Farewells: Annyeonghi gaseyo and Annyeonghi gyeseyo

There are two ways to say goodbye in Korean, and which one you use depends on who is leaving and who is staying.

To the person leaving

If the other person is leaving and you're staying, say "annyeonghi gaseyo." It contains "gada," the verb "to go."

To the person staying

If you're the one leaving and the other person is staying, say "annyeonghi gyeseyo." It contains "gyesida," meaning "to stay."

Who moves	Expression
They leave	안녕히 가세요
I leave	안녕히 계세요
Between friends	잘 가 / 안녕

On the phone and when parting

When hanging up the phone, or parting with someone you'll see again, soft farewells like "daeume tto bwaeyo" (see you next time) and "deureogaseyo" are common.

Night and safe-trip wishes

When parting at night, say "annyeonghi jumuseyo" (sleep well). To someone traveling far, wish them a safe trip with "josimhi gaseyo."

When you'll meet again soon

If you'll see each other tomorrow, say "naeil bwayo" (see you tomorrow); for a short break, a light "itta bwayo" (see you later) does the job.

💡 Tip: If you ever mix the two up, among friends "annyeong" handles both hello and goodbye. It really is the all-purpose greeting word.