You already know that 안녕하세요 means hello, but freezing after someone greets you is common. This workshop gives you three spoken scenarios where you must reply appropriately, ask a follow-up, and adjust when the conversation takes a turn. You will use the exact phrases from the lesson, including 안녕하세요, 잘 지내요?, and 그쪽은요?, in situations that mirror real life: meeting a neighbour, chatting with a friend, and being introduced formally. Each exercise adds a complication so you practise thinking on your feet, not just repeating. By the end, you will have spoken your replies aloud multiple times and checked whether you matched the other person's tone and kept the exchange going.
Preparing your first reply
Before you speak, decide which register fits the person in front of you. If you hear 안녕하세요, your safest reply is 안녕하세요 back, often with 네 at the start to acknowledge: 네, 안녕하세요. To sound warmer, add 잘 지내요? and be ready to answer it yourself. For close friends who say 안녕, you can reply 안녕, 잘 지내? and expect a casual answer. Practise saying each option aloud three times, focusing on a steady pace and a slight smile. In quick passing or with staff, a simple 안녕하세요 in return is enough; you do not need to ask how they are unless you want to be friendly. Also prepare a short status phrase like 잘 지내요 or 저도 잘 지내요 so you are not stuck if someone asks how you are. Write these on a card, say them, then cover the card and say them again from memory.
Handling the harder turn
The real challenge is not the first reply but what happens next. Someone may answer your 잘 지내요? with a longer story, or they may turn the question back before you are ready. If they say 잘 지내요. 그쪽은요?, you need to answer about yourself and possibly ask again. If they give a detailed answer, you can respond with a simple sympathetic phrase or ask a gentle follow-up, but keep it within what you know. The lesson shows that 그쪽은요? is a polite way to return the question without repeating the full phrase, so use it when you want to keep the exchange balanced. If the other person switches to casual 안녕, notice the shift and decide whether to match it; do not use casual speech with someone older or in a formal setting unless they have invited you to. Practise pausing for one second before you reply to the unexpected turn, then choose your phrase deliberately.
Listen once, then say the phrase yourself. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Checking available voices…
안녕하세요
Hello / Hi (polite)
an-nyeong-ha-se-yo
안녕
Hi / Hey (casual)
an-nyeong
잘 지내요?
How are you? / Are you doing well?
jal ji-nae-yo?
네, 잘 지내요. 그쪽은요?
Yes, I'm doing well. And you?
ne, jal ji-nae-yo. geu-jjo-geun-yo?
Read one side aloud, then answer in your own words. The goal is to make the exchange yours.
안녕하세요!
Hello!네, 안녕하세요. 잘 지내요?
Yes, hello. How are you?잘 지내요. 그쪽은요?
I'm doing well. And you?저도 잘 지내요. 감사합니다.
I'm doing well too. Thank you.Your turn
Try each prompt out loud. Choose a guided start, the full sequence, or a challenge pass after your first attempt.
Greeting a neighbour in the hallway
You are in your apartment building hallway. A neighbour you have seen before but never spoken to says 안녕하세요 as she unlocks her door. You have about ten seconds before she steps inside. You want to be polite but not intrusive.
Your task: Say your reply aloud. Start with 네, 안녕하세요, then add 잘 지내요? and wait for her answer. If she replies 잘 지내요, respond with 그쪽은요? or a simple acknowledgment. Make sure you speak clearly and at a normal volume.
A close friend greets you casually
Your close friend Jiho, whom you have known for years, walks up to you at a café and says 안녕. You are both the same age and always speak casually. You have not seen each other for two weeks.
Your task: Reply casually with 안녕, 잘 지내? Then answer his likely response. If he says 응, 잘 지내. 너는?, tell him one true thing about your week using simple words, then ask him a follow-up question about his week.
Formal introduction at a business meeting
You are at a small business meeting. A new partner, Mr. Park, who is older than you, extends his hand and says 안녕하세요. You have never met him before. The room is quiet and others are nearby.
Your task: Reply with the formal phrase 안녕하세요, 처음 뵙겠습니다. Then add a polite 잘 지내요? if it feels appropriate. Speak slowly and clearly, and use both hands or a slight bow if that matches your cultural context. Do not use casual 안녕.
Common questions
What if I accidentally use casual 안녕 with someone older?
If you catch yourself, you can quickly switch to polite speech for the rest of the conversation, for example by saying 네, 안녕하세요. Most people will understand a beginner's mistake if your tone is respectful. Practise the polite reply aloud several times so it becomes your default with strangers.
Do I always need to ask 잘 지내요? after 안녕하세요?
No. The lesson shows that a simple 안녕하세요 in return is enough, especially with staff or in quick passing. Adding 잘 지내요? makes it friendlier and invites a longer exchange. Choose based on how much time you have and how well you know the person.
Sources and further reading
- korean: responding to greetingsChecked September 2026
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