Lesson A1-001 - Meeting and Greeting

EN → KO / Level: A1 ○ In progress

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About This Lesson

This lesson covers essential Korean greetings for beginners. You'll learn how to say hello, ask how someone is doing, and respond naturally in polite Korean.

Dialogue

A

안녕하세요.

an-nyeong-ha-se-yo Hi there.
B

안녕하세요.

an-nyeong-ha-se-yo Hello.
A

만나서 반가워요.

man-na-seo ban-ga-wo-yo It's nice to see you.
B

저도 만나서 반가워요.

jeo-do man-na-seo ban-ga-wo-yo Good to see you too.
A

오늘 어떻게 지내세요?

o-neul eo-tteo-ke ji-nae-se-yo How are you today?
B

잘 지내고 있어요.

jal ji-nae-go i-sseo-yo I'm doing well.

Word by Word

안녕하세요 Standard polite greeting meaning 'hello' or 'hi'. Used at any time of day with people you're not very close to or in formal situations.
만나서 Connective form of 만나다 (to meet), meaning 'having met' or 'meeting (someone)'. Connects with 반가워요 to form the greeting phrase.
반가워요 Polite form of 반갑다 (to be glad/happy), meaning 'nice to meet/see you'. Used as a fixed greeting expression.
저도 저 (I, polite) + 도 (also/too), meaning 'me too' or 'I also'. 저 is the humble/polite form of 나 (I).
오늘 Noun meaning 'today'. Used as a time adverb to specify when something is happening.
어떻게 Adverb meaning 'how' or 'in what way'. Used to ask about manner or state.
지내세요 Polite question form of 지내다 (to live/get along/do), meaning 'are you doing?' or 'how are you?'. The -세요 ending makes it polite.
잘 Adverb meaning 'well', 'good', or 'fine'. Commonly used before verbs to mean 'doing well'.
지내고 Connective form of 지내다 (to get along/do), meaning 'doing (and...)'. The -고 ending links verbs.
있어요 Polite present form of 있다 (to be/exist), meaning 'am/is/are (doing)'. Combined with the -고 ending it creates present progressive: 'I am doing'.

Grammar Points

Verb + 아/어요 (polite present)

잘 지내고 있어요.

jal ji-nae-go i-sseo-yo

I'm doing well.

Polite present tense ending -아/어요

만나서 반가워요 (greeting phrase)

만나서 반가워요.

man-na-seo ban-ga-wo-yo

Nice to meet/see you.

Fixed greeting: 'Nice to meet you'

Korean Vocabulary

만나서 verb
man-na-seo meeting (connective form of 만나다) 만나다

Used in greeting phrase 만나서 반가워요

반가워요 adj
ban-ga-wo-yo nice to meet/see you (polite) 반갑다

Expression of pleasure at meeting someone

안녕하세요 intj
an-nyeong-ha-se-yo Hello / Hi (polite greeting)

Standard polite greeting used at any time of day

어떻게 adv
eo-tteo-ke how

Question word for manner

오늘 noun
o-neul today

Time expression

잘 adv
jal well / good

Manner adverb meaning 'well'

저도 pron
jeo-do me too / I also

저 (I, polite) + 도 (also/too)

지내세요 verb
ji-nae-se-yo are you doing / how are you (polite) 지내다

Used in 어떻게 지내세요? (How are you?)

Alternative Expressions

안녕하세요. (Hello / Hi)

  • 안녕! (Hi! (casual)) - Used with close friends
  • 안녕하십니까? (Hello (formal)) - Very formal greeting
  • 반갑습니다. (Nice to meet you) - First meeting only

잘 지내고 있어요. (I’m doing well.)

  • 괜찮아요. (I’m fine / okay) - Casual response
  • 좋아요. (I’m good) - Simple positive response
  • 그냥 그래요. (So-so) - When not feeling great

오늘 어떻게 지내세요? (How are you today?)

  • 잘 지내세요? (Are you doing well?) - Common variation
  • 요즘 어때요? (How have you been lately?) - Casual

Quiz

Word Order

Arrange the words in the correct order.

How are you today? (Korean)

Show Answer오늘 어떻게 지내세요?

I'm doing well. (Korean)

Show Answer잘 지내고 있어요.

Nice to see you too. (Korean)

Show Answer저도 만나서 반가워요.

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

Hello / Hi (polite)

Show Answer안녕하세요

today

Show Answer오늘

well / good (adverb)

Show Answer잘 지내요