안녕히
A polite adverb meaning 'peacefully' or 'safely', used primarily in greetings to wish someone well.
Explanation at your level:
You use 안녕히 to say goodbye. It is very polite. You say it to teachers or older people. It means 'stay safe' or 'go safely'. It is a very important word for beginners!
This adverb is used to make your greetings polite. When you leave a shop, you say '안녕히 가세요'. When you are at home and your friend leaves, you say '안녕히 가세요'. It shows you care about their safety.
안녕히 is a functional adverb that modifies verbs of staying or going. It is essential for navigating social hierarchies in Korea. Understanding the difference between '계세요' (stay) and '가세요' (go) is the key to using this adverb correctly in daily life.
In B2, you recognize that 안녕히 is a fossilized adverbial form. It is no longer used outside of these specific greeting collocations. It serves as a marker of the 'polite' (Haeyo-che) or 'formal' (Hasipsio-che) speech levels, essential for maintaining professional relationships.
At the C1 level, you appreciate the cultural weight of 안녕히. It functions as a ritualized linguistic act. By using it, you are performing a social contract of mutual respect. It is rarely used in creative writing unless depicting specific dialogue that requires a high level of formality or character-specific politeness.
The usage of 안녕히 at the C2 level involves understanding its etymological roots in Sino-Korean. It represents a bridge between archaic concepts of 'peace' and modern social etiquette. Mastery involves knowing when to omit it for more intimate, casual registers, demonstrating a nuanced command of Korean social dynamics.
Word in 30 Seconds
- Means peacefully/safely
- Used in greetings
- Polite register
- Essential for beginners
When you hear 안녕히, you are hearing the heart of Korean etiquette. It is an adverb that means peacefully or safely. Think of it as a way to sprinkle kindness onto your goodbyes.
It is rarely used alone; it is almost always paired with specific verbs. You will hear it in 안녕히 가세요 (go peacefully) or 안녕히 계세요 (stay peacefully). It is the magic word that turns a simple 'bye' into a warm wish for someone's safety.
The word comes from the Hanja 安寧 (An-Nyeong). In ancient times, wishing someone 'peace' was a profound gesture because life was often unpredictable. Over centuries, this formal wish for tranquility evolved into the standard greeting we use today.
It reflects the Confucian roots of Korean culture, where acknowledging the well-being of others is a fundamental social duty. It hasn't changed much in meaning, but it has become the standard anchor for all polite parting phrases in the modern language.
You will mostly use 안녕히 in two main scenarios: leaving a place or saying goodbye to someone who is leaving. It is a polite register word, so you should use it with teachers, strangers, or elders.
It is not used in casual 'hey' or 'hi' situations. If you are talking to a close friend, you would drop the 'hi' suffix and just use '안녕'. Always remember: 안녕히 is for showing respect and care.
1. 안녕히 가세요: Used when the other person is leaving. 2. 안녕히 계세요: Used when you are the one leaving. 3. 안녕히 주무세요: A polite way to say 'sleep peacefully' (Good night). 4. 안녕히 다녀오세요: Used to tell someone to have a safe trip/commute. 5. 안녕히 계십시오: A very formal, military-style version of goodbye.
Grammatically, 안녕히 acts as an adverb modifying the following verb. The pronunciation is [an-nyeong-hi]. Note the nasal sound in the middle—it flows smoothly.
It doesn't have plural forms or articles because it is an adverb. It rhymes loosely with words like 'sunny' in terms of the 'ny' sound, though the vowel structure is quite different. Focus on the 'hi' at the end to keep it soft and polite.
Fun Fact
It originates from the characters for 'peaceful' and 'quiet'.
Pronunciation Guide
Clear 'an' followed by 'nyeong' and 'hi'.
Similar to standard Korean pronunciation.
