "annyeong"; with someone you've just met or an elder, use the polite "annyeonghaseyo," which is always a safe choice.

Sorry & Thanks

Both "gamsahamnida" and "gomapseumnida" mean "thank you," and in relaxed situations you can use "gomawoyo." For apologies, "joesonghamnida" is formal while "mianhaeyo" is softer and more everyday.

💡 Tip: When in doubt, just recall both "annyeonghi gaseyo" and "annyeonghi gyeseyo." The verb "gada" (to go) is for the person leaving, and "itda/gyesida" (to stay) is for the person remaining.