Responding to 안녕하세요 in Korean: Natural Replies and Follow-Up Questions
Learn how to answer 안녕하세요 and 안녕 naturally in Korean. Get short, polite replies, follow-up questions, and a model dialogue for beginners.
By TheaFirst conversations · Yapr Learn
When someone greets you with 안녕하세요 (annyeonghaseyo) or the casual 안녕 (annyeong), you need a reply that fits the situation. The most direct answer is to repeat the greeting with a smile: 안녕하세요. But a natural response often adds a short status or a follow-up question. This lesson teaches you the reply turn: how to acknowledge the greeting, say you are well, and ask the other person how they are. You will learn five reusable phrases, a short dialogue, and practice choosing the right register. No prior grammar is needed beyond recognizing the polite -요 ending.
By the end, you can…
- respond to 안녕하세요 and 안녕 with a natural, register-appropriate reply.
- add a short status and ask a follow-up question in Korean.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
안녕하세요
Hello / Hi (polite)
an-nyeong-ha-se-yo
The standard polite reply to a polite greeting. Repeat it back with a slight smile. It works in most everyday situations with strangers, staff, or acquaintances.
안녕
Hi / Hey (casual)
an-nyeong
Use only with close friends, younger people you know well, or children. It is not rude among peers, but it can sound too casual to a stranger or someone older.
잘 지내요?
How are you? / Are you doing well?
jal ji-nae-yo?
A polite follow-up after the greeting. It literally asks whether the person is living well. Use it with acquaintances and staff. The casual version is 잘 지내? (jal ji-nae?).
네, 잘 지내요. 그쪽은요?
Yes, I'm doing well. And you?
ne, jal ji-nae-yo. geu-jjo-geun-yo?
A complete polite reply that answers and returns the question. 그쪽은요? is a polite way to say 'and you?' without repeating the full question.
안녕하세요, 처음 뵙겠습니다
Hello, nice to meet you (formal)
an-nyeong-ha-se-yo, cheo-eum boep-get-seum-ni-da
Use when you are introduced to someone for the first time in a polite or business setting. It responds to a greeting while acknowledging the new relationship.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
The simplest reply to a greeting is the same greeting back: 안녕하세요 → 안녕하세요. To make it more conversational, add a short status and a follow-up question. A common pattern is: (네,) 잘 지내요. 그쪽은요? This means 'Yes, I'm well. And you?' The word 그쪽은요? (geu-jjo-geun-yo?) is a polite, open way to return the question without repeating 잘 지내요?. If you want to be more specific, you can say 요즘 좀 바빠요 (yo-jeum jom ba-ppa-yo, 'I'm a bit busy these days') before asking 그쪽은요?. For casual speech with a close friend, use 안녕 → 안녕, 잘 지내? → 응, 잘 지내. 너는? (eung, jal ji-nae. neo-neun?).
When to use it
Match the register of the greeting you receive. If someone says 안녕하세요, reply with 안녕하세요 or a polite phrase like 네, 안녕하세요. If a close friend says 안녕, you can reply 안녕 or 안녕, 잘 지내?. In customer service situations, staff may greet you with 안녕하세요. A simple 안녕하세요 in return is enough; you do not need to ask how they are unless you want to be friendly. When you meet someone formally, 안녕하세요, 처음 뵙겠습니다 is appropriate. Avoid using casual 안녕 to someone older or in a formal setting unless they have invited you to speak casually.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
안녕하세요!
Hello!an-nyeong-ha-se-yo!네, 안녕하세요. 잘 지내요?
Yes, hello. How are you?ne, an-nyeong-ha-se-yo. jal ji-nae-yo?잘 지내요. 그쪽은요?
I'm doing well. And you?jal ji-nae-yo. geu-jjo-geun-yo?저도 잘 지내요. 감사합니다.
I'm doing well too. Thank you.jeo-do jal ji-nae-yo. gam-sa-ham-ni-da.A little context goes a long way
Korean greetings often reflect social hierarchy. 안녕하세요 is polite and safe in most situations, while 안녕 is casual and best reserved for close friends or younger people. When someone greets you, returning the greeting is expected; ignoring it can seem cold. A short status like 잘 지내요 is friendly but not required in brief service encounters. If you are unsure, stay with the polite form and add a slight bow.
One thing to watch for
Replying to 안녕하세요 with casual 안녕 to someone older or in a formal situation.
Try this instead: Use the polite 안녕하세요 back, or a polite phrase like 네, 안녕하세요. For example, if a store employee says 안녕하세요, reply 안녕하세요 rather than 안녕. Casual 안녕 is not wrong among close friends, but it can sound disrespectful to a stranger or superior.
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1A coworker you just met says 안녕하세요. What is a natural polite reply?
Show a sample answer
안녕하세요. 잘 지내요?
This repeats the polite greeting and adds a friendly follow-up. You could also simply say 안녕하세요. Both are correct; the follow-up is optional.
2Your close friend says 안녕. How can you reply casually?
Show a sample answer
안녕, 잘 지내?
This matches the casual register and asks how they are. You could also reply 안녕 or 응, 잘 지내. 너는? All are natural among close friends.
3You are introduced to a new business partner. What polite phrase can you use after 안녕하세요?
Show a sample answer
처음 뵙겠습니다.
This means 'nice to meet you' and is appropriate in formal introductions. It can follow 안녕하세요. Other polite phrases like 반갑습니다 (bang-gap-seum-ni-da) are also valid.
Reply to 안녕하세요 with 안녕하세요, and to 안녕 with 안녕. Add 잘 지내요? and 그쪽은요? to keep the conversation going politely.
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