만나서 반갑습니다.

When to use

Use this phrase immediately after introducing yourself when meeting someone new in a formal or polite setting. It is a standard and expected part of introductions in Korea.

How it works

This phrase combines a reason with a feeling to create a polite greeting.

• 만나서: Derived from the verb 만나다 (to meet), conjugated with -아/어서 to indicate a reason ('because we met').
• 반갑습니다: A formal, polite ending derived from the adjective 반갑다 (to be glad/pleased).

Speech Level

This uses the formal polite speech level (-ㅂ니다/-습니다). It is appropriate for most first encounters, especially in professional settings or with elders. Using this formal level shows that you acknowledge the social distance of a first meeting.

Sound Changes

Two sound changes occur here. First, the 'ㅂ' batchim in '갑' causes the following 'ㅅ' to tense up, sounding like 'ㅆ'. Second, the 'ㅂ' batchim in '습' meets the nasal consonant 'ㄴ' in '니', causing the 'ㅂ' to nasalize into 'ㅁ'. The actual spoken pronunciation is [반갑씀니다].

Notes

A polite and common way to express pleasure upon meeting someone for the first time.