안녕
"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?
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
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
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.
More Korean slang?
Browse the full Korean Slang Dictionary or read the deep-dive: Korean Slang Ultimate Guide.