hello

The word "안녕하세요" is the standard, polite way to greet someone in Korean. Its literal root is related to "peace" or "well-being," effectively asking the other person if they are in a state of comfort or health. It is the go-to greeting for meeting acquaintances, strangers, or superiors in almost any social situation. While it is the most common greeting, it is considered "polite" (polite formal) rather than "casual." You would use this with colleagues, service staff, or people you are meeting for the first time. For closer friends or younger people, Koreans often switch to the casual "안녕."

In conversation