How to bow in Korea — 인사 (insa), 큰절 (keunjeol) and 안녕히 가세요

You walk into a small shop in Seoul. The owner looks up, smiles and lowers her head a little. You smile back. But should you bow too? And how low?

Take it one step at a time. The Korean word for a greeting is 인사 (insa). It means both the words and the bow. Here is how to do both.

Step 1: Start with the small nod

The Standard Korean Language Dictionary defines 목례 (mongnye) as a light greeting with the eyes. Another word for it is 눈인사 (nuninsa, "eye greeting").

Lower your head a little and look down for a moment. You will see it in elevators, in shops and between neighbors. It is quick and quiet. Use it for quick hellos and for people you see every day.

Step 2: Learn the everyday bow

This is the bow for most polite moments, such as meeting, thanking and saying goodbye. It is also called 인사 (insa).

1. Stand straight. Keep your arms at your sides.
2. Bend from the waist.
3. Stand up again.

A deeper bow usually shows more respect. A short bow is often fine for a coworker. A deeper bow is better for a teacher, an older person or a new boss.

Step 3: Say hello

안녕하세요 (annyeonghaseyo) works almost everywhere, at any time of day. Say it as you bow, or just after.

Step 4: Choose the right goodbye

Goodbye is where many learners get confused. Korean has two polite goodbyes. The right one depends on who is leaving.

• The other person leaves, and you stay: say 안녕히 가세요 (annyeonghi gaseyo, "Go in peace").
• You leave, and the other person stays: say 안녕히 계세요 (annyeonghi gyeseyo, "Stay in peace").
• You both leave: say 안녕히 가세요.

Here is an easy way to remember it. 가다 means "to go," so you say 가세요 to the person who goes. 계시다 means "to stay" in polite form, so you say 계세요 to the person who stays.

Try it in a real scene. You buy coffee and walk out of the café. You are leaving, and the staff stay. So you say 안녕히 계세요. The staff will probably say 안녕히 가세요 to you.

Ask yourself one question: who is leaving?

Step 5: Meet someone new

Use this pair when you meet someone new, especially at work:

• 처음 뵙겠습니다. (cheoeum boepgetseumnida) — "Nice to meet you," literally "I see you for the first time." It is very polite.
• 만나서 반갑습니다. (mannaseo bangapseumnida) — "I'm glad to meet you."

Say the first one with a bow. Then add the second one, or your name.

Step 6: Add the handshake when it fits

Handshakes are common too. Korea.net notes that the bow is the traditional greeting, but it often comes with a handshake among men.

Here is the Korean detail. To show respect, men put their left hand at the inside of the right elbow while they shake hands. The left hand is a small sign of respect. It is a lot like using two hands to receive something.

If someone older or more senior offers their hand, take it, bow your head a little, and place your left hand at your right elbow.

Situations to watch for

• Saying 안녕 to an older person. 안녕 (annyeong) is the casual form. Use it with close friends and children only.
• Waving goodbye to an older person. A Korea.net article says a bow is the proper goodbye for older people. Waving is fine with younger people.
• Taking something with one hand. When an older person gives you something, take it with both hands and bow a little. Korea.net describes this as expected.
• Friends and people your own age. Greetings are usually more relaxed. But at work and with older people, a clear bow is the safe choice.

A special case: the deep bow on the floor

You may see a much deeper bow on special family days. The dictionary defines 큰절 (keunjeol) as a bow where you do not stand. You sit down, bend at the waist and lower your head.

The most common time to see it is 세배 (sebae). The dictionary defines 세배 as a bow to older family members at the end of the year or at the start of the new year. Many families do it on 설날 (Seollal), the Lunar New Year. Children bow to grandparents and say 새해 복 많이 받으세요 (saehae bok mani badeuseyo, "Happy New Year," literally "receive a lot of luck in the new year").

As a visitor, you will mostly need the small nod and the everyday bow.