안녕 (annyeong)
"Hi" or "bye" in informal Korean — the casual version of the polite 안녕하세요.
- Meaning: "Hi" or "bye" in informal Korean — the casual version of the polite 안녕하세요.
- Pronunciation: /an.njʌŋ/ (annyeong)
- Part of speech: interjection / noun
- Formality: Casual — for friends, family, and close peers.
- Literal: peace / well-being (used as "hello" / "goodbye")
What does 안녕 mean?
Annyeong (안녕) is the casual way to say both "hi" and "bye" in Korean — the relaxed, friends-and-family version of the polite 안녕하세요. It literally means "peace / well-being," so the greeting is really a wish that the other person is doing well.
안녕 (annyeong) is the informal greeting that doubles as both "hello" and "goodbye." The literal Sino-Korean meaning is "peace / well-being" — the full polite greeting 안녕하세요 (annyeonghaseyo) literally means "are you at peace?" The shortened 안녕 drops the polite ending and becomes the casual version, used between friends, family, classmates, or anyone of similar age and rank. Children use 안녕 by default; adults switch to 안녕하세요 or 안녕히 가세요/계세요 depending on the relationship. K-drama scenes signal closeness when characters drop from 안녕하세요 to 안녕 — a small word with a big register shift.
Examples in context
As a casual "hello"
For friends, classmates, and family of similar age or younger.
As a casual "goodbye"
The same word, now meaning "bye" — context tells you which.
The polite upgrade (안녕하세요)
Add 하세요 for politeness — the version for strangers, elders, and first meetings.
Polite goodbyes (가세요 / 계세요)
Korean splits "goodbye" by who is leaving — 가세요 to the one going, 계세요 to the one staying.
The formal register (안녕하십니까)
The most formal greeting — broadcasting, the military, and formal speeches.
안녕in K-pop & K-drama
K-dramas: the register shift
Dropping from 안녕하세요 to plain 안녕 is a quiet on-screen signal that two characters have grown close. Conversely, a character who keeps using 안녕하세요 is keeping a polite distance — screenwriters use the switch the same way they use the move to 오빠 or 반말 (casual speech).
School and military formality
Korean greetings encode hierarchy. Students greet teachers with 안녕하세요 (never 안녕), and in the military or formal organizations the crisp 안녕하십니까 is standard. The register you choose instantly marks how much respect the relationship demands.
One word for hello AND goodbye
A quirk learners love: 안녕 covers both meeting and parting, so the same cheerful word opens and closes a conversation. Lyricists lean into the duality — a song titled "안녕" can read as either a fresh hello or a bittersweet farewell.
When to use 안녕
- Greeting friends, classmates, family members of similar age
- Saying goodbye casually
- Texting close people
- When the relationship is well-established and casual
When NOT to use 안녕
- First meetings (use 안녕하세요)
- Anyone older than you in formal contexts (use 안녕하세요)
- Workplace, business, school faculty — too casual
- Strangers in service situations
안녕 vs. similar terms
The politeness ladder — saying hello and goodbye in Korean
| Situation | Casual | Polite | Formal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hello | 안녕 (annyeong) | 안녕하세요 (annyeonghaseyo) | 안녕하십니까 (annyeonghasimnikka) |
| Goodbye (you leave) | 안녕 (annyeong) | 안녕히 계세요 (annyeonghi gyeseyo) | 안녕히 계십시오 (annyeonghi gyesipsio) |
| Goodbye (they leave) | 잘 가 (jal ga) | 안녕히 가세요 (annyeonghi gaseyo) | 안녕히 가십시오 (annyeonghi gasipsio) |
Related terms
More in Politeness
Greetings, thanks, apologies, support — the social-glue vocabulary.
"I love you" in informal Korean — used between close friends, family, and romantic partners.
A cheering exclamation meaning "let's go!", "you can do it!", or "good luck!" — Korean's universal encouragement word.
"Thank you" in formal Korean — the safest, most universally appropriate way to express gratitude.
"Sorry" in informal Korean — the casual way to apologize to friends, family, or close peers.
Frequently asked questions
How do you say "hi" in Korean?
The casual "hi" is 안녕 (annyeong). The polite version is 안녕하세요 (annyeonghaseyo) — used with strangers, elders, or anyone you address respectfully. The formal greeting is 안녕하십니까 (annyeonghasimnikka), heard in business and broadcasting.
Does 안녕 mean hi or bye?
Both. 안녕 works as both casual greeting and casual farewell — context decides which. Polite goodbyes split into 안녕히 가세요 (annyeonghi gaseyo, "go in peace") said to the leaver, and 안녕히 계세요 (annyeonghi gyeseyo, "stay in peace") said to the one staying.
Can I say 안녕 to my Korean teacher?
Generally no. Teachers, bosses, and elders expect 안녕하세요. Saying 안녕 to a teacher would sound disrespectful unless you have a long, casual relationship and they explicitly invited that register.
How is 안녕 pronounced?
안녕 is pronounced [an.njʌŋ] — "ahn-nyung" with a quick double-N transition (the second N is a slight palatal "ny" sound) and a final "ng" nasal. Two syllables, both light.
What is the difference between 안녕히 가세요 and 안녕히 계세요?
Both are polite goodbyes, but they depend on who is leaving. Say 안녕히 가세요 ("go in peace") to the person who is leaving, and 안녕히 계세요 ("stay in peace") if you are the one leaving and they are staying. Mixing them up is one of the most common beginner mistakes.
What does 안녕 literally mean?
안녕 comes from the Sino-Korean 安寧, meaning "peace" or "well-being." So the greeting literally asks whether the other person is at peace and doing well — the full polite form 안녕하세요 is essentially "are you well?"
More Korean slang?
Browse the full Korean Slang Dictionary or read the deep-dive: Korean Slang Ultimate Guide.