Farewells (작별 인사) | Korean Grammar Documentation

Farewells (작별 인사) are essential expressions for saying goodbye in Korean. The form you use depends on who is staying and who is leaving.

Basic Structure

Two Main Patterns

When YOU are staying:

안녕히 가세요 (Go peacefully)
Said to the person leaving

When YOU are leaving:

안녕히 계세요 (Stay peacefully)
Said to the person staying

Key difference: The verb changes based on your position

Standard Farewells

안녕히 가세요 - Goodbye (to person leaving)

Structure: 안녕히 (peacefully) + 가세요 (go)

Use when:

You are staying
The other person is leaving
Formal/polite situations

Formality levels:

안녕히 가십시오 (very formal)
안녕히 가세요 (polite)
안녕히 가요 (casual polite)

안녕히 계세요 - Goodbye (to person staying)

Structure: 안녕히 (peacefully) + 계세요 (stay)

Use when:

You are leaving
The other person is staying
Formal/polite situations

Formality levels:

안녕히 계십시오 (very formal)
안녕히 계세요 (polite)
안녕히 계요 (casual polite)

안녕 - Bye (Casual)

Most casual farewell:

Used among friends
Can mean both hello and goodbye
No distinction between staying/leaving

Usage: Only with close friends, younger people

Situational Farewells

Short Separation

잠깐만요:

Just a moment / See you in a bit
Very brief separation

금방 올게요:

I'll be right back
Leaving for a very short time

잠시만 기다리세요:

Wait a moment, please
Before stepping away briefly

See You Later/Soon

나중에 봐요:

See you later (polite)

나중에 봐:

See you later (casual)

이따 봐요:

See you later today (polite)

이따 봐:

See you later today (casual)

곧 봐요:

See you soon (polite)

See You Tomorrow/Next Time

내일 봐요:

See you tomorrow (polite)

내일 봐:

See you tomorrow (casual)

내일 뵙겠습니다:

See you tomorrow (formal)

다음에 봐요:

See you next time (polite)

또 봐요:

See you again (polite)

또 만나요:

Let's meet again (polite)

Leaving Work First

먼저 가겠습니다:

I'll leave first (formal)
Said when leaving before others

먼저 갈게요:

I'll go first (polite)

먼저 실례하겠습니다:

Excuse me, I'll leave first (very formal)

Response: 수고하셨어요 (Good work)

Others Leaving Work

수고하셨습니다:

Good work / Thank you for your work (formal)
Said to those leaving

수고하셨어요:

Good work (polite)

수고했어요:

Good work (casual)

조심히 가세요:

Go safely / Take care

Polite Farewells

Take Care

조심히 가세요:

Go carefully / Take care (polite)

조심히 가:

Take care (casual)

몸조심하세요:

Take care of yourself (polite)

건강하세요:

Stay healthy

Safe Trip

잘 다녀오세요:

Have a safe trip / See you when you return
Said when someone is going somewhere and coming back

잘 다녀와요:

Have a safe trip (casual polite)

잘 다녀와:

Have a safe trip (casual)

Response: 다녀올게요 (I'll be back)

Good Night

안녕히 주무세요:

Sleep well / Good night (polite)

잘 자요:

Sleep well (casual polite)

잘 자:

Sleep well (casual)

좋은 꿈 꿔요:

Sweet dreams (polite)

Indefinite Farewells

Uncertain Next Meeting

잘 지내세요:

Take care / Be well (polite)
Used when unsure when you'll meet again

건강하세요:

Stay healthy
Often used for longer separations

연락할게요:

I'll contact you

연락하고 지내요:

Let's keep in touch

Moving Away/Long Separation

잘 있어요:

Take care / Farewell (polite)
For longer separations

행복하세요:

Be happy

좋은 일만 있길 바랄게요:

I hope only good things happen to you

Phone/Online Farewells

Ending Phone Call

그럼 끊을게요:

Then I'll hang up now

나중에 다시 전화할게요:

I'll call you again later

통화 감사합니다:

Thank you for the call (formal)

Ending Chat

그럼 이만:

Well then, I'll be going
Common in messages

ㅂㅂ / 바바 / 바이:

Bye (very casual, texting)

나갈게:

I'm logging off (casual)

Combining Expressions

Multiple Farewell Phrases

수고하셨어요. 조심히 가세요.:

Good work. Take care.

안녕히 가세요. 또 뵙겠습니다.:

Goodbye. See you again.

먼저 갈게요. 수고하세요.:

I'll leave first. Keep up the good work.

Special Situations

Customer Service

Leaving a store:

Employee: 감사합니다. 또 오세요. (Thank you. Please come again.)
Customer: 안녕히 계세요. (Goodbye.)

Taxi/Transportation:

조심히 가세요 (Go safely)
안전하게 가세요 (Go safely)

Visiting Someone's Home

Leaving as guest:

잘 먹고 갑니다 (Thank you for the food)
다음에 또 올게요 (I'll come again)

Host's response:

조심히 가세요 (Go safely)
또 오세요 (Come again)

Formal Business Farewells

End of Meeting

그럼 이만 실례하겠습니다:

Then I'll excuse myself now (very formal)

좋은 하루 되세요:

Have a good day (polite)

좋은 주말 되세요:

Have a good weekend (polite)

수고하셨습니다:

Thank you for your hard work

Regional Variations

Dialect Forms

Busan/Gyeongsang:

잘 가이소 (Go well)
잘 있어이소 (Take care)

Jeolla:

잘 가요게 (Go well)

Common Mistakes

❌ Incorrect: 안녕히 가세요 when YOU are leaving

Wrong: You're telling them to go, but you're the one leaving

✅ Correct: 안녕히 계세요 when YOU are leaving

Tells them to stay peacefully

❌ Incorrect: Using 안녕 with elders/superiors

Too casual, disrespectful

✅ Correct: 안녕히 가세요/계세요

Appropriate formality

Cultural Notes

Bowing While Saying Goodbye

Proper etiquette:

Bow while saying farewell
Deeper bow for elders/superiors
Watch them leave if they're older

Walking Someone Out

Korean custom:

Walk guests to door or elevator
Wave until out of sight
Shows respect and hospitality

Age and Status

Consider hierarchy:

Younger person says goodbye first
Junior employee says goodbye first
Use appropriate formality level

Quick Reference by Situation

You're Staying, They're Leaving

Formal: 안녕히 가십시오
Polite: 안녕히 가세요
+ Care: 조심히 가세요
Casual: 잘 가 / 안녕

You're Leaving, They're Staying

Formal: 안녕히 계십시오
Polite: 안녕히 계세요
Work: 먼저 가겠습니다
Casual: 안녕 / 나 간다

Both Leaving

Polite: 조심히 가세요
Casual: 잘 가 / 안녕

Temporary/Will Return

To them: 잘 다녀오세요
You leaving: 다녀올게요
Very brief: 금방 올게요

Summary Table

Expression	Who Says It	To Whom	Situation	Formality
안녕히 가세요	Person stays	Person leaving	Standard farewell	Polite
안녕히 계세요	Person leaves	Person staying	Standard farewell	Polite
안녕	Anyone	Friends	Casual goodbye	Casual
조심히 가세요	Anyone	Person leaving	Take care	Polite
잘 다녀오세요	Person stays	Person returning	Safe trip & return	Polite
수고하셨어요	Anyone	Coworker leaving	Good work	Polite
내일 봐요	Anyone	Anyone	See you tomorrow	Polite
안녕히 주무세요	Anyone	Anyone	Good night	Polite