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Day 3

Greetings (인사)

Learn essential Korean greetings, polite expressions, and honorifics for daily conversations.

Basic Greetings (기본 인사)

KoreanRomanizationEnglishNotes
안녕하세요annyeonghaseyoHello / Good morning / Good afternoon / Good eveningFormal polite (most common)
안녕annyeongHi / ByeInformal (friends, same age)
안녕하십니까annyeonghasimnikkaHello (very formal)Used in formal settings, military, to elders
만나서 반갑습니다mannaseo bangapseumnidaNice to meet youPolite formal phrase

Polite Expressions & Courtesy Words

KoreanRomanizationEnglishNotes
감사합니다gamsahamnidaThank youFormal polite (most common)
고맙습니다gomapseumnidaThank youSlightly less formal but still polite
고마워요gomawoyoThank youPolite (casual polite)
천만에요cheonmaneyoYou’re welcomeStandard response
괜찮아요gwaenchanhayoIt’s okay / No problemAlso used as "you're welcome"
죄송합니다joesonghamnidaI’m sorryFormal polite (apology)
미안합니다mianhamnidaI’m sorrySlightly less formal sorry
잠시만요jamsimanyoExcuse me / Just a momentPolite request for attention
실례합니다sillyehamnidaExcuse me (to get past or interrupt)More formal

How Are You? & Responses

KoreanRomanizationEnglish
어떻게 지내세요?eotteoke jinaeseyo?How are you? (polite)
잘 지내요jal jinaeyoI’m doing well
네, 좋아요ne, joayoYes, I’m fine
그냥 그래요geunyang geuraeyoJust so-so
별로예요byeolloyeyoNot great

Goodbye & Departure Phrases

SituationKoreanRomanizationEnglish
When you are leaving안녕히 계세요annyeonghi gyeseyoGoodbye (stay well)
When someone else is leaving안녕히 가세요annyeonghi gaseyoGoodbye (go well)
Informal (to friend)잘 가jal gaGoodbye (go well)
Informal (stay)잘 있어jal isseoGoodbye (stay well)
See you later다음에 봐요daeume bwayoSee you next time
See you tomorrow내일 봐요naeil bwayoSee you tomorrow

Practice Dialogue (인사 대화)

Minji: 안녕하세요? (annyeonghaseyo?) – Hello!

Junho: 안녕하세요. 만나서 반갑습니다. (annyeonghaseyo. mannaseo bangapseumnida.) – Hello. Nice to meet you.

Minji: 저는 민지예요. 어떻게 지내세요? (jeoneun Minjiyeyo. eotteoke jinaeseyo?) – I’m Minji. How are you?

Junho: 잘 지내요, 감사합니다. 준호예요. (jal jinaeyo, gamsahamnida. Junhoyeyo.) – I’m doing well, thank you. I’m Junho.

Minji: 만나서 반가워요. (mannaseo bangawoyo.) – Nice to meet you. (polite casual)

Junho: 저도요. 다음에 또 봐요! (jeodoyo. daeume tto bwayo!) – Me too. See you again next time!

Minji: 네, 안녕히 가세요! (ne, annyeonghi gaseyo!) – Okay, goodbye (go well)!

Exercise

Match the Korean greeting to its English meaning:

  1. 안녕하세요 → a) Goodbye (to someone leaving)    b) Hello    c) Thank you
  2. 감사합니다 → a) Sorry    b) You're welcome    c) Thank you
  3. 안녕히 가세요 → a) Goodbye (go well)    b) Hello    c) Nice to meet you
  4. 죄송합니다 → a) Excuse me    b) Sorry    c) Goodbye
  5. 만나서 반갑습니다 → a) How are you    b) Nice to meet you    c) See you later
Show answers

1. b) Hello
2. c) Thank you
3. a) Goodbye (go well)
4. b) Sorry
5. b) Nice to meet you

Cultural note: Korean greetings are heavily influenced by age and social hierarchy. Always use formal language (존댓말 – jondaetmal) when speaking to elders, strangers, or in professional settings. Bowing slightly is customary when greeting someone, especially elders. Unlike Western cultures, Koreans often ask about age quickly to establish proper speech level. When greeting someone, saying "안녕하세요" with a small nod is polite and friendly.
Learning tip: Practice greetings by role-playing with a friend or in front of a mirror. Write each phrase on a sticky note and place it where you’ll see it daily. Listen to K-dramas or K-pop interviews to hear natural intonation. Remember that the "ㅇ" at the start of 안녕 is silent, so it sounds like "annyeong".
Continue to Day 4

آج کا سبق – خلاصہ

آج آپ نے کورین میں اہم سلام اور شائستہ الفاظ سیکھے: ہیلو، شکریہ، معافی، خدا حافظ، اور “کیا حال ہے؟” کے جملے۔ احترام کے ساتھ بات کرنے کے اصول بھی سمجھے۔ ڈائیلاگ کی مشق کریں اور ثقافتی نکات کو یاد رکھیں۔

کل ہم کورین میں خاندان کے افراد اور سبجیکٹ مارکر (은/는, 이/가) سیکھیں گے۔ مشق جاری رکھیں!

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