How to Say “Goodbye” in Korean – Fun Ways to Bid Farewell

Today, we’ll show you how to say “goodbye” in Korean.

If you’ve already figured out how to say “hello” in Korean, then you’re ready to add the next important phrase to the mix.

If you’re used to studying languages, one of the first things you would learn is how to say “goodbye.” This is especially important when studying Korean because the term may be said in a variety of ways in this language.

We hope that after reading this article, you’ll be able to figure out which variation of “goodbye” in Korean to use in every situation.

We have a FREE guide that you can take with you on the go. Check it out below:

Let’s get to it!

Different Ways to Say “Goodbye” in Korean

There are several ways to say “goodbye” in Korean. Depending on who you’re speaking with and whether you’re leaving or remaining, you would use a different version of “goodbye.”

How to say “Goodbye” in Korean (formal)

There are two ways of saying “goodbye” in Korean in formal situations, which are 안녕히 가십시오 (annyeonghi gasipsio) and 안녕히 계십시오 (annyeonghi gyesipsio). 

1. 안녕히 가십시오 (annyeonghi gasipsio)

The first way of saying “goodbye” in Korean is 안녕히 가십시오 (annyeonghi gasipsio). You can use this in formal settings like radio shows or TV.

Listen here: 안녕히 가십시오 (annyeonghi gasipsio)

2. 안녕히 계십시오 (annyeonghi gyesipsio)

Another way of saying “goodbye” in Korean is 안녕히 계십시오 (annyeonghi gyesipsio). This also uses the formal form. You can also use this in formal settings like announcements or news reports.

Listen here: 안녕히 계십시오 (annyeonghi gyesipsio)

How to say “Goodbye” in Korean (standard)

There are 4 ways to say “goodbye” in Korean that use the standard form: You can say 안녕히 가세요 (annyeonghi gaseyo), 안녕히 계세요 (annyeonghi gyeseyo), 가세요 (gaseyo), and 잘 가요 (jal gayo). Which of these phrases to use will depend on the situation. We’ll discuss each of them below.

1. 안녕히 가세요 (annyeonghi gaseyo)

If the other person is leaving, then you should say 안녕히 가세요 (annyeonghi gaseyo).  This is the most common way to say “goodbye” in Korean.

Listen here: 안녕히 가세요 (annyeonghi gaseyo)

How to pronounce “Goodbye” in Korean (To people leaving)

As you’ve learned above, a standard way to say “goodbye” in Korean is 안녕히 가세요 (annyeonghi gaseyo). The video below will teach you how to pronounce this phrase correctly and introduce you to typical scenarios where you can use 안녕히 가세요 (annyeonghi gaseyo).

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So, let’s go ahead and break down the phrase 안녕히 가세요 (annyeonghi gaseyo)!

You have probably come across the word 안녕 (annyeong) when you studied how to say “hello” in Korean. Did you know that you can use 안녕 (annyeong) to say “goodbye” informally too?

The actual meaning of 안녕 (annyeong) is “peace.” The “히 (hi)” at the end of the word is one of the ways of turning a word into an adverb, so now 안녕히 (annyeonghi) roughly translates as “peacefully.”

가세요 (gaseyo) is the polite form of telling somebody to go. You can use this word when in a taxi, for example, “이태원에 가세요” (itaewone gaseyo | go to Itaewon).

When put together, 안녕히 가세요 (annyeonghi gaseyo) means “go peacefully.”

2. 안녕히 계세요 (annyeonghi gyeseyo)

If you are the person who is leaving, and the other person is the one who is staying, you should say 안녕히 계세요 (annyeonghi gyeseyo).

Listen here:  안녕히 계세요 (annyeonghi gyeseyo)

How to pronounce “Goodbye” in Korean (To people staying)

Here’s another video that will teach you another phrase that means “goodbye” in Korean. This time, we’ll learn about 안녕히 계세요 (annyeonghi gyeseyo), how to pronounce it, and when to use it.

Imagine you have to say “goodbye” to someone (so sad!).

계세요 (gyeseyo) is the honorific form of 있으세요 (isseuseyo | from the verb 있다 (itda) – to exist).

So when you say 안녕히 계세요 (annyeonghi gyeseyo), you are literally saying “peacefully exist.”

The difficulty that most students have is that they often mix up 가세요 (gaseyo) and 계세요 (gyeseyo). They sound quite similar! Keep on practicing, and eventually, you will get it right.

3. 가세요 (gaseyo)

Another common way of saying “goodbye” in Korean is to simply say 가세요 (gaseyo). Often older people use this word when saying “goodbye” to younger people. It is a polite way of saying “go.”

Listen here: 가세요 (gaseyo)

4. 잘 가요 (jal gayo)

You can say “goodbye” by using the phrase 잘 가요 (jal gayo), which literally means “go well.” This expression can only be used when the other person is leaving.

Listen here: 잘 가요 (jal gayo)

How to say “Goodbye” in Korean (informal)

Here are some informal ways to say “goodbye” in Korean: 안녕 (annyeong), 잘 가 (jal ga), 나 먼저 갈게 (na meonjeo galge), 다음에 봐 (daeume bwa), and 내일 봐 (naeil bwa). We’ll tell you about each one below.

1. 안녕 (annyeong)

The simplest way to say “goodbye” in Korean is to say 안녕 (annyeong). Remember that this is informal Korean, so don’t say it at work or to people older than you! You can use this regardless if the other person is staying or going.

Listen here: 안녕 (annyeong)

2. 잘 가 (jal ga)

If the other person is leaving, then you can say 잘 가 (jal ga), meaning “go well.”

Listen here: 잘 가 (jal ga)

3. 나 먼저 갈게 (na meonjeo galge)

If you are leaving, then a frequently used expression is 나 먼저 갈게 (na meonjeo galge), which means “I will go first.”

It is heard a lot in dramas and can be used with close friends.

Listen here: 나 먼저 갈게 (na meonjeo galge)

4. 다음에 봐 (daeume bwa)

This phrase means “See you next time.” You can use it in addition to the other “goodbye” phrases above.

Listen here: 다음에 봐 (daeume bwa)

5. 내일 봐 (naeil bwa)

Use 내일 봐 (naeil bwa) to express the idea of “see you tomorrow.”

Listen here: 내일 봐 (naeil bwa)

Remember that if you are speaking to somebody older than you, then you should include the 요 (yo) at the end.

If they are significantly older than you, then you may want to change 봐 to 보세요 (boseyo) so you can use it in formal settings. It’s good manners!

How to say “Bye” in Korean

If you want to say “bye” in Korean, then you may say 안녕 (annyeong). However, because this is an informal phrase, only use it with people close to you, like your friends or close family members. This may be used regardless of whether the other person is remaining or leaving. 

Wrap Up

Now you know the different Korean words to use when saying “goodbye in Korean” with a glimpse of Korean culture. If you liked this, then check out our free resource guide on how to learn Korean online. 

How about learning how to say “thank you” in Korean next?

Keep on studying, and 다음에 봐요 (daeume bwayo)!

Want to learn Korean phrases? Go to our Korean Phrases Page for even more!