The most common way to say goodbye in Korean is 안녕히 가세요 (annyeonghi gaseyo) when the other person is leaving, and 안녕히 계세요 (annyeonghi gyeseyo) when you are the one leaving. For casual situations, simply say 안녕 (annyeong).
If you want to sound natural, confident, and know exactly when to use each version, keep reading. This guide is your quick runway into every essential expression for saying goodbye in Korean language, from polite phrases to friendly everyday farewells. Let’s step inside and begin!
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1. 안녕 – Saying “Bye” the Casual Korean Way
Discover how to say goodbye in Korean informal with the versatile word: 안녕 (Annyeong)! This word, meaning “peace,” is a casual way to bid farewell, but it’s also used to say “hello.”
Whether you’re coming or going, 안녕 is your go-to phrase. Let’s explore how to use it effectively!
Example Sentence
Original Korean Sentence
A: 또 보자. B: 안녕.
Pronunciation Guide
A: 또 (ddo) 보자 (bo-ja). B: 안녕 (an-nyeong).
Meaning and Context
A: 또 보자 (See you again): A casual way to say “See you again” among friends. 또 (again) 보다 (to see) ” 자 (let’s; in a casual way).
B: 안녕 (Bye): An informal and friendly goodbye. It can also mean “Hello” in the right context.
English Translation
A: See you again.
B: Bye.
Literal Translation
A: Again let’s see.
B: Bye.
✍️ Related: Do You Speak English in Korean? 9 Easy Ways to Ask (With Examples)
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2. 안녕히 가세요 – Goodbye in Korean when someone is leaving
In Korean, there are two common ways to say goodbye in Korean depending on whether you’re leaving or the other person is leaving. “안녕히 가세요” is used when you’re staying and the other person is leaving.
Example Sentence
Original Korean Sentence
A: 다음에 또 봐요. B: 안녕히 가세요.
Pronunciation Guide
A: 다으메 (da-eu-me) 또 (ddo) 봐요 (bwa-yo). B: 안녕히 (an-nyeong-hi) 가세요 (ga-se-yo).
Meaning and Context
A: 다음 (next) 에 (in) 또 (again) 보 (to see) 아요 (let’s; in a polite and friendly way). B: 안녕히 (peacefully) 가 (to go) ＊ 세요 (please).
English Translation
A: See you again next time. B: Goodbye.
Literal Translation
A: Let’s see again in the next. B: Go peacefully.
✍️ Related: Did You Eat in Korean? Why This Greeting Means More Than Food
3. 안녕히 계세요 – How to say Goodbye in Korean when you are leaving
When you’re leaving and saying goodbye in Korean formal to someone who is staying, you’d use this phrase to mean something like “stay peacefully”.
Example Sentence
Original Korean Sentence
A: 안녕히 계세요. B: 응. 잘 가.
Pronunciation Guide
A: 안녕히 (an-nyeong-hi) 계세요 (gye-se-yo). B: 응 (eung). 잘 (jal) 가 (ga).
Meaning and Context
A: 안녕히 (peacefully) 계시 (to stay; honorific form of 있다) 어요 (I’m telling you to do this; in a polite and friendly way). B: 응 (okay; in a casual way). 잘 (well) 가 (to go) 아 (I’m telling you to do this; in a casual way).
English Translation
A: Goodbye (stay well).
B: Yeah, take care.
Literal Translation
A: Stay peacefully.
B: Yes, go well.
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4. 잘 가요 – “Go well” in Korean
Here’s another way to say goodbye in Korean, “go well” in Korean: 잘 가요. You say it when someone is leaving. “잘” means “well” and “가요” means “go.”
There’s also a casual version, “잘 가” (jal ga), which you use with friends and family.
Example Sentence
Original Korean Sentence
A: 나 갈게. B: 잘 가요.
Pronunciation Guide
A: 나 (na) 갈께 (gal-gge). B: 잘 (jal) 가요 (ga-yo).
Meaning and Context
A: 나 (I; in a casual way) 가 (to go) * ㄹ게 (I will). B: 잘 (well) 가 (to go) 요 (I’m telling you to do this; in a polite and friendly way).
English Translation
A: I’m going now.
B: Take care.
