What Does 안녕 (Annyeong) Mean in Korean?
Written and reviewed by Jun and Jin, native Korean speakers
Published · Updated · How we write & review
After this page, you can say 안녕 (annyeong) for both hi and bye with friends — and know who it's too casual for.
10-second answer
What does Annyeong (안녕) mean?
안녕 (annyeong) is the casual Korean greeting — "hi" — and also "bye." One word, both directions. It's casual speech (반말, banmal), so it's for friends, people younger than you, and children — not for strangers, elders, or anyone you'd speak politely to.
Quick check — did that land?
1. Who can you greet with bare 안녕?
안녕! One word can mean both hi and bye in casual Korean.
Quick Examples
안녕! 오랜만이야!
annyeong! oraenmaniya!
Hi! Long time no see!
나 먼저 갈게. 안녕!
na meonjeo galge. annyeong!
I'll head out first. Bye!
얘들아, 안녕?
yaedeura, annyeong?
Hey guys, hi!
A teacher to kids, or between classmates.
A note on spelling. The official romanization of 안녕 is annyeong, but you'll see the word written many ways: annyong, anyong, anyoung, anyeong or anneyong. They're all the same word.
See also: 안녕하세요 — the polite hello
Hi and Bye at Once?
안녕 literally means "peace/well-being." Meeting someone: 'peace (to you)' = hi. Parting: 'peace (be with you)' = bye. Context does the rest — nobody is ever confused.
| Leaving politely instead? | Say |
|---|---|
| To someone who is staying | 안녕히 계세요 (annyeonghi gyeseyo) — 'stay in peace' |
| To someone who is leaving | 안녕히 가세요 (annyeonghi gaseyo) — 'go in peace' |
That 계세요/가세요 pair trips up every learner — who stays and who goes decides the verb. Casual speech skips the problem: 안녕 covers both.
Saying Goodbye to More Than a Person
Because 안녕 as "bye" really means "(go/stay in) peace," Koreans extend it beyond people to mark the end of anything — a year, a phase, an era. 안녕, 2026 ("Farewell, 2026") is a common New Year's Eve caption, and 안녕, 20대 ("Goodbye, my twenties") shows up around milestone birthdays. It works the same way English speakers say "farewell" to a decade or a job, except 안녕 doing double duty as both a greeting and this wistful send-off is distinctly Korean. You'll also see it used ironically or dramatically for a breakup or a definitive ending — a single word carrying real emotional weight despite being the most basic greeting a beginner learns.
Common Mistakes
Mistake #1 — 안녕 to your friend's parents
It's casual speech. To elders and strangers, always 안녕하세요 (hello) / 안녕히 가세요·계세요 (goodbye).
Mistake #2 — Mixing up the goodbye pair
You leave, they stay → 안녕히 계세요. They leave, you stay → 안녕히 가세요. Think: wish 'stay in peace' to the stayer, 'go in peace' to the goer.
If you'll meet again soon, swap 안녕 for one of the six ways to say see you later.
The two polite goodbyes built on 안녕히 are compared on 안녕히 가세요 vs 계세요.
Mini Quiz
2. You're leaving a friend's house. Their mother is staying. What do you say to her?
3. True or false? 안녕 can mean both hi and bye.
Related Knowledge
Learn Next
What Does 감사합니다 (Kamsahamnida) Mean?
Hello is done — thank you is next, and Korean has three levels of it.
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