“Bye” in English is simple. In Korean, goodbye changes based on whether you are leaving or the other person is leaving, and whether the situation is polite or casual.
This guide explains the most useful ways to say goodbye in Korean, with examples you can use at shops, class, and with friends.
The most important pair: 안녕히 가세요 vs 안녕히 계세요
안녕히 가세요 (annyeonghi gaseyo)
Said to someone who is leaving.
Literally closer to “go peacefully.”
Use when
- Guests leave your home
- A friend leaves the café first
- Customers leave (staff often say this)
안녕히 계세요 (annyeonghi gyeseyo)
Said to someone who is staying.
Literally closer to “stay peacefully.”
Use when
- You leave while others remain
- You exit a shop/classroom and others stay behind
Easy memory trick
- Someone goes → 가세요
- Someone stays → 계세요
This distinction is one of the first “wow, Korean is precise” moments for learners.
Casual goodbyes
안녕 (annyeong)
Means hi or bye in casual speech.
Only with close friends / people you speak 반말 with.
잘 가 (jal ga)
“Go well” — casual goodbye to someone leaving.
잘 있어 (jal isseo)
“Stay well” — casual goodbye when you leave and they stay.
These mirror the polite pair, but casual.
Other useful goodbye / leaving phrases
먼저 갈게요 (meonjeo galgeyo)
“I’ll leave first.”
Very common and polite when leaving a group.
내일 봐요 (naeil bwayo)
“See you tomorrow.”
나중에 봐요 (najunge bwayo)
“See you later.”
수고하세요 (sugohaseyo)
Often said when leaving a workplace/staff context — acknowledges the other person’s continued work. Not a literal “goodbye,” but socially common.
들어가세요 (deureogaseyo)
Said when someone is heading home (“go in [safely]”). Common after evenings out.
Phone and chat goodbyes
- 끊을게요 — I’ll hang up now.
- 통화 고마워요 — thanks for the call.
- 메시지 확인할게요 — I’ll check messages.
- 다음에 얘기해요 — let’s talk next time.
For voice calls with someone polite, keep endings in -요/-습니다 style.
Shop and restaurant patterns
Staff → customer leaving:
- 안녕히 가세요.
- 감사합니다. 안녕히 가세요.
Customer → staff remaining:
- 감사합니다. 안녕히 계세요.
As a traveler, 감사합니다 plus the right goodbye already sounds excellent.
Side-by-side table
| Situation | Polite | Casual |
|---|---|---|
| They leave, you stay | 안녕히 가세요 | 잘 가 |
| You leave, they stay | 안녕히 계세요 | 잘 있어 |
| General casual bye | — | 안녕 |
| Leaving a group first | 먼저 갈게요 | 나 먼저 갈게 |
| See you later | 나중에 봐요 | 나중에 봐 |
Practice dialogues
Classroom
You leave after class; classmates remain:
안녕히 계세요. / teacher: 안녕히 가세요.
Friends at a café
Friend stands up to leave:
You: 잘 가!
Friend: 안녕!
Convenience store
You pay and leave:
You: 감사합니다.
Staff: 감사합니다. 안녕히 가세요.
Cultural tips
- Matching the correct “go/stay” form matters more than perfect accent.
- A small nod makes polite goodbyes feel natural.
- In very casual friend groups, 안녕 alone is enough.
- Don’t use 안녕 with store staff.
- If confused in polite settings, 감사합니다 is always a strong exit line while you learn the go/stay pair.
5-day practice plan
- Day 1: 안녕히 가세요 only (they leave)
- Day 2: 안녕히 계세요 only (you leave)
- Day 3: Mix with role cards
- Day 4: Add 먼저 갈게요
- Day 5: Record 4 goodbye scenes
Common mistakes
- Saying 안녕히 가세요 when you are the one leaving and they stay
- Using casual 안녕 with strangers
- Forgetting thank you in service situations
- Translating English “good night” directly every time — Korean uses context phrases like 잘 자 (casual) / 안녕히 주무세요 (polite)
Bonus: good night
- Polite: 안녕히 주무세요
- Casual: 잘 자 / 잘 자요 (soft)
Use these at night with the right relationship level.
Final thoughts
To say goodbye in Korean naturally, learn the go/stay pair first:
- They go → 안녕히 가세요
- You go → 안녕히 계세요
Add casual versions for friends later. This small system immediately makes your Korean sound more native-aware and respectful.
How to Say Thank You in Korean: Polite, Casual & Formal