Literal Translation
A: I will go.
B: Go well.
✍️ Related: 미역국을 먹다 meaning – 3 Usage Examples & Breakdown
5. 잘 있어요 – “Stay well” in Korean
In Korean, there are two ways to say goodbye in Korean depending on whether you’re leaving or staying while the other person leaves. One is “잘 가요”, used when you’re staying.
The other to say goodbye in Korean is “잘 있어요”, used when you’re leaving and wishing the other person well. There’s also an informal version of this phrase, which is “잘 있어”. Dropping the 요 makes it informal. Explore how to say goodbye in Korean through these phrases!
Example Sentence
Original Korean Sentence
A: 이제 갈 거예요?. B: 네, 잘 있어요.
Pronunciation Guide
A: 이제 (i-je) 갈 (gal) 꺼예요 (ggeo-ye-yo)? B: 네 (ne), 잘 (jal) 잇써요 (it-sseo-yo).
Meaning and Context
A: 이제 (now) 가 (to go) * ㄹ 거 (will) 예요 (I’m asking you polite and friendly)?.
B: 네 (yes; in a formal way), 잘 (well) 있 (to stay) 어요 (I’m telling you polite and friendly).
English Translation
A: Are you leaving now?
B: Yes, take care.
Literal Translation
A: Will (you) go now?
B: Yes, stay well.
✍️ Related: Juseyo Meaning – What ‘주세요’ Means and How to Use It in Korean
6. 다음에 또 봐 – “See you again next time” in Korean
I bet you’re excited to learn goodbye in Korean informal beyond just the basics! One interesting phrase to know is “다음에 또 봐”, which means “see you again next time”.
Example Sentence
Original Korean Sentence
A: 오늘 즐거웠어. B: 나도. 다음에 또 봐.
Pronunciation Guide
A: 오늘 (o-neul) 즐거웟써 (jeul-geo-wot-sseo). B: 나도 (na-do). 다으메 (da-eu-me) 또 (ddo) 봐 (bwa).
Meaning and Context
A: 오늘 (today) 즐겁 (to be enjoyable) 었 (past tense) 어 (is; I’m telling you casually). B: 나 (me) 도 (too). 다음 (next) 에 (in) 또 (again) 보 (to see) 아 (let’s; in a casual way).
English Translation
A: I had fun today. B: Me too. See you again next time.
Literal Translation
A: (It) was enjoyable today. B: Me too. Let’s see again in the next.
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7. 나중에 또 만납시다 – Let’s meet again later
Let’s speak about how to say goodbye in Korean formal. “나중에 또 만납시다” is a formal and polite way to suggest meeting at a later time. It’s commonly used in formal settings.
Example Sentence
Original Korean Sentence
A: 회의가 끝났습니다. B: 나중에 또 만납시다.
Pronunciation Guide
A: 회의가 (hoe-ui-ga) 끈낫씀니다 (ggeun-nat-sseum-ni-da). B: 나중에 (na-jung-e) 또 (ddo) 만납씨다 (man-nap-ssi-da).
Meaning and Context
A: 회의 (meeting) 가 (my subject is the meeting) 끝나 (to be over) 았 (past tense) 습니다 (is; I’m telling you polite and formal way). B: 나중 (later) 에 (in) 또 (again) 만나 (to meet) ㅂ시다 (let’s; in a formal way).
English Translation
A: The meeting is over. B: Let’s meet again later.
Literal Translation
A: Meeting was over. B: Let’s meet again in later.
✍️ Related: 꿈을 꾸다 Meaning – 2 Korean Usages Explained Clearly
8. 저 먼저 갈게요 – “I’ll go first” in Korean
“저 먼저 갈게요” is a phrase of goodbye in Korean used to indicate that the speaker will depart or leave before others. It is a polite and considerate way to express the intention of being the first to leave in a given situation.
Explore this expression along with how to say goodbye in Korean to enhance your understanding of farewells in Korean culture!
Example Sentence
Original Korean Sentence
A: 바빠요? B: 네. 저 먼저 갈게요.
Pronunciation Guide
A: 바빠요 (ba-bba-yo)? B: 네 (ne). 저 (jeo) 먼저 (meon-jeo) 갈께요 (gal-gge-yo).
