How to say "Goodbye" in Korean

In Korean culture, how you say goodbye depends heavily on who you’re speaking to and the level of respect you need to show. Age, status, and familiarity all play a role in choosing the right phrase. 안녕히 가세요 is the most formal and widely used way to say goodbye when someone else is leaving. It literally means “go peacefully,” and it’s appropriate for strangers, elders, or people you don’t know well. Using it with friends or close acquaintances can sound overly formal or even cold, so save it for situations where respect is key.

1. Formal or unfamiliar settings (to someone leaving) Use 안녕히 가세요 when you want to show respect to someone who is departing, especially if they are older, in a higher position, or not close to you.

   • 안녕히 가세요, 선생님. "Goodbye, teacher."
   • 안녕히 가세요, 사장님. "Goodbye, boss."

2. Neutral or polite settings (to someone leaving) If you’re unsure about the relationship but still want to be polite, 안녕히 가세요 works well in most everyday situations.

   • 안녕히 가세요, 손님. "Goodbye, customer."
   • 안녕히 가세요, 이웃분. "Goodbye, neighbor."

3. When you are the one leaving (formal) If you’re the one departing and want to show respect to those staying, you can use 안녕히 계세요 instead. This means “stay peacefully” and is used when you’re leaving a group or place.

   • 안녕히 계세요, 여러분. "Goodbye, everyone."

👉 Most useful for daily life: If you only memorize one phrase, make it 안녕히 가세요. It’s the safest choice for most situations where you’re saying goodbye to someone else who is leaving, especially in formal or unfamiliar contexts.