Korean · A1 (Beginner)
Greetings in Korean: Words & Phrases
Quick answer: The most useful Korean words for greetings are 안녕하세요 (Hello (formal)), 감사합니다 (Thank you (formal)) and 죄송합니다 (I am sorry (formal)). The full Korean greetings phrase list with example sentences is below.
The essential Korean vocabulary for greetings, with example sentences and English translations. This is A1 (Beginner) material — exactly the kind of practical language you need when you're learning Korean to live, work, or settle abroad.
Source: Language Lab's Korean curriculum (vocabulary & example sentences). · Join the beta →
Key greetings vocabulary
| Korean | English |
|---|---|
| 안녕하세요 | Hello (formal) |
| 감사합니다 | Thank you (formal) |
| 죄송합니다 | I am sorry (formal) |
| 네 | Yes |
| 아니요 | No |
| 안녕히 가세요 | Goodbye (to person leaving) |
| 안녕히 계세요 | Goodbye (when you leave) |
| 반갑습니다 | Nice to meet you |
| 잘 지내세요? | How are you? |
| 잘 부탁드립니다 | Please take care of me |
How to actually learn these
Reading a vocabulary list is not the same as being able to use the words when it counts. Research on adult language acquisition consistently shows that vocabulary retained through contextual use — hearing a word, producing it under mild pressure, and being corrected when you get it wrong — transfers to real speech far more effectively than passive list review. The fastest way to make vocabulary like this stick is to practise it in the actual conversations where it comes up: not drills, but a real back-and-forth where you have to retrieve the word and say it aloud. Language Lab turns vocabulary like this into voiced, real-life scenarios with Sonia, a live AI language tutor who holds real conversations, corrects you in context, and remembers the specific words you keep getting wrong across sessions. The vocabulary stops being something you read and becomes something you say — automatically, under pressure, when you actually need it.
Practice Korean that actually sticks.
Language Lab teaches the Korean you need to live abroad — with a live AI tutor. Coming soon.
Join the beta →