Common Errors
- Mispronouncing the 'ng' sound
- Dropping the 'h'
- Incorrect vowel length
Rhymes With
Difficulty Rating
Easy to read
Easy to write
Requires correct intonation
Easy to hear
What to Learn Next
Prerequisites
Learn Next
Advanced
Grammar to Know
Polite endings
가세요
Honorifics
계시다
Adverb formation
안녕히
Examples by Level
안녕히 가세요.
Peacefully go (polite).
Standard polite goodbye.
안녕히 계세요.
Peacefully stay (polite).
Used by the person leaving.
안녕히 주무세요.
Peacefully sleep.
Polite good night.
안녕히 가십시오.
Go peacefully (formal).
Very formal.
안녕히 오세요.
Come peacefully.
Used to welcome someone.
안녕히 계십시오.
Stay peacefully (formal).
Very formal.
안녕히 가렴.
Go peacefully (affectionate).
Used for younger people.
안녕히 다녀오세요.
Go and come back peacefully.
Safe travels.
안녕히 가세요, 선생님.
안녕히 계세요, 내일 봐요.
부모님께 안녕히 주무세요라고 했어요.
안녕히 가십시오, 사장님.
안녕히 계십시오, 감사합니다.
안녕히 오세요, 어서 오세요.
안녕히 다녀오세요, 잘 가요.
모두 안녕히 계세요.
선생님께 안녕히 가시라고 인사했다.
안녕히 주무셨어요? 아침 인사.
가게에서 나올 때 안녕히 계세요라고 말한다.
안녕히 다녀오시길 바랍니다.
안녕히 계십시오, 다시 뵙겠습니다.
안녕히 가세요, 조심히 가세요.
안녕히 계세요, 덕분에 잘 쉬었습니다.
안녕히 가십시오, 좋은 하루 되세요.
그는 정중하게 안녕히 가시라는 인사를 남겼다.
안녕히 계시라는 말도 없이 떠났다.
안녕히 주무시라는 인사가 따뜻하게 들렸다.
어르신께 안녕히 가시라고 깍듯하게 인사했다.
안녕히 계십시오라는 말에 예의가 느껴진다.
그는 안녕히 가라는 인사를 건네며 문을 닫았다.
안녕히 다녀오시라는 인사를 뒤로하고 출발했다.
안녕히 계세요라는 말은 참 듣기 좋은 인사다.
안녕히 가시라는 짧은 인사에 많은 아쉬움이 담겨 있었다.
그는 안녕히 계시라는 마지막 인사를 남기고 떠났다.
안녕히 주무시라는 말 한마디가 큰 위로가 되었다.
안녕히 가십시오라는 격식 있는 인사가 울려 퍼졌다.
안녕히 계시라는 인사를 건네는 그의 표정이 밝았다.
안녕히 다녀오시라는 말은 한국인의 정을 보여준다.
안녕히 가라는 인사는 때로는 슬픈 이별을 의미한다.
그녀는 안녕히 계시라는 인사를 잊지 않았다.
안녕히 가시라는 그 짧은 문구는 수천 년의 예법을 담고 있다.
안녕히 계시라는 인사는 단순한 작별이 아닌 평안의 기원이다.
안녕히 주무시라는 말은 고단한 하루의 끝을 맺는 의식이다.
안녕히 가십시오라는 격식은 관계의 거리를 정의한다.
안녕히 계시라는 인사를 건네는 순간, 정적이 흘렀다.
안녕히 다녀오시라는 말은 무사 귀환을 바라는 간절함이다.
안녕히 가라는 인사는 떠나는 자에 대한 마지막 배려이다.
안녕히 계시라는 인사는 다시 만날 날을 기약하는 약속이다.
Common Collocations
Idioms & Expressions
"안녕히 가세요"
Go in peace
안녕히 가세요!
polite"안녕히 계세요"
Stay in peace
안녕히 계세요.
polite"안녕히 주무세요"
Sleep in peace
안녕히 주무세요!
polite"안녕히 다녀오세요"
Travel in peace
안녕히 다녀오세요.
polite"안녕히 계십시오"
Stay in peace (formal)
안녕히 계십시오.
formal"안녕히 가십시오"
Go in peace (formal)
안녕히 가십시오.
formalEasily Confused
Looks similar
Hello vs Goodbye
안녕하세요 vs 안녕히 가세요.
