Korean: Say 'I Should Get Going' and 'Let's Catch Up Soon' to Exit a Conversation Politely
Learn elementary Korean exit lines like 가야 해요 and 다음에 또 봐요, with a reason for leaving, so you can end a chat smoothly instead of just saying goodbye.
By PookieFriends & plans · Yapr Learn
In Korean, ending a conversation is not the same as saying goodbye forever. When you are with friends, classmates, or coworkers, you often signal that you need to leave the interaction now. The key phrase is 가야 해요 (gaya haeyo), which means 'I have to go.' You can add a reason like 숙제가 있어요 (sukjega isseoyo, 'I have homework') or 약속이 있어요 (yaksogi isseoyo, 'I have an appointment'). Then you can soften the exit with 다음에 또 봐요 (daeume tto bwayo, 'see you again next time') or 나중에 또 연락해요 (najunge tto yeollakhaeyo, 'let's contact each other again later'). This lesson focuses on leaving the current interaction, not on a final farewell.
By the end, you can…
- say I have to go and give a simple reason in Korean.
- use a friendly 'let's catch up soon' line to exit a conversation politely.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
가야 해요.
I have to go.
ga-ya hae-yo
The basic exit line. Use it when you need to leave now. It is polite and works with most people.
숙제가 있어요.
I have homework.
suk-je-ga i-sseo-yo
A common reason for students. You can replace 숙제 with other nouns, like 약속 (appointment) or 일 (work).
약속이 있어요.
I have an appointment.
yak-sso-gi i-sseo-yo
Use this when you have plans with someone else. It is a clear, neutral reason for leaving.
다음에 또 봐요.
See you again next time.
da-eu-me tto bwa-yo
A friendly closing line. It means the relationship continues, but this interaction is ending.
나중에 또 연락해요.
Let's contact each other again later.
na-jung-e tto yeol-la-kae-yo
Use this with friends or close coworkers when you want to catch up later. It is softer than just saying goodbye.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
The pattern -아/어야 해요 (-aya/haeya haeyo) means 'must' or 'have to.' With 가다 (gada, 'to go'), it becomes 가야 해요 (gaya haeyo). You can also say 먼저 가야 해요 (meonjeo gaya haeyo, 'I have to go first') when leaving before others. To give a reason, use a noun plus 이/가 있어요 (i/ga isseoyo, 'there is/ I have'). For example, 숙제가 있어요 (sukjega isseoyo) or 약속이 있어요 (yaksogi isseoyo). The reason makes the exit feel natural, not sudden.
When to use it
Use these lines when you are in the middle of a conversation and need to stop. Start with a short signal like 저는 이제 가야 해요 (jeoneun ije gaya haeyo, 'I have to go now'). Then give a reason: 숙제가 있어요. Finally, close warmly: 다음에 또 봐요 or 나중에 또 연락해요. This is different from a final goodbye like 안녕히 계세요 (annyeonghi gyeseyo), which is used when you leave a place and may not see the person soon. The exit lines here keep the door open for future contact.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
미나 씨, 저는 이제 가야 해요.
Mina, I have to go now.Mi-na ssi, jeo-neun i-je ga-ya hae-yo.아, 그래요? 왜요?
Oh, really? Why?A, geu-rae-yo? Wae-yo?숙제가 있어요. 다음에 또 봐요.
I have homework. See you again next time.Suk-je-ga i-sseo-yo. Da-eu-me tto bwa-yo.네, 나중에 또 연락해요.
Okay, let's contact each other again later.Ne, na-jung-e tto yeol-la-kae-yo.A little context goes a long way
In Korean, leaving a conversation often includes a reason, even a simple one. Saying just 가야 해요 without a reason can sound abrupt to some listeners, especially with coworkers or older people. Adding a short reason like 숙제가 있어요 or 약속이 있어요 shows that you are not ending the relationship, only the current interaction. With close friends, you can be shorter, but a friendly closing line like 다음에 또 봐요 keeps the tone warm.
One thing to watch for
Saying 안녕히 가세요 or 안녕 as your only exit line when you just need to stop talking for now.
Try this instead: Use 가야 해요 with a reason and a future contact line. For example, 저는 이제 가야 해요. 숙제가 있어요. 다음에 또 봐요. This exits the interaction while keeping the relationship open. 안녕히 가세요 is better when you are actually leaving a place and saying a fuller goodbye.
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1How do you say 'I have to go' politely in Korean?
Show a sample answer
가야 해요.
가야 해요 is the standard polite exit line. You can also say 저는 이제 가야 해요 to mean 'I have to go now.' Both are correct.
2You need to leave because you have an appointment. What Korean sentence gives that reason?
Show a sample answer
약속이 있어요.
약속이 있어요 means 'I have an appointment.' You can also say 약속이 있어서 가야 해요 (yaksogi isseoseo gaya haeyo, 'I have an appointment, so I have to go'), which combines the reason and the exit.
3What friendly line can you add to say 'let's contact each other again later'?
Show a sample answer
나중에 또 연락해요.
나중에 또 연락해요 is a natural closing line for friends or close coworkers. 다음에 또 봐요 is also fine and means 'see you again next time.'
To exit a Korean conversation politely, say 가야 해요, add a simple reason like 숙제가 있어요, and close with 다음에 또 봐요 or 나중에 또 연락해요.
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