Therese Sta. MariaSaying goodbye is part of life, and we don’t really have a choice except to get used to it. But those bittersweet partings are also why so many people look to K-drama for their own kind of comfort and therapy. Through K-drama, we’ve learned to say “bye” in Korean. But like saying “hello” or “thank you” in Korean, there’s more than one way to bid goodbye Korean style. Would you like to know how? Read about the Korean words listed below!
Formal “bye” in Korean
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The formal “bye” in Korean is annyeonghi gasipsio or annyeonghi gyesipsio.
Koreans say gasipsio when they’re staying and the other person is leaving. So if you’re expected to stay in a certain place, such as your own house or office while you bid goodbye to somebody else, this is the Korean bye you should use. However, since this is formal, you’ll hear gasipsio more often being used by shop and restaurant staff saying goodbye to customers.
On the other hand, Koreans use gyesipsio when they are leaving while the person they’re talking to is expected to stay. This is the most formal form of a Korean bye.
Standard “bye” in Korean
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The standard ways to say “bye” in Korean are annyeonghi gaseyo, annyeonghi gyeseyo, and jal gayo.
Gaseyo is generally used when you’re politely telling someone to go or when the other person is leaving. If you pair this up with annyeonghi, which results to annyeonghi gaseyo, you would be telling someone to go peacefully. Think of it as saying “Please be on your way comfortably.”
Koreans will say goodbye using gyeseyo when they’re the ones who need to leave someone’s home or office, or when they’re leaving someone behind (ouch). By saying annyeonghi gyeseyo, they’re politely telling someone “please stay comfortably” while they leave.
Among the most common Korean words in saying goodbye is jal gayo; it’s the Korean bye when both parties (or everyone) are leaving the same venue. This polite bye literally translates to “go well.”
Informal “bye” in Korean
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The informal ways of saying “bye” in Korean are annyeong, jal ga, and na meonjeo galge.
Annyeong is indeed the simplest way of saying goodbye in Korea, and one that you will often hear exchanged between friends. But remember that this is a very informal Korean bye, so don’t say this to older people or your Korean boss when in South Korea. This farewell can be used whether you’re leaving or staying.
Meanwhile, jal ga is the most casual way of saying “go well.” On the other hand, Koreans will say na meonjeo galge if they’re talking to a friend and need to leave first. These informal ways of farewell are popular Korean words that you’ll often hear in K-dramas. Tell us, did you already pick these up as you were binge-watching on Netflix?
Also read: Say ‘Thank You’ in Korean The Right Way: Here’s An Easy Guide!
Learning a new language will always be beneficial for you. So don’t hesitate in trying to learn a new language no matter what people say. If you enjoy learning Korean, click here for more lessons!
Featured image credit: Yamin Ohmar | Unsplash; Crash Landing On You | IMDB