Root word
Casual vs Formal
안녕 vs 안녕히.
Same meaning
Casual vs Polite
잘 가 vs 안녕히 가세요.
Similar meaning
Literary vs Daily
평안히 쉬세요 vs 안녕히 계세요.
Sentence Patterns
Subject + 안녕히 + Verb
선생님 안녕히 계세요.
안녕히 + Verb + (polite ending)
안녕히 가십시오.
안녕히 + Verb + 바랍니다
안녕히 가시길 바랍니다.
안녕히 + Verb + (honorific)
안녕히 주무셨어요?
안녕히 + Verb + (imperative)
안녕히 가세요!
Word Family
Nouns
Related
How to Use It
10
Formality Scale
Common Mistakes
It is an adverb and needs a verb.
Context matters.
안녕히 is too formal for friends.
Correct spelling is critical.
안녕히 is for parting.
Tips
Memory Palace
Imagine a peace sign when saying it.
Native Usage
Use it every time you leave a store.
Respect
It shows you value the other person.
Verb Pairing
Always pair with a verb.
Soft H
Keep the 'hi' soft.
Don't skip
Don't just say '안녕' to elders.
Origin
It means peace.
Flashcards
Write the full phrase.
Daily Practice
Practice with a partner.
Listening
Listen to K-dramas.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
An-nyeong-hi: 'An' (on) 'nyeong' (young) 'hi' (high) - stay high on peace!
Visual Association
A person waving goodbye while surrounded by peaceful clouds.
Word Web
Challenge
Say '안녕히 가세요' to your mirror 5 times.
Word Origin
Sino-Korean
Original meaning: Peace and tranquility
Cultural Context
Always use with honorifics for elders.
Equivalent to 'Have a safe trip' or 'Take care'.
Practice in Real Life
Real-World Contexts
At a store
- 안녕히 계세요
- 안녕히 가세요
At school
- 선생님 안녕히 계세요
At home
- 안녕히 주무세요
Travel
- 안녕히 다녀오세요
Conversation Starters
"How do you say goodbye to a teacher?"
"When do you use 계세요?"
"Is 안녕히 formal?"
"What does the root mean?"
"Can you use it with friends?"
Journal Prompts
Write about your first time using this word.
Why is politeness important?
Compare goodbye phrases.
How does this word make you feel?
Frequently Asked Questions
8 questionsNo, it needs a verb.
Yes, it is polite.
Go vs Stay.
No, that's 안녕하세요.
Yes.
Yes, to be polite.
Yes, in formal letters.
It is part of the goodbye phrase.
Test Yourself
선생님, ___ 가세요.
안녕히 is the polite adverb.
Which means 'stay peacefully'?
계세요 is for staying.
You use 안녕히 with best friends.
It is too formal.
Word
Meaning
Matches the verb to the action.
Adverb + Verb + Subject/Object.
Score: /5
Summary
Always use 안녕히 with a verb to wish someone peace and safety when parting.
- Means peacefully/safely
- Used in greetings
- Polite register
- Essential for beginners
Memory Palace
Imagine a peace sign when saying it.
Native Usage
Use it every time you leave a store.
Respect
It shows you value the other person.
Verb Pairing
Always pair with a verb.
Related Content
Related Grammar Rules
More communication words
~대해서
A2About; a particle indicating the subject of discussion.
~ 에 대해
A2About; concerning; regarding.
~쯤
A2About; approximately (quantity, time)
동의
B1The act of agreeing with someone's opinion or a proposal. A core functional word for IELTS Writing Task 2 'agree or disagree' questions.
모호성
B2The quality of being open to more than one interpretation; inexactness or lack of clarity.
그리고
A1And/and then
공지
A2A formal announcement or notification.
답하다
A1To answer
대답하다
A1To answer
대답
A1Answer; Reply (response to a question)
