Korean Casual Farewells: Say 'See You Later' and Leave a Gathering Politely
Learn relaxed Korean goodbyes like 나중에 봐 and 또 봐 for friends, plus polite ways to leave a gathering without sounding formal or rude.
By PookieFriends & plans · Yapr Learn
When you leave friends in Korea, you usually don't say the formal goodbye 안녕히 계세요 unless you're speaking to someone much older or in a formal setting. With close friends, casual farewells are short, warm, and often include a plan to meet again. This lesson teaches five beginner-friendly casual goodbyes, shows how to use them when leaving a gathering, and explains the difference from formal goodbyes. You will practice with a short dialogue and common mistakes.
By the end, you can…
- say casual goodbyes like 'See you later' and 'Catch you soon' in Korean.
- politely leave a gathering with friends using a relaxed farewell.
- tell when to use casual goodbyes versus formal goodbyes in Korean.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
나중에 봐.
See you later.
na-jung-e bwa
Very common with close friends. Literally 'see later'. Use when you expect to meet again, even if no exact time is set.
또 봐.
See you again. / Catch you soon.
tto bwa
Casual and friendly. '또' means 'again'. Good for leaving a gathering where you had fun and want to meet again.
이따 봐.
See you in a bit.
i-tta bwa
Use when you will meet again the same day, like after a short break or later that evening.
내일 봐.
See you tomorrow.
nae-il bwa
Casual and specific. Use with friends or close coworkers when you know you will meet the next day.
먼저 갈게.
I'm going to head off first.
meon-jeo gal-ge
A polite way to announce you are leaving a gathering before you say goodbye. Literally 'I will go first'. Use with friends or people you know well.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
Many casual Korean farewells use a time word plus 봐 (bwa), which comes from 보다 (boda, 'to see'). The pattern is: time word + 봐. For example, 나중에 봐 (na-jung-e bwa, 'see you later'), 내일 봐 (nae-il bwa, 'see you tomorrow'), 이따 봐 (i-tta bwa, 'see you in a bit'). You can also use 또 봐 (tto bwa, 'see you again'). These are all casual and used with people you are close to. If you want to say 'I'm leaving first', use 먼저 갈게 (meon-jeo gal-ge). This is not a goodbye by itself, but it often comes right before one.
When to use it
Use casual farewells like 나중에 봐 and 또 봐 with close friends, people your age, or people you know well. Do not use them with strangers, teachers, or someone much older unless they have invited you to speak casually. If you are leaving a gathering, you can say 먼저 갈게 to announce you are leaving, then add a casual goodbye like 나중에 봐. For formal situations, use 안녕히 계세요 (annyeonghi gyeseyo) when you leave and the other person stays, or 안녕히 가세요 (annyeonghi gaseyo) when the other person leaves. Casual goodbyes are relaxed and often include plans to meet again, while formal goodbyes are more polite and less personal.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
먼저 갈게. 나중에 봐!
I'm heading off first. See you later!meon-jeo gal-ge. na-jung-e bwa!응, 또 봐!
Okay, see you again!eung, tto bwa!내일 봐!
See you tomorrow!nae-il bwa!좋아, 이따 봐!
Sounds good, see you in a bit!jo-a, i-tta bwa!A little context goes a long way
In Korean, the choice between casual and formal farewells depends on age, social distance, and the situation. Using casual goodbyes with close friends is normal and friendly, but using them with someone older or in a formal setting can sound rude. When leaving a gathering, it is common to announce your departure with 먼저 갈게 before saying goodbye. Also, many casual goodbyes include a plan to meet again, which shows you value the relationship. If you are unsure, it is safer to use a polite goodbye until the other person suggests speaking casually.
One thing to watch for
Using 안녕히 계세요 with close friends when leaving a casual gathering.
Try this instead: 안녕히 계세요 is formal and polite, so it can feel distant with close friends. Use a casual farewell like 나중에 봐 or 또 봐 instead. For example, say 먼저 갈게. 나중에 봐! when leaving friends.
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1You are leaving a friend's house and will meet them again next week. What casual goodbye can you say?
Show a sample answer
나중에 봐.
나중에 봐 means 'see you later' and is perfect for friends when you expect to meet again. 또 봐 is also acceptable.
2You are leaving a gathering and want to announce you are going first. What phrase do you use?
Show a sample answer
먼저 갈게.
먼저 갈게 means 'I'm going to head off first' and is a polite way to announce your departure before saying goodbye. You can also say 먼저 갈게요 in a slightly more polite form.
3You will see your friend later the same day. Which casual goodbye fits best?
Show a sample answer
이따 봐.
이따 봐 means 'see you in a bit' and is used when you will meet again the same day. 나중에 봐 is also possible but less specific.
With close friends, use short casual goodbyes like 나중에 봐, 또 봐, or 내일 봐. To leave a gathering politely, say 먼저 갈게 first, then add a casual goodbye. Save 안녕히 계세요 for formal situations.
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