What does 좋은 아침 (joeun achim) mean?
- 좋은 아침joeun achim
Good morning
Casual: friends and people younger than you
좋은 아침 (joeun achim) means "Good morning" in Korean. It is a friendly, casual greeting, especially popular in texts and among friends and coworkers.
Where it comes from
좋은 means "good" (from 좋다) and 아침 means "morning". It is a direct translation of the English greeting, and Koreans traditionally greet each other in the morning with 안녕하세요 instead.
How to use 좋은 아침
좋은 아침 feels bright and a little modern. Friends text it to each other, couples say it, and coworkers in relaxed offices use it. Some people even say 굿모닝 straight from English.
For elders or formal settings, 안녕하세요 or 안녕히 주무셨어요? (Did you sleep well?) is more natural. You can make 좋은 아침 polite as 좋은 아침이에요 or 좋은 아침입니다, but it still sounds casual and cheerful.
A very common morning question between friends and family is 잘 잤어? (Did you sleep well?), which works like "good morning" too.
Examples
Tap a word to see what it means and save it to your flashcards.
Texting a friend first thing
Walking into a friendly office
A partner waking up
Other ways to say it
| Korean | Meaning | When |
|---|---|---|
| 좋은 아침이에요 | Good morning | Polite form. |
| 좋은 아침입니다 | Good morning | Formal, sometimes used by presenters or in group chats at work. |
| 굿모닝 | Good morning | Borrowed from English, casual and playful. |
| 잘 잤어? | Did you sleep well? | Casual morning greeting. |
| 안녕히 주무셨어요? | Did you sleep well? | Respectful morning greeting to elders. |
Questions learners ask
How do you say good morning in Korean?
좋은 아침 is the direct way. Many Koreans simply say 안녕하세요, and to elders 안녕히 주무셨어요? (Did you sleep well?).
Is joeun achim polite?
It is friendly and casual. 좋은 아침이에요 adds politeness, but for elders 안녕하세요 is safer.
Do Koreans actually say joeun achim?
Yes, especially younger people, in texts and in relaxed workplaces. It is newer than 안녕하세요, which is still the default greeting.