5. Self-Introduction

“Hello.”

안녕하세요?

What does 안녕하세요 exactly mean?

Korean Greeting: Hello, did you eat?

“I am [name].”

Most formal and polite: 저는 [name]입니다.
Casually polite: 저는 [name]이에요 or [name]예요.

• 저: I (humble form)
• -는: topic particle = bringing up the topic, in this case “저” (I)
• 입니다 [임니다]: most formal form of the verb 이다(to be) : “am/are/is”
• 이에요/예요: casually polite form of 이다(to be): “am/are/is”
  • If your name ends with a consonant in 한글(Hangeul): 이에요.
    • 젠(Jen)이에요. / 존(John)이에요. / 태형(Taehyung)이에요. / 재석(Jaesuk)이에요.
  • If your name ends with a vowel in 한글(Hangeul): 예요.
    • 크리스(Chris)예요. / 제니(Jenny)예요. / 멜라니(Melanie, Melanee)예요. / 지효(Jihyo)예요.

“Nice to meet you.”

Short: 반갑습니다. [방갑씀니다]
Long: 만나서 반갑습니다.

• 반갑습니다: most formal form of the adjective 반갑다(to be glad to see or meet someone)
• 만나서 반갑습니다: 만나다(to meet) + ~아/어서(so) + 반갑습니다(glad)
  = I meet(met) you, so I am glad.