안녕: casual hello and goodbye
Hi; bye (casual)
Try it freePractice this Korean dialogueShadow each line, then continue with the related scenario practice.Open →Explanation
안녕 is a casual greeting that can mean either “hi” or “bye.” It belongs to 반말, so the relationship matters more than the English translation.
Use 안녕 with close friends, children, family members who use casual speech together, or someone who has explicitly agreed to switch from 존댓말 to 반말.
Do not use 안녕 as your default with strangers, teachers, customers, or older adults. In those situations, 안녕하세요 is usually the safer and more natural greeting.
Tone still matters among friends. A bright 안녕! can sound cheerful, while a flat 안녕 can sound distant or final depending on context.
Examples
지수야, 안녕!
jisuya, annyeong!
Hi, Jisu!
나 먼저 갈게. 안녕!
na meonjeo galge. annyeong!
I am going first. Bye!
우리 이제 말 놓을까요? 네, 좋아요. 안녕!
uri ije mal noeulkkayo? ne, joayo. annyeong!
Shall we speak casually now? Yes, sounds good. Hi!
The switch to casual speech is made explicit first.
Mini dialogue
민수야, 안녕! 오랜만이야.
Minsu, hi! Long time no see.
안녕! 잘 지냈어?
Hi! Have you been well?
Common mistakes
- Do not assume that someone being younger automatically makes casual speech welcome. Relationship and social context still matter.
- Do not mix 안녕 with otherwise very formal endings unless you are deliberately quoting or joking.
How to practice
- Listen for whether the other person already uses 반말 with you.
- Use names or kinship terms naturally instead of adding English-style “hey” before every greeting.
- When uncertain, stay with 안녕하세요 until both people agree to speak casually.
Check yourself
Question 1 of 1
Which person is the best match for 안녕?
Connected learning paths
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