Korean Farewells: Say Goodbye the Right Way in Every Situation
Learn Korean goodbye expressions from formal 안녕히 계세요 to casual 잘 있어, and choose the right farewell based on who you are speaking to and where you are.
By LiamCulture & nuance · Yapr Learn
Korean has no single word for goodbye. The farewell you choose depends on two things: who is leaving and who is staying, and how close or formal the relationship is. In this lesson you will learn five practical farewell expressions, from polite forms used with teachers and shopkeepers to casual forms used with close friends. You will also practice deciding which one fits a given person and setting, so you can leave a conversation naturally instead of pausing to translate in your head.
By the end, you can…
- recognize and say five Korean farewell expressions at beginner level.
- choose a formal or casual goodbye based on the relationship and the setting.
- distinguish who is leaving and who is staying when using 안녕히 계세요 and 안녕히 가세요.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
안녕히 계세요
Goodbye (to someone who is staying)
an-nyeonghi gyeseyo
Polite and standard. Use when you are leaving and the other person stays, such as leaving a shop, office, or someone's home. The literal sense is 'please stay in peace.'
안녕히 가세요
Goodbye (to someone who is leaving)
an-nyeonghi gaseyo
Polite and standard. Use when the other person is leaving and you stay, such as seeing a guest off at the door. The literal sense is 'please go in peace.'
안녕
Bye / Hi
an-nyeong
Casual and friendly. Use with close friends, younger people, or family. It works for both hello and goodbye, so context and tone carry the meaning.
잘 있어
See you / Take care (to someone staying)
jal isseo
Casual. Said to a close friend who is staying behind when you leave. It literally means 'stay well.' Use only with people you speak to in casual speech.
잘 가
See you / Take care (to someone leaving)
jal ga
Casual. Said to a close friend who is leaving while you stay. It literally means 'go well.' Use only with close friends or people younger than you in casual relationships.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
Many polite Korean farewells end in -세요 (seyo), which adds politeness to a verb. 안녕히 계세요 (an-nyeonghi gyeseyo) uses 계세요, related to 'stay,' and 안녕히 가세요 (an-nyeonghi gaseyo) uses 가세요, related to 'go.' The casual pair drops -세요: 잘 있어 (jal isseo) for staying and 잘 가 (jal ga) for leaving. So the pattern is: polite form + 세요 for strangers, teachers, and older people; short casual form for close friends.
When to use it
First decide who is moving. If you are leaving and the other person stays, use 안녕히 계세요 or, casually, 잘 있어. If the other person is leaving and you stay, use 안녕히 가세요 or 잘 가. Then decide the register. At a convenience store, to a teacher, or to a coworker you do not know well, use the -세요 forms. With a close friend your own age, 안녕, 잘 있어, or 잘 가 sound natural. Mixing them, such as saying 잘 가 to a teacher, sounds too casual.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
선생님, 안녕히 계세요.
Teacher, goodbye. (I am leaving; you are staying.)seonsaengnim, an-nyeonghi gyeseyo네, 안녕히 가세요.
Yes, goodbye. (You are leaving; I am staying.)ne, an-nyeonghi gaseyo민수야, 나 먼저 갈게. 잘 있어.
Minsu, I am heading out first. See you. (You are staying.)minsuya, na meonjeo galge. jal isseo응, 잘 가.
Okay, see you. (You are leaving.)eung, jal gaA little context goes a long way
Korean farewells often reflect social distance and age, so the same English 'bye' can be 안녕히 계세요, 안녕, or 잘 가 depending on the listener. Koreans may also bow slightly or give a small nod when saying a polite goodbye. When unsure, the -세요 forms are the safer choice with anyone older or unfamiliar.
One thing to watch for
Saying 안녕히 계세요 to a friend who is leaving while you stay, because it sounds polite and therefore 'safe.'
Try this instead: Match the verb to who is moving. If the other person leaves, say 안녕히 가세요 or, casually, 잘 가. Use 안녕히 계세요 or 잘 있어 only when you leave and the other person stays.
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1You are leaving a café and the staff member stays inside. Which farewell fits?
Show a sample answer
안녕히 계세요 (an-nyeonghi gyeseyo)
You are leaving and the staff member stays, so the 'stay' form is correct. It is also polite, which suits a service setting.
2Your close friend is leaving your apartment, and you stay. Which casual farewell fits?
Show a sample answer
잘 가 (jal ga)
The friend is leaving, so the 'go' form is used. It is casual, which fits a close friend. 안녕 would also be acceptable between close friends.
3You are leaving your close friend's house, and the friend stays. Which casual farewell fits?
Show a sample answer
잘 있어 (jal i-sseo)
You are leaving and the friend stays, so the 'stay' form is used. It is casual and appropriate for a close friend.
Choose your Korean goodbye in two steps: first ask who is leaving and who is staying, then choose polite -세요 forms for unfamiliar or older people and short casual forms for close friends.
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