Korean Farewells: Say Goodbye Formally and Casually, Plus Enjoy Your Stay
Learn Korean farewells from formal to casual, and how to say enjoy your stay or enjoy your time naturally. Perfect for beginners ending conversations politely.
By LiamCulture & nuance · Yapr Learn
In Korean, saying goodbye isn't one-size-fits-all. The right expression depends on who you're talking to and the situation. This lesson teaches you the core farewells, from the formal 안녕히 계세요 to the casual 잘 가, and shows you how to wish someone a pleasant stay or a good time. You'll also learn which phrase to use when you're the one leaving versus when you're staying. By the end, you'll confidently choose the appropriate goodbye for any encounter.
By the end, you can…
- say goodbye in formal, polite, and casual Korean.
- wish someone a pleasant stay or a good time using the correct phrase.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
안녕히 계세요.
Goodbye (to someone staying).
an-nyeong-hi gye-se-yo
Use when you are leaving and the other person is staying. Polite and formal.
안녕히 가세요.
Goodbye (to someone leaving).
an-nyeong-hi ga-se-yo
Use when you are staying and the other person is leaving. Polite and formal.
잘 가.
See you later / Bye (casual).
jal ga
Casual goodbye to a close friend or someone younger who is leaving. Not for formal situations.
즐거운 시간 보내세요.
Enjoy your time / Have a good time.
jeul-geo-un si-gan bo-nae-se-yo
Wish someone a good time, often before they go to an event or activity. Polite.
즐거운 여행 되세요.
Enjoy your trip / Have a pleasant trip.
jeul-geo-un yeo-haeng doe-se-yo
Wish someone a pleasant trip or stay. Polite and warm.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
The phrase 즐거운 시간 보내세요 combines 즐거운 (enjoyable), 시간 (time), and 보내세요 (spend, polite imperative). You can swap 시간 with other nouns: 즐거운 휴가 보내세요 (enjoy your vacation). Note that 즐거운 여행 되세요 uses a different verb, 되세요 (from 되다, 'to become'), not 보내세요. So there are two patterns: [즐거운 + noun + 보내세요] and [즐거운 + noun + 되세요]. For 'enjoy your stay', 즐거운 시간 보내세요 works when referring to time spent; 즐거운 여행 되세요 is specifically for a trip. Both are farewell-adjacent and polite.
When to use it
Use 안녕히 계세요 when you are leaving and the other person stays (e.g., leaving a shop, saying goodbye to a host). Use 안녕히 가세요 when the other person leaves (e.g., seeing a guest off). For casual situations with close friends, 잘 가 is fine when they leave; if you leave, you can say 잘 있어. To wish someone a good time, say 즐거운 시간 보내세요 before they go to a party or event. For a trip, 즐거운 여행 되세요 is more specific.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
오늘 정말 즐거웠어요. 그럼 안녕히 계세요.
I really enjoyed today. Well, goodbye (to you staying).o-neul jeong-mal jeul-geo-woss-eo-yo. geu-reom an-nyeong-hi gye-se-yo.네, 안녕히 가세요. 즐거운 시간 보내세요!
Yes, goodbye (to you leaving). Enjoy your time!ne, an-nyeong-hi ga-se-yo. jeul-geo-un si-gan bo-nae-se-yo!감사합니다. 다음에 또 봐요.
Thank you. See you again next time.gam-sa-ham-ni-da. da-eum-e tto bwa-yo.네, 조심히 들어가세요.
Yes, get home safely.ne, jo-sim-hi deu-reo-ga-se-yo.A little context goes a long way
Korean farewells often reflect social hierarchy and situation. Using the wrong level can seem rude. When in doubt, use the polite -세요 forms. Also, wishing someone a good time is common when parting, but 즐거운 시간 보내세요 is not used when you are the one leaving; it's for the other person's upcoming activity.
One thing to watch for
Using 안녕히 계세요 when you are the one staying and the other person is leaving.
Try this instead: If the other person is leaving, say 안녕히 가세요. For example, when a guest leaves your home, you say 안녕히 가세요, not 안녕히 계세요.
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1You are leaving a friend's house and they are staying. What do you say?
Show a sample answer
안녕히 계세요.
Because you are leaving and the friend is staying, 안녕히 계세요 is correct. 안녕히 가세요 would imply the friend is leaving.
2Your close friend is leaving to go home. How do you say goodbye casually?
Show a sample answer
잘 가.
잘 가 is casual and appropriate for a close friend who is leaving. You could also say 안녕, but 잘 가 specifically means 'go well'.
3A colleague is going on a vacation. What polite phrase can you say to wish them a good time?
Show a sample answer
즐거운 시간 보내세요.
This wishes them a good time. For a trip, 즐거운 여행 되세요 is also correct and more specific.
Choose your goodbye based on who is leaving and who is staying, and match politeness to your relationship. Use 즐거운 시간 보내세요 or 즐거운 여행 되세요 to wish someone a good time or a pleasant stay.
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