Korean for Beginners: Polite Excuses to End a Conversation or Leave a Gathering
Learn polite Korean phrases for ending a chat or leaving a gathering, using reason-based excuses like early meetings, prior plans, and being tired, with Hangul, Revised Romanization, and register notes.
By TheaFirst conversations · Yapr Learn
In Korean, leaving a conversation or gathering politely often means giving a brief reason, not just saying goodbye. This lesson teaches beginner-friendly excuse patterns you can use with coworkers, friends, and acquaintances. You will learn how to say you have an early meeting tomorrow, you already have plans, you need to go home, and you should get going. You will also learn how to soften the exit with polite endings and how to respond when someone excuses themselves. The focus is on short, natural sentences that sound considerate rather than abrupt.
By the end, you can…
- give a simple reason to end a conversation politely in Korean.
- leave a gathering using an appropriate level of politeness for coworkers or friends.
- recognize and respond to someone else's polite excuse.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
내일 아침에 회의가 있어서 먼저 가야 해요.
I have a meeting tomorrow morning, so I have to leave first.
nae-il a-chim-e hoe-ui-ga iss-eo-seo meon-jeo ga-ya hae-yo
Polite and common at work or with acquaintances. The reason comes before the polite ending -아/어서.
죄송하지만 이만 가 봐야 할 것 같아요.
I'm sorry, but I think I should get going now.
joe-song-ha-ji-man i-man ga bwa-ya hal geot gat-a-yo
Softer and more indirect. Useful when you do not want to give a detailed reason.
오늘은 이만 들어가야 해요.
I have to go home now.
o-neul-eun i-man deul-eo-ga-ya hae-yo
Natural when leaving a gathering to go home. 이만 means 'just now, at this point' and softens the exit.
약속이 있어서 먼저 일어나야 해요.
I have plans, so I have to get up first.
yak-sok-i iss-eo-seo meon-jeo il-eo-na-ya hae-yo
약속 can mean a promise or a plan. This is a polite, vague excuse for leaving early.
다음에 또 봬요.
See you again next time.
da-eum-e tto bwae-yo
A friendly closing line after your excuse. 봬요 is the polite form of 보다 'to see'.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
A very useful pattern is [reason] + -아/어서 + [polite ending]. The reason comes first, then the result. For example: 내일 아침에 회의가 있어서 먼저 가야 해요. (I have a meeting tomorrow morning, so I have to leave first.) You can also use [reason] + -기 때문에 for a slightly more formal reason: 약속이 있기 때문에 먼저 가야 해요. (Because I have an appointment, I have to leave first.) For beginners, -아/어서 is shorter and very common in speech.
When to use it
Use these excuses when you want to leave without sounding rude. With coworkers or people you do not know well, use polite -요 endings and add 죄송하지만 (I'm sorry, but) or 미안하지만 (sorry, but) to soften the exit. With close friends, you can drop -요 and say 나 먼저 가야 해 (I have to leave first). At a work dinner, a reason like 내일 아침에 회의가 있어서 is clear and acceptable. With friends, a simple 약속이 있어서 is enough. Always say a closing line such as 다음에 또 봬요 or 먼저 들어갈게요.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
오늘 정말 재미있었어요. 그런데 내일 아침에 회의가 있어서 먼저 가야 해요.
It was really fun today. But I have a meeting tomorrow morning, so I have to leave first.o-neul jeong-mal jae-mi-iss-eoss-eo-yo. geu-reon-de nae-il a-chim-e hoe-ui-ga iss-eo-seo meon-jeo ga-ya hae-yo아, 그래요? 알겠어요. 먼저 가세요.
Oh, really? I understand. Go ahead first.a, geu-rae-yo? al-get-eo-yo. meon-jeo ga-se-yo죄송해요. 다음에 또 봬요.
Sorry. See you again next time.joe-song-hae-yo. da-eum-e tto bwae-yo네, 조심히 들어가세요.
Yes, get home safely.ne, jo-sim-hi deul-eo-ga-se-yoA little context goes a long way
Korean politeness often depends on age, workplace rank, and how well you know the person. With coworkers or older people, use polite -요 endings and a brief reason. With close friends, plain endings are fine. Giving a reason is usually better than a bare goodbye, because it shows you are not leaving because of the other person. If you do not want to share details, a vague 약속이 있어서 is acceptable and polite.
One thing to watch for
Saying just 안녕히 계세요 and walking away without a reason, or using a blunt 나 먼저 가 with a boss.
Try this instead: Add a short reason and match the politeness level. For example, with a boss say 내일 아침에 회의가 있어서 먼저 가야 해요. With a close friend, 나 먼저 가야 해 is fine, but a reason still sounds more considerate.
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1How do you politely say 'I have an early meeting tomorrow, so I have to leave first'?
Show a sample answer
내일 아침에 회의가 있어서 먼저 가야 해요.
This uses the reason + -아/어서 + -아/어야 해요 pattern. You can also say 내일 아침에 회의가 있기 때문에 먼저 가야 해요, which is slightly more formal.
2You are at a gathering with friends and want to go home. What is a natural polite line?
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오늘은 이만 들어가야 해요.
이만 softens the exit and 들어가야 해요 means 'I have to go in/home.' With close friends, 오늘은 이만 들어가야 해 is also acceptable.
3Someone says 내일 아침에 회의가 있어서 먼저 가야 해요. What is a suitable response?
Show a sample answer
네, 알겠어요. 먼저 가세요.
This acknowledges the reason and gives permission politely. 조심히 들어가세요 is also a warm alternative.
To leave politely in Korean, give a short reason first, then use a polite ending like -아/어서 가야 해요, and close with 다음에 또 봬요. Match your politeness level to the person and situation.
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