Phrase in 30 Seconds
여보세요 is the essential way to say 'Hello' on the phone or politely get someone's attention from a distance.
- Means: 'Hello' (phone) or 'Excuse me/Look here' (calling out).
- Used in: Answering phone calls or finding someone in a large space.
- Don't confuse: Never use it to greet someone face-to-face in a normal meeting.
Explanation at your level:
Meaning
Used to answer the phone or get someone's attention.
Cultural Background
Phone etiquette is very important. Even if you are angry, answering with a polite '여보세요' is expected before the conversation turns serious. In Korean companies, answering with '여보세요' is often replaced by '[Department Name], [Your Name]입니다.' to show professionalism. In the countryside, '여보세요' is used loudly to announce oneself at a neighbor's gate, as houses are often open but the owners are in the fields. Younger Koreans often skip '여보세요' with friends, answering with '어' (Yeah) or '왜' (Why), but they still use it for any official or unknown calls.
The Tone Matters
Always use a rising intonation when answering the phone to sound friendly and inquisitive.
Not for Teachers
Never say '여보세요' to your teacher in person; it sounds like you are looking for them under a table.
The Tone Matters
Always use a rising intonation when answering the phone to sound friendly and inquisitive.
Not for Teachers
Never say '여보세요' to your teacher in person; it sounds like you are looking for them under a table.
The 'Yeo-bo' trick
If you forget the word, just remember 'Yo-Yo' and 'See'—Yeo-bo-se-yo!
Test Yourself
Choose the most appropriate situation to use '여보세요?'.
Which of these scenarios requires '여보세요?'
여보세요 is the standard greeting for answering a phone call.
Complete the phone dialogue.
A: (전화벨이 울린다) B: ________? A: 안녕하세요, 저 민수예요.
When the phone rings (전화벨이 울린다), the standard response is 여보세요.
Match the phrase to the situation.
Match: 1. 여보세요 2. 저기요 3. 안녕하세요
여보세요 is for phones, 저기요 is for getting attention (restaurants), and 안녕하세요 is for general greetings.
Fill in the blank with the correct form.
길에서 멀리 있는 사람을 부를 때: "________! 물건 좀 확인해 보세요!"
To call out to someone far away, 여보세요 is used as a polite attention-grabber.
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
Where to use 여보세요
Correct
- • Phone calls
- • Empty shops
- • Calling distant strangers
Incorrect
- • Classroom
- • Office meeting
- • Restaurant table
Practice Bank
5 exercisesWhich of these scenarios requires '여보세요?'
여보세요 is the standard greeting for answering a phone call.
A: (전화벨이 울린다) B: ________? A: 안녕하세요, 저 민수예요.
When the phone rings (전화벨이 울린다), the standard response is 여보세요.
Match: 1. 여보세요 2. 저기요 3. 안녕하세요
여보세요 is for phones, 저기요 is for getting attention (restaurants), and 안녕하세요 is for general greetings.
길에서 멀리 있는 사람을 부를 때: "________! 물건 좀 확인해 보세요!"
To call out to someone far away, 여보세요 is used as a polite attention-grabber.
🎉 Score: /5
Frequently Asked Questions
10 questionsYes, it's the standard way to answer the phone even with friends, though you might switch to informal language immediately after.
No, it's actually quite polite because of the '-세요' ending. It's the standard way to get attention from a distance.
People often say '여보세요? 여보세요?' when the connection is bad to check if the other person can still hear them.
Not for 'Hello'. For 'Honey', it's just '여보'. For 'Excuse me', it's '저기요'.
Yes, '여보세요' is also the standard phone greeting in North Korea.
Rarely. In text, people usually start with '안녕하세요' or 'ㅎㅇ' (slang for Hi).
It's not 'wrong', but it sounds a bit unnatural. It's like answering the phone in English with 'Good morning' instead of 'Hello'.
No, it is a native Korean phrase derived from '여기 보세요'.
Yes, but often followed by the person's name or company name for clarity.
Yes, in a slightly annoyed context, it can mean 'Look here/Listen to me', but be careful with your tone.
Related Phrases
저기요
similarExcuse me (to get attention)
여기요
similarOver here / Excuse me
여보
builds onHoney / Darling
이봐요
contrastLook here
안녕
contrastHi / Bye
Where to Use It
Answering a call from a friend
Friend: (Phone rings)
You: 여보세요? 어, 민수야!
Entering an empty cafe
You: 여보세요? 사장님 계세요?
Owner: 네, 나갑니다!
Bad phone reception
You: 여보세요? 여보세요? 잘 안 들려요!
Other: ...(static)...
Calling out to someone who dropped something
You: 여보세요! 지갑 떨어뜨리셨어요!
Stranger: 아, 감사합니다!
Answering a work call (Unknown number)
You: 여보세요, 홍길동입니다.
Caller: 안녕하세요, 여기는 한국은행입니다.
Checking if someone is awake/conscious
You: 여보세요? 정신이 좀 드세요?
Person: (Groans)
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Imagine you are looking for a 'Yo-Yo' and you 'See' it 'Yo'! (Yeo-bo-se-yo).
