To say nice to meet you in Korean, use 만나서 반갑습니다 (mannaseo bangapseumnida) in formal introductions, or 만나서 반가워요 (mannaseo bangawoyo) in relaxed but polite ones. Among friends of friends your age, 반가워 (bangawo) is enough. In very formal first meetings, Koreans often open with 처음 뵙겠습니다 (cheoeum boepgetseumnida).
- Formal
- 만나서 반갑습니다 (mannaseo bangapseumnida)
- Polite
- 만나서 반가워요 (mannaseo bangawoyo)
- Casual
- 반가워 (bangawo)
- Very formal opener
- 처음 뵙겠습니다 (cheoeum boepgetseumnida)
- Level
- A1
What does mannaseo bangapseumnida mean literally?
만나서 (mannaseo) means "because (I) met you", from 만나다, to meet. 반갑다 (bangapda) describes the gladness of seeing someone. Put together: I am glad because we have met. Koreans often shorten it to the second word alone.
| Korean | Romanization | Speech level | Where it fits |
|---|---|---|---|
| 처음 뵙겠습니다 | cheoeum boepgetseumnida | Very formal | Business meetings, meeting a partner's parents |
| 만나서 반갑습니다 | mannaseo bangapseumnida | Formal (합쇼체) | Introductions at work or in a class |
| 반갑습니다 | bangapseumnida | Formal (합쇼체) | The short version, very common |
| 만나서 반가워요 | mannaseo bangawoyo | Polite (해요체) | Social introductions with adults |
| 반가워 | bangawo | Casual (반말) | Peers your age, children |
처음 뵙겠습니다 literally says "I am seeing you for the first time", with the humble verb 뵙다 (boepda), so you never use it with a child or a close peer.
How do you reply to nice to meet you in Korean?
Return the same phrase with 저도 (jeodo, me too) in front, matching the other person's level. In casual speech 나도 (nado) does the same job.
저도 반갑습니다.
Jeodo bangapseumnida.
Nice to meet you too.
네, 반가워요.
Ne, bangawoyo.
Yes, nice to meet you.
나도 반가워.
Nado bangawo.
Nice to meet you too.
Casual.
반가웠어요.
Bangawosseoyo.
It was nice meeting you.
Past tense, said when parting.
In this Contos story, two neighbours who have only seen each other through their windows finally exchange words, written large on paper for the other to read:
반갑습니다.Bangapseumnida.
What do you say after nice to meet you?
A formal Korean self-introduction tends to follow a fixed order: greeting, name, nice to meet you, and finally 잘 부탁드립니다 (jal butakdeurimnida). That last phrase has no neat English equivalent; it roughly means "I look forward to getting along with you" or "please treat me kindly", and it is how new colleagues and classmates round off.
처음 뵙겠습니다.
Cheoeum boepgetseumnida.
How do you do.
잘 부탁드립니다.
Jal butakdeurimnida.
I look forward to working with you.
Formal. Polite and lighter: 잘 부탁해요 (jal butakaeyo).
The middle step, giving your name, has its own page: how to say my name is in Korean.
Read Signal Across the Courtyard in Korean at A1, a story told in window signals.
Read free in your browserFrequently asked questions
How do you pronounce bangapseumnida?
Roughly "bahn-gap-sum-ni-da". The ㅂ at the end of 갑 is barely released, and the b in 습니다 becomes m before n.
Can bangapseumnida mean good to see you?
Yes. 반갑다 is the gladness of meeting, so it also works when you see someone again after a while. 만나서 반갑습니다 with 만나서 sounds most like a first meeting.
Do you bow when saying nice to meet you?
In formal first meetings a bow is usual, and in business it often comes with a two-handed handshake or an exchange of cards. Younger people in casual settings may just nod.
Is bangawo rude?
It is casual, so it suits people your age or younger in relaxed settings. To anyone older, or in a work setting, it sounds too familiar.