How to Say Bye in Korean
Learn how to say bye in Korean. '안녕' (annyeong) is casual, while you say '안녕히 가세요' to someone leaving and '안녕히 계세요' to someone staying. Pronunciation guide inside.
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Quick answer
To say a casual 'bye' in Korean, say '안녕' (annyeong, ahn-NYUHNG) — the same word as casual 'hi'. Politely, the word depends on who is leaving: say '안녕히 가세요' (annyeonghi gaseyo) to the person who is leaving, and '안녕히 계세요' (annyeonghi gyeseyo) to the person who is staying.
안녕
/ahn-NYUHNG/ — Korean
How to Say Bye in Korean
Saying goodbye in Korean has a twist English doesn’t: the polite phrase changes depending on who is leaving and who is staying. Once you understand that rule, Korean farewells are easy.
The Casual Phrase
안녕 — pronounced ahn-NYUHNG
Yes — the same 안녕 used for casual “hi” also works as casual “bye”. It is friendly and informal, used only with close friends, family, or people younger than you.
Copy the Phrase
The casual Korean word for “bye” is 안녕 (ahn-NYUHNG). The polite goodbyes are 안녕히 가세요 (to the person leaving) and 안녕히 계세요 (to the person staying).
The ‘Going’ vs. ‘Staying’ Rule
This is the heart of Korean goodbyes. The polite form splits in two:
| Korean | Romanization | Literal meaning | Say it to… |
|---|---|---|---|
| 안녕히 가세요 | annyeonghi gaseyo | ”Go in peace” | The person who is leaving |
| 안녕히 계세요 | annyeonghi gyeseyo | ”Stay in peace” | The person who is staying |
For example, when you leave a shop, you say 안녕히 계세요 (you’re leaving, the clerk stays), and the clerk says 안녕히 가세요 (they stay, you go). If you are both leaving, you both say 안녕히 가세요.
Formal vs. Informal
| Korean | Romanization | Use |
|---|---|---|
| 안녕 | annyeong | Casual — friends, younger people |
| 잘 가 | jal ga | Casual “go well” — to someone leaving |
| 잘 있어 | jal isseo | Casual “stay well” — to someone staying |
| 안녕히 가세요 | annyeonghi gaseyo | Polite — to someone leaving |
| 안녕히 계세요 | annyeonghi gyeseyo | Polite — to someone staying |
| 안녕히 가십시오 | annyeonghi gasipsio | Very formal — business, announcements |
Related Farewells
| Korean | Romanization | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 또 봐요 / 또 봐 | tto bwayo / tto bwa | See you again (polite / casual) |
| 다음에 봐요 | daeume bwayo | See you next time |
| 들어가세요 | deureogaseyo | ”Go on in” (warm phone/parting goodbye) |
| 수고하세요 | sugohaseyo | ”Keep up the good work” (to workers) |
| 잘 자 | jal ja | Good night (casual) |
| ㅂㅂ | bb | ”Bye bye” (texting slang) |
Pronunciation Tips
- 안녕히 = ahn-nyuhng-hee. Don’t drop the soft “h” at the end.
- The only sound difference between the two polite goodbyes is 가 (ga = go) vs 계 (gye = stay). “Gye” has a slight “y” glide.
- Korean stress is light and even; gently emphasize the verb syllable (GA / GYEH) and keep the rest flat.
Cultural Notes
A goodbye in Korean is usually accompanied by a small bow, especially toward elders, customers, or in formal settings. Among friends a wave and a casual 안녕 or 잘 가 is plenty. When leaving someone’s home or a workplace, the going/staying distinction shows attentiveness and good manners — getting it right is a small but noticed sign of fluency.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you say bye in Korean?
Casually, say '안녕' (annyeong, ahn-NYUHNG) to friends. Politely, it depends on who leaves: '안녕히 가세요' (annyeonghi gaseyo) means 'go in peace' and is said to the person leaving, while '안녕히 계세요' (annyeonghi gyeseyo) means 'stay in peace' and is said to the person staying.
How do you pronounce 안녕히 가세요 and 안녕히 계세요?
'안녕히 가세요' is ahn-nyuhng-hee GA-seh-yo, and '안녕히 계세요' is ahn-nyuhng-hee GYEH-seh-yo. The only difference is '가' (ga, go) versus '계' (gye, stay). Keep the syllables even and gently stress the verb syllable.
What is the difference between 안녕히 가세요 and 안녕히 계세요?
It depends on who is moving. Say '안녕히 가세요' ('go well') to the person who is leaving, and '안녕히 계세요' ('stay well') to the person who is remaining. If both people leave, both say '안녕히 가세요'. Mixing these up is the most common mistake learners make.
What does 안녕 literally mean as a goodbye?
'안녕' (annyeong) literally means 'peace' or 'well-being' (from 安寧). As a goodbye it is wishing the other person peace. Because it serves as both 'hi' and 'bye', context tells you which is meant — it is casual either way and only for friends or younger people.
How do you say bye on the phone or in text in Korean?
On the phone, people often say '들어가세요' (deureogaseyo, 'go on in') as a soft goodbye, or the polite '안녕히 계세요'. In texts, casual options include '안녕' (annyeong), '잘 가' (jal ga, 'go well'), 'ㅂㅂ' (bb, from English 'bye bye'), and '또 봐' (tto bwa, 'see you again').