Visual Association
Picture a person holding an old-fashioned telephone in one hand and a pair of binoculars in the other, looking for the person they are talking to.
Rhyme
Phone rings, don't be slow, just say Yeoboseyo!
Story
You walk into a dark room. You can't see anyone. You shout 'Yeoboseyo?' to see if a ghost answers. Then your phone rings, and you say it again to the ghost on the line.
In Other Languages
Similar to Japanese 'Moshi moshi' or Chinese 'Wei', which are also specialized phone greetings that aren't used in person.
Word Web
Challenge
Try answering your next spam call in Korean by saying '여보세요?' with a perfectly rising intonation.
Review this every time you receive a phone call for the next 3 days.
Pronunciation
Short 'yo' sound followed by a soft 'bo'.
Polite ending, sounds like 'say-yo'.
Formality Spectrum
여보세요, 말씀하십시오. (Phone call)
여보세요? (Phone call)
어, 나야. (Phone call)
어, 왜? (Phone call)
Derived from the phrase '여기 보세요' (Yeogi boseyo), meaning 'Please look here.'
Fun Fact
The 'Yeobo' in 'Yeoboseyo' is the same 'Yeobo' used for 'Honey/Darling' between married couples!
Cultural Notes
Phone etiquette is very important. Even if you are angry, answering with a polite '여보세요' is expected before the conversation turns serious.
“여보세요? (Polite tone even when stressed)”
In Korean companies, answering with '여보세요' is often replaced by '[Department Name], [Your Name]입니다.' to show professionalism.
“마케팅팀 김철수입니다.”
In the countryside, '여보세요' is used loudly to announce oneself at a neighbor's gate, as houses are often open but the owners are in the fields.
“여보세요! 집에 아무도 없어요?”
Younger Koreans often skip '여보세요' with friends, answering with '어' (Yeah) or '왜' (Why), but they still use it for any official or unknown calls.
“어, 나 지금 가고 있어.”
Conversation Starters
How would you answer the phone if your boss called you?
You enter a library but don't see the librarian. What do you say?
The phone line is very static. What do you say to check if they are there?
Common Mistakes
Saying '여보세요' to a teacher when entering a classroom.
안녕하세요, 선생님.
L1 Interference
Using '여보세요' to call a waiter in a busy restaurant.
저기요! or 여기요!
L1 Interference
Saying '여보세요' to your spouse as a term of endearment.
여보
L1 Interference
Using a flat, angry tone when answering a polite call.
여보세요? (Rising tone)
L1 Interference
In Other Languages
もしもし (Moshi moshi)
Moshi moshi is strictly for phones, while Yeoboseyo can be used to call out to people in person.
喂 (Wèi)
Wei is much shorter and can sound more abrupt than the polite Yeoboseyo.
¿Diga? / ¿Dígame?
Spanish uses different words (Bueno, Aló, Hola) depending on the country.
Allô ?
Allô is never used to call out to a stranger on the street like Yeoboseyo.
Hallo / [Surname]
The use of the surname is a major cultural difference in phone etiquette.
ألو (Alo) / نعم (Na'am)
Arabic phone etiquette often involves longer religious blessings after the initial hello.
Alô / Estou?
The European Portuguese 'Estou' focuses on the speaker's presence, while Yeoboseyo focuses on the listener's attention.
Hello?
Yeoboseyo cannot be used for in-person greetings, unlike 'Hello'.
Spotted in the Real World
“여보세요 밥은 먹었니 어디서 뭘 하는지”
The lyrics depict a man calling his girlfriend to check on her.
“여보세요? 거기 누구 없어요?”
Gi-hun calls the number on the card for the first time.
“여보세요? 문광 언니?”
Answering the intercom when the former housekeeper returns.
“여보세요? ...어떻게 받는 거지?”
The Grim Reaper struggles to use a smartphone for the first time.
Easily Confused
Learners think it's the only way to say 'Hello'.
Use 안녕하세요 for faces, 여보세요 for phones.
They sound almost identical.
If it has '-세요', it's 'Hello'. If not, it's 'Honey'.
Frequently Asked Questions (10)
Yes, it's the standard way to answer the phone even with friends, though you might switch to informal language immediately after.
usage contextsNo, it's actually quite polite because of the '-세요' ending. It's the standard way to get attention from a distance.
practical tipsPeople often say '여보세요? 여보세요?' when the connection is bad to check if the other person can still hear them.
usage contextsNot for 'Hello'. For 'Honey', it's just '여보'. For 'Excuse me', it's '저기요'.
grammar mechanicsYes, '여보세요' is also the standard phone greeting in North Korea.
cultural usageRarely. In text, people usually start with '안녕하세요' or 'ㅎㅇ' (slang for Hi).
practical tipsIt's not 'wrong', but it sounds a bit unnatural. It's like answering the phone in English with 'Good morning' instead of 'Hello'.
common mistakesNo, it is a native Korean phrase derived from '여기 보세요'.
grammar mechanicsYes, but often followed by the person's name or company name for clarity.
usage contextsYes, in a slightly annoyed context, it can mean 'Look here/Listen to me', but be careful with your tone.
usage contexts
