10 Ways to Say Goodbye in Korean
After this page, you can pick the right way to say “Goodbye” depending on formality and relationship.
10-Second Answer
Korean's biggest goodbye rule has nothing to do with formality — it's about who's LEAVING and who's STAYING. 안녕히 가세요 is said TO the person leaving; 안녕히 계세요 is said TO the person staying. Get that split right, and the rest is just picking the right formality level.
The Full Spectrum
| Phrase | Situation | Formality |
|---|---|---|
| 안녕히 가세요 | Said to someone who is leaving (you're staying) | Formal/polite |
| 안녕히 계세요 | Said to someone who is staying (you're leaving) | Formal/polite |
| 안녕 | Casual goodbye either direction | Casual (반말) |
| 또 봐요 | "See you again" — general, friendly | Polite-casual |
| 다음에 봐요 | "See you next time" | Polite-casual |
| 이따 봐요 | "See you later (today)" | Polite-casual |
| 내일 봐요 | "See you tomorrow" | Polite-casual |
| 들어가세요 | Said when someone is heading home — "go on in safely" | Formal/polite |
| 조심히 가세요 | "Go safely" — often added to a goodbye | Formal/polite |
| 잘 가 | Casual "go well" — to someone leaving | Casual (반말) |
Why the Leaving/Staying Split Exists
Both phrases build on 안녕히 ("peacefully") plus a verb matching the OTHER person's next action: 가다 (to go) for the one leaving, 계시다 (the honorific form of "to stay/be") for the one staying. It's a small but very real grammar trap — English "goodbye" doesn't split this way, so it's easy to default to the wrong one out of habit.
들어가세요: An Extra Layer
들어가세요 ("please go in") is specifically used when someone is heading home at the end of the day — a warm, slightly more personal alternative to plain 안녕히 가세요, implying "get home safe and get some rest." It's especially common between coworkers or friends parting after an evening out.
Common Mistakes
Mistake #1 — Mixing up 가세요 and 계세요
Say 안녕히 가세요 to the person walking away, and 안녕히 계세요 to the person staying put — reversed, it sounds like a mistake even if the intent is clear.
Mistake #2 — Using 안녕 in a formal setting
안녕 is 반말 — reserve it for close friends or people younger than you.
Mini Quiz
1. You're leaving a friend's house; they're staying. What do they say to you?
2. What does 들어가세요 imply?
3. Is 안녕 appropriate in a formal business meeting?
Related Knowledge
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Goodbyes covered — now the phrase for the opposite moment, hello and love.
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Start today's study →Last updated: 2026-08-11 · Written and reviewed by a native Korean speaker.