How to Say Goodbye in Korean
Learn how to say goodbye in Korean. There are TWO goodbyes — one if you're leaving, one if you're staying. Pronunciation guide + the unique Korean goodbye etiquette.
Published · 1 min read · Free · No sign-up
Quick answer
Korean has TWO polite goodbyes depending on who is leaving. If the OTHER person is leaving (and you're staying), say 'Annyeonghi gaseyo' (안녕히 가세요, 'go in peace'). If YOU are leaving (and they're staying), say 'Annyeonghi gyeseyo' (안녕히 계세요, 'stay in peace'). Casually, with friends, both reduce to just 'Annyeong' (안녕).
안녕히 가세요
/ahn-nyong-hee ga-se-yo/ — Korean
How to Say Goodbye in Korean
Korean goodbyes have a charming, thoughtful twist found in few languages: there are two of them, and which you use depends on whether you or the other person is leaving.
Two Goodbyes, One Rule
| Korean | Romanization | Literally | Say to… |
|---|---|---|---|
| 안녕히 가세요 | Annyeonghi gaseyo | ”Go in peace” | The person leaving |
| 안녕히 계세요 | Annyeonghi gyeseyo | ”Stay in peace” | The person staying |
If you’re a guest leaving someone’s home:
- You say Annyeonghi gyeseyo (“stay well”) to the host
- The host says Annyeonghi gaseyo (“go well”) to you
Copy the Phrase
The Korean for “goodbye” (to the person leaving) is 안녕히 가세요 (Annyeonghi gaseyo) — or 안녕히 계세요 (gyeseyo) to the person staying.
How to Remember Which Is Which
A simple memory trick:
- Gaseyo contains 가 (ga) = “go” → say it to the one who GOES (leaves)
- Gyeseyo relates to 계 (gye) = “stay/be present” → say it to the one who STAYS
If both are leaving (e.g., parting on the street), use Annyeonghi gaseyo to each other.
The Casual Shortcut: Annyeong
Among close friends or younger people, 안녕 (Annyeong) covers both hello AND goodbye — and both the leaving/staying situations. So with friends, just say:
Annyeong! — Bye!
The two-way gaseyo/gyeseyo distinction only applies to the polite forms used with elders, strangers, and in respectful settings.
The Full Formality Range
| Korean | Romanization | Politeness |
|---|---|---|
| 안녕 | Annyeong | Casual (both directions) |
| 안녕히 가세요 / 계세요 | Annyeonghi gaseyo / gyeseyo | Polite (standard) |
| 안녕히 가십시오 / 계십시오 | Annyeonghi gasipsio / gyesipsio | Very formal |
Other Useful Goodbyes
| Korean | Romanization | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 들어가세요 | Deureogaseyo | ”Go on in” (warm bye, esp. heading home) |
| 다음에 봐요 | Daeume bwayo | See you next time |
| 또 봐요 | Tto bwayo | See you again |
| 잘 가 | Jal ga | Bye (casual, “go well”) |
| 잘 있어 | Jal isseo | Bye (casual, “stay well”) |
Pronunciation
- Annyeonghi gaseyo — ahn-nyong-hee ga-se-yo
- Annyeonghi gyeseyo — ahn-nyong-hee gye-se-yo (“gye” = “gyeh”)
- Annyeong — ahn-nyong
The shared 안녕히 (annyeonghi) means “peacefully / in peace.”
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does Korean have two ways to say goodbye?
Korean distinguishes goodbyes based on WHO is leaving. 'Annyeonghi gaseyo' (안녕히 가세요) literally means 'go in peace' — say it to the person who is LEAVING. 'Annyeonghi gyeseyo' (안녕히 계세요) means 'stay in peace' — say it to the person who is STAYING. So if you're a guest leaving someone's home, YOU say 'gyeseyo' (stay well) to the host, and the HOST says 'gaseyo' (go well) to you. It's a thoughtful distinction.
How do you remember which goodbye to use?
Memory trick: 'gaseyo' contains 'ga' (가) which means 'go' — say it to the one who GOES (is leaving). 'Gyeseyo' relates to 'gye' (계) from 'stay/be present' — say it to the one who STAYS. So: leaving person hears 'gaseyo' (go well); staying person hears 'gyeseyo' (stay well). If both are leaving (e.g. parting on the street), use 'gaseyo' to each other.
How do you pronounce Annyeonghi gaseyo?
'Annyeonghi gaseyo' is pronounced ahn-nyong-hee ga-se-yo. 'Annyeonghi' = ahn-nyong-hee (the 'hi' = 'hee'). 'Gaseyo' = ga-se-yo. 'Annyeonghi gyeseyo' is ahn-nyong-hee gye-se-yo, where 'gye' sounds like 'gyeh.' Both are five-plus syllables but flow quickly with practice. The shared 'annyeonghi' means 'peacefully/in peace.'
Can you just say Annyeong for goodbye?
Yes — casually, with close friends or people younger than you, 'Annyeong' (안녕) works for BOTH 'hello' and 'goodbye,' and it covers both the leaving/staying situations. So among friends you don't need the two-way distinction — just 'Annyeong!' (bye!). The 'gaseyo/gyeseyo' distinction only applies to the polite/formal forms used with elders, strangers, and in respectful settings.
What is the formal way to say goodbye in Korean?
Even more formal versions exist for business/respectful contexts: 'Annyeonghi gasipsio' (안녕히 가십시오 — go in peace, very formal) and 'Annyeonghi gyesipsio' (안녕히 계십시오 — stay in peace, very formal). For phone calls or casual-polite goodbyes, 'Deureogaseyo' (들어가세요 — 'go on in,' a warm way to say bye, especially when someone's heading home) is also common.