can be used at any time of the day as “Good morning,” “Good afternoon,” “Good evening,” “Hi,” “Hello,” or “How’s it going?” The common response is simply ne, annyeonghaseyo? 네, 안녕하세요?.
How do you do?
cheo-eum boep-kketsseumnida.
chuh-um bwep-kke-sseumnee-dah.
처음 뵙겠습니다.
What’s new?
byeollil eop-jjiyo?
byulleel up-jyo?
별일 없지요?
—Nothing much.
geujeo geuraeyo.
geu-juh geu-rayo.
그저 그래요.
—Things are hard.
jom himdeureoyo.
chohm him-deul-uhyo.
좀 힘들어요.
—Things are busy.
jom bappayo.
chohm bah-ppah-yo.
좀 바빠요.
How have you been?
yojeum eotteoke jinaeseyo?
yo-johm uh-ttoh-kay jeenehsay-yo?
요즘 어떻게 지내세요?
—I’ve been fine, thanks.
jal jinaeyo.
chahl jeenayo.
잘 지내요.
CASUAL GREETINGS BETWEEN CLOSE FRIENDS
How are you doing?
jal isseosseo?
chahl iss-uss-oh?
잘 있었어?
Yo, what’s up?
ya, jal isseonnya?
yah, chahl iss-uht-nyah?
야, 잘 있었냐?
Dude, what’s up?
saekki, jal isseonnya?*
sakkee, chahl iss-uht-nyah?
새끼, 잘 있었냐?
jasik, jal isseonnya?*
jah-sheek, chahl iss-uht-nyah?
자식, 잘 있었냐?
*Saekki “baby animal” and jasik “human baby” are used in Korean slang the way “asshole” is used in American English. When said to one’s closest friends, they can be expressions of affection—but handle with care.
How’ve you been?
eotteoke jinaesseo?
uh-toh-kay jiness-uh?
어떻게 지냈어?
—I’m fine.
jal isseosseo.
chahl jinessuh.
잘 있었어.
Have you been doing OK?
jal jinaesseo?
chahl jinessuh?
잘 지냈어?
—Yeah, man!
geurae, i jasiga!
geurae, i jashigah!
그래, 이 자식아!
Handle with care.
Where did you go?
eodi gasseosseo?
uh-dee gahssuss-uh?
어디 갔었어?
It’s been a while.
oraenmaniya.
awren-mahnee-yah.
오랜만이야.
—Yeah!
geurae!
geu-ray!
그래!
—Yeah, it’s been ages.
geurae, oraenmaniya.
geu-rae, awren-mahnee-yah.
그래, 오랜만이야.
How’s Peter/Mary?
Peter/Mary jal isseo?
Peter/Mary chahl isso?
피터/메리 잘 있어?
—Yeah, Peter/Mary is fine.
eung, (Peter/Mary) jal isseo.
eung, (Peter/Mary) chahl isso.
응, (피터/메리) 잘 있어.
The subject is often omitted when it is clearly understood from the context. 응 (eung) is very often used in casual conversation to agree with something the other person has said. It’s said a lot like a grunt.
How are Peter and Mary?
Peter hago Mary jal isseo?
Peter hahgo Mary chahl isso?
피터하고 메리 잘있어?
—Yeah, Peter and Mary are fine.
eung, (Peter hago Mary) jal isseo.
eung, (Peter hah-gaw Mary) chahl isso.
응,(피터하고 메리) 잘 있어.
Anything new with Peter/Mary?
Peter/Mary byeollil eopseo?
Peter/Mary byullil upso?
피터/메리 별일 없어?
—Yeah, he/she’s doing fine.
eung, byeollil eopseo.
eung, byullil upso.
응, 별일 없어.
—Yeah, he/she’s OK.
eung, jal jinae.
eung, chahl jee-nay.
응, 잘 지내.
—Yeah, he/she’s doing so-so.
eung, geujeo geurae.
eung, geu-juh geuray.
응, 그저 그래.
What’s wrong, man?
wae geurae, imma?
wa geu-ray, eem-mah.
왜 그래, 임마?
Handle with care.
Keep in mind as well that 임마 (eem-mah) is a swear word used by men and will sound very coarse and weird coming from a woman.
—Nothing’s wrong with me.
amugeot-do aniya.
ahmoogut-toe ahnee-yah.
아무것도 아니야.
What are you doing here?
eojjeon iliya?
uh-chun illeeya?
어쩐 일이야?
—Nothing special.
geunyang.
geun-yahng.
그냥.