To say “goodbye” in Korean, you usually choose the phrase based on who is leaving and how polite you want to be.

Quick Scoop

1. Most useful “goodbye” phrases

  • 안녕히 가세요 (annyeonghi gaseyo) – “Goodbye” to someone who is leaving ; polite and safe for most situations (shops, teachers, coworkers).
  • 안녕히 계세요 (annyeonghi gyeseyo) – “Goodbye” when you are leaving and the other person stays.
  • 잘 가요 (jal gayo) – “Go well”; polite but slightly softer, used when the other person is leaving.
  • 잘 가 (jal ga) – Casual “bye, go well” for friends or younger people.
  • 안녕 (annyeong) – Very casual “hi/bye” for close friends, similar age, never for your boss or teacher.

2. Informal goodbyes you’ll hear a lot

Use these with friends, classmates you’re close to, or younger people.

  • 안녕 (annyeong) – “Bye.”
  • 잘 가 (jal ga) – “Go well” (they’re leaving).
  • 잘 있어 (jal isseo) – “Stay well” (you’re leaving, they stay).
  • 나 먼저 갈게 (na meonjeo galge) – “I’ll go first” (very common in dramas and with friends).

Tiny example scene:

친구가 먼저 집에 가면서:
“나 먼저 갈게, 잘 있어!” – “I’m heading off first, stay well!”

3. “See you later” style goodbyes

These sound friendly and are great when you’ll meet again.

  • 다음에 봐요 (daeume bwayo) – “See you next time” (polite).
  • 다음에 봐 (daeume bwa) – Casual version for friends.
  • 또 봐요 (tto bwayo) – “See you again” (polite).
  • 내일 봐요 (naeil bwayo) – “See you tomorrow.”

These can follow other goodbyes, like:
“안녕히 가세요. 내일 봐요!” – “Goodbye. See you tomorrow!”

4. Quick politeness guide

Use this as a mental cheat sheet so you don’t sound rude by accident.

html

<table>
  <thead>
    <tr>
      <th>Situation</th>
      <th>Korean phrase</th>
      <th>Meaning / Use</th>
    </tr>
  </thead>
  <tbody>
    <tr>
      <td>Other person is leaving, polite</td>
      <td>안녕히 가세요 (annyeonghi gaseyo)</td>
      <td>Standard polite “goodbye” to customers, teachers, elders. [web:1][web:3]</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>You are leaving, they stay, polite</td>
      <td>안녕히 계세요 (annyeonghi gyeseyo)</td>
      <td>Say when you walk out and they remain. [web:1][web:3]</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>Casual, friend is leaving</td>
      <td>잘 가 (jal ga)</td>
      <td>“Go well,” for close friends or younger people. [web:1][web:5]</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>Casual, you are leaving</td>
      <td>잘 있어 (jal isseo)</td>
      <td>“Stay well,” used when you leave a friend behind. [web:7]</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>Very casual hi/bye</td>
      <td>안녕 (annyeong)</td>
      <td>Use only with close friends and kids. [web:1]</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>See you next time (polite)</td>
      <td>다음에 봐요 (daeume bwayo)</td>
      <td>Friendly, implies you’ll meet again. [web:3][web:7]</td>
    </tr>
  </tbody>
</table>

5. Tiny story to remember it

Imagine you’re in a Seoul café with a Korean coworker. When they leave first, they say: “그럼, 먼저 갈게요. 안녕히 계세요.” You smile and answer, “네, 안녕히 가세요. 다음에 봐요!”

In that little moment, you’ve used both “please stay well” and “go safely,” which is the heart of how to say goodbye in Korean.

TL;DR:

  • To someone leaving (polite): 안녕히 가세요.
  • When you’re leaving (polite): 안녕히 계세요.
  • With friends: 안녕, 잘 가, 잘 있어, 다음에 봐.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.