See you later in korean
Today we will learn how to say goodbye in casual Korean
There are many ways to say "goodbye" or "see you later" in English, and Korean is no different!
One of the commonly used expressions is "see you later"나중에 봐요 (najunge bwayo).
Let's take a look at the meaning, usage, and variations of this expression.
1. What Does See You Later (najunge bwayo) Mean?
The phrase 나중에 봐요 (najunge bwayo) is a polite and friendly way to say See you later in Korean. It breaks down into three parts:
Later (na jung e) – later
bwayo – a polite form of to see (verb than)
Together, 나중에 봐요 (najunge bwayo) literally translates to I’ll see you later or Let's see each other later.
When to Use See you later (najunge bwayo)
See you later (see you later)
is commonly used in informal and polite situations where you want to say goodbye with the expectation of seeing the person again.
Friends and colleagues
Acquaintances or people you are familiar with
2. Other Forms of See You Later in Korean
Korean language has different levels of politeness, so here are other ways to say See you later in different contexts.
A. Casual / Informal: See you later (Na junge bwa)
For close friends, family members, or people younger than you, 나중에 봐 (najunge bwa) is the informal form of See you later.
Example: You’re leaving a coffee shop after hanging out with a friend.
You: See you later! (Na junge bwa!)
See you later!
This is best for situations where you don’t need to show extra respect, as it’s direct and casual.
B. Formal / Respectful: See you later (See you later)
In a professional or respectful setting, you’ll want to use 나중에 뵙겠습니다 (najunge boepgetseumnida), which is the formal way of saying I’ll see you later.
Example: You’re finishing a meeting with a client or someone higher in rank.
You: See you later. (See you later.)
I’ll see you later.
This formality level is ideal for workplaces, formal gatherings, or any situation where you need to show respect.
3. Example Conversations
Let's look at how to use these phrases in real-life situations.
Scenario 1: Friendly Situation
Person A: See you later!
(Geureom and I joined!)
→ "Alright, see you later!"
Person B: Yeah, see you later!
(It's great, I'm so excited!)
→ "Okay, see you later!"
In this casual setting, 나중에 봐 (najunge bwa) is a natural way to say goodbye when both people expect to meet again.
Scenario 2: Polite Setting with Colleagues
Colleague A: Then I'll go first. See you later!
(Geureom jeoneun meonjeo gabolgeyo. I joined it!)
→ "I’ll head out first, see you later!"
Colleague B: Okay, see you later!
(And, I jumped at it!)
→ "Yes, see you later!"
In this example, 나중에 봐요(najunge bwa yo ) keeps things polite and is well-suited for a work environment.
Scenario 3: Formal Situation with a Supervisor
You: Then I'll see you later.
(Geureom najunge boepgetseumnida.)
→ "Then I’ll see you later."
Supervisor: Okay, see you later.
(No, young boy, I'm a nun.)
→ "Yes, see you later."
This version shows respect and is an appropriate choice for formal settings.
4. Closing Thoughts
Choose the right phrase and consider the level of formality and context.
When saying goodbye to a friend or colleague, using these phrases will make your goodbye seem more natural and friendly.
Thank you