Meaning and Context
A: 바쁘 (to be busy) 아요 (are; I’m asking you polite and friendly)? B: 네 (yes; in a formal way). 저 (I; in a humble way) 먼저 (first) 가 (to go) ㄹ게 (I will) 요 (I’m telling you polite and friendly).
English Translation
A: Are you busy? B: Yes. I’ll go first.
Literal Translation
A: Are (you) busy? B: Yes. I’ll go first.
✍️ Related: 물어보다 Meaning, Conjugation, 묻다 vs 물어보다 3 Examples
9. 들어가세요 – “Please go in” in Korean
As a farewell greeting, this phrase in Korean translates to “Please go in.” It’s a kind way to wish someone a safe journey home, to work, or wherever they may be headed.
Example Sentence
Original Korean Sentence
A: 오늘 감사했습니다. B: 네, 들어가세요.
Pronunciation Guide
A: 오늘 (o-neul) 감사햇씀니다 (gam-sa-haet-sseum-ni-da). B: 네 (ne), 드러가세요 (deu-reo-ga-se-yo).
Meaning and Context
A: 오늘 (today) * 감사하 (to thank) ㅆ (past tense) 습니다 (I’m telling you polite and formal way).
B: 네 (yes; in a formal way), * 들어가 (to go in) 세요 (please).
English Translation
A: Thank you for today. B: You’re welcome
Literal Translation
A: Today, I thanked. B: Yes, please go in.
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10. 조심히 가세요 – “Take care” in Korean
“조심히 가세요” is a common expression to say goodbye in Korean used to bid farewell and wish someone a safe journey. It directly translates to “Go carefully” or “Go cautiously,” but it is commonly understood as “Take care” in English. It’s a polite and caring way to express concern for someone’s well-being as they depart.
Example Sentence
Original Korean Sentence
A: 그럼 다음에 봐요. B: 네, 조심히 가세요.
Pronunciation Guide
A: 그럼 (geu-reom) 다으메 (da-eu-me) 봐요 (bwa-yo). B: 네 (ne), 조시미 (jo-si-mi) 가세요 (ga-se-yo).
Meaning and Context
A: 그럼 (then) 다음 (next) 에 (in) 보 (to see) 아요 (let’s; in a polite and friendly way). B: 네 (yes; in a formal way), 조심히 (carefully) 가 (to go) 세요 (please).
English Translation
A: See you next time then. B: Yes, take care.
Literal Translation
A: Let’s see in the next then. B: Yes, Please go carefully
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FAQs (What You Might Still Wonder About)
Can I just wave instead of saying goodbye in Korean?
Yes, a friendly wave is common, especially with casual goodbyes like “안녕.”
Is it rude to just say 안녕 when leaving a formal meeting?
Yes, “안녕” is too casual for formal situations. It’s better to use “안녕히 가세요” or “안녕히 계세요.”
Do Koreans bow when saying goodbye?
Yes, in formal situations or when showing respect, Koreans often bow slightly when saying goodbye.
What’s the best goodbye phrase for a text message?
In casual texts, “잘 가” or “다음에 또 봐” are common. In formal messages, “안녕히 계세요” works well.
Is there a special goodbye for phone calls in Korean?
At the end of calls, people often say “들어가세요” or “안녕히 계세요,” depending on the formality.
What is the difference between saying goodbye in Korean and in Japanese?
In Korean, goodbye phrases often change based on who is leaving or staying, which is not always the case in Japanese.
Final words
In this conversation, we’ve explored various how to say goodbye in Korean, from informal expressions like “안녕” (annyeong) to more formal phrases like “안녕히 계세요” (annyeonghi gaseyo).
We’ve learned that these expressions not only convey goodbye in Korean but also convey well wishes for the other person’s safety and well-being.
Whether it’s saying “잘 가” (jal ga) to a friend or “조심히 가세요” (josimhi gaseyo) to someone you respect, each phrase carries its own nuances of politeness and care.
By understanding these nuances, we can navigate social interactions more effectively in Korean-speaking environments.
So, next time you bid farewell in Korean, remember how to say goodbye in Korean to choose the appropriate expression based on the context and relationship with the other